Desulfurization Plant Gas Distribution Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current desulfurization methods for petroleum produce excess elemental sulfur without a corresponding demand, leading to difficulties in utilization, and result in high sulfur oxide content in combustion exhaust gases.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates desulfurization plants with gas distribution networks to optimize the use of hydrogen sulfide-containing gases for both elemental sulfur production and electricity generation, utilizing a combustion device to burn these gases and produce gypsum, thereby reducing sulfur oxide content and utilizing hydrogen sulfide for energy purposes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional desulfurization processes are used to reduce sulfur content in heavy fuel oil, then the sulfur content is reduced to meet regulatory requirements, but excess elemental sulfur is produced as a byproduct that has no corresponding market demand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesulfur content in heavy fuel oilVSAvoidamount of elemental sulfur produced
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful excess elemental sulfur byproduct into a beneficial product by reacting it with hydrogen sulfide-containing acid gas to produce ammonium sulfide and ammonium polysulfide. These compounds have market applications in dyeing, printing, and chemical synthesis, thereby transforming the waste disposal problem into a value-added production process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical form of sulfur from elemental sulfur (S) to ammonium sulfide ((NH4)2S) and ammonium polysulfide ((NH4)2Sx) through chemical reactions with hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. This parameter change in chemical composition and oxidation state creates products with different properties and market applications, solving the disposal problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If hydrogen sulfide-containing gases are directly emitted or flared, then operational simplicity is maintained, but environmental pollution and loss of potential energy resources occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of gas handlingVSAvoidenvironmental pollution from hydrogen sulfide emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful hydrogen sulfide gas into valuable chemical products (ammonium sulfide and ammonium polysulfide) through reaction with ammonia. This eliminates the environmental pollution problem while simultaneously creating marketable products, transforming a waste stream into a resource.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ammonia as an intermediary substance that mediates the conversion of hydrogen sulfide into ammonium sulfide and ammonium polysulfide. This intermediary enables the transformation process while allowing for easy control and adjustment of the reaction conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If more desulfurization capacity is added to meet future sulfur reduction requirements, then compliance with stricter regulations is achieved, but the amount of excess elemental sulfur without market demand increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesulfur content in fuel productsVSAvoidutilization of produced sulfur
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the product form from elemental sulfur to ammonium sulfide and ammonium polysulfide, which have active chemical properties and market applications. This parameter change enables full utilization of sulfur regardless of the scale of desulfurization operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multi-functional sulfur products that can serve multiple purposes: as chemical intermediates for synthesizing other compounds, as dyes and pigments, and as potential fuel sources. This universality ensures that sulfur can be utilized across different industries and applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Reduces the amount of elemental sulfur produced, utilizes hydrogen sulfide for energy generation, and significantly decreases sulfur oxide emissions by converting them into gypsum, which has a higher market demand and reduces environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

a combustion device for burning sour gas or tail gas or a mixture of both, wherein the energy released during combustion is used at least partially for power production

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

a flue gas desulfurization device for converting sulfur oxides from combustion gases produced during combustion into gypsum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3807212B1Device and method for desulfurizing crude oil
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 KNAUF GIPS KG
  • EP3807212B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3807212B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (100) for desulfurizing natural gas, comprising a desulfurization system (102) for sulfur-containing crude oil (101), which together with the desulfurized crude oil (103) forms a hydrogen sulfide-containing acid gas (104); a system (106) for obtaining elemental sulfur (107) and a hydrogen sulfide-containing tail gas (108) as exhaust gas from the acid gas (104) of the desulfurization system (102); a device (1) for generating a flow and gypsum from the tail gas (108) or the acid gas (104) or from a mixture of the acid gas (104) and the tail gas (108); and a gas line system (105) for supplying acid gas (104) from the desulfurization system (102) to the system (106) for obtaining elemental sulfur (107) and to the device (1) for generating the flow (24) and gypsum (21) and for supplying tail gas (108) from the system (106) for obtaining elemental sulfur (107) to the device (1) for generating the flow (24) and gypsum (21). The gas line system (105) has a gas distributing device (109) which supplies acid gas solely to the system (106) for obtaining elemental sulfur (107) in a first position and solely to the device (1) for generating the flow (24) and gypsum (21) in a second position and which supplies a first part of the acid gas (104) to the system (106) for obtaining elemental sulfur (107) and a second part of the acid gas (104) to the device (1) for generating the flow (24) and gypsum (21) in a distributing position. The invention additionally relates to a method for desulfurizing crude oil using such a device.