Sulfur Plant Tail-Gas Redirection for Emission Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sulfur recovery plants face challenges in reducing SO2 emission concentrations, with current methods resulting in emissions of 150-500 mg/m3, and existing degassing processes using external gases like air or steam leading to increased equipment sizes and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a thermal reaction unit, catalytic reaction unit, and tail-gas purification unit, where H2S-containing acid gas is combusted to produce SO2, and the resulting element sulfur is converted into liquid sulfur, with waste gases from degassing introduced into the catalytic or purification units to reduce emissions, and purified tail-gas is used as a stripping gas for degassing, eliminating the need for external gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external gases (air, steam, nitrogen) are used as stripping gas for liquid sulfur degassing, then degassing effectiveness is improved, but equipment size and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own tail gas as the stripping gas for degassing liquid sulfur, eliminating the need for external gas sources. The tail gas is redirected to the incinerator for sulfur-containing substance combustion, creating a self-sufficient degassing system that reduces equipment size while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding tail gas directly to atmosphere, the system recovers and utilizes it as stripping gas for degassing, then directs it to incineration. This transforms waste gas into a useful resource, reducing both equipment size and environmental impact
2Reliability
If external gases are used as stripping gas for liquid sulfur degassing, then degassing effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own tail gas as the stripping gas for degassing liquid sulfur, eliminating the need for external gas sources. The tail gas is redirected to the incinerator for sulfur-containing substance combustion, creating a self-sufficient degassing system that reduces equipment size while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding tail gas directly to atmosphere, the system recovers and utilizes it as stripping gas for degassing, then directs it to incineration. This transforms waste gas into a useful resource, reducing both equipment size and environmental impact
3Object-generated harmful factors
If waste gas from degassing is incinerated directly, then sulfur-containing substances are destroyed, but SO2 emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the waste gas from degassing with the tail gas before incineration, combining multiple sulfur-containing streams into a single treatment process. This consolidated approach allows for more efficient combustion and reduced SO2 emissions per unit of sulfur destroyed
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding tail gas directly to atmosphere, the system recovers and utilizes it as stripping gas for degassing, then directs it to incineration. This transforms waste gas into a useful resource, reducing both equipment size and environmental impact
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
The process effectively reduces SO2 emission concentrations to below 100 mg/m3, decreases operational costs, and minimizes equipment sizes by utilizing internal gases, thereby enhancing environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
combusting the H2S-containing acid gas to produce SO2
Implementation Method 2
combusting the H2S-containing acid gas to produce SO2
Implementation Method 3
catalytic reaction unit, where H2S-containing acid gas is combusted to produce SO2, and the resulting element sulfur is converted into liquid sulfur
Implementation Method 4
the hydrogenation tail-gas which comprises H2S is cooled down and introduced into an absorption column, wherein H2S is absorbed in the absorption column
Implementation Method 5
waste-gas from degassing of the liquid sulfur in the liquid sulfur tank
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a process for reducing sulfur emission of a sulfur plant, wherein the sulfur plant includes a thermal reaction unit, a catalytic reaction unit and a tail-gas purification unit, the process is characterized in that the waste-gas from the degassing of the liquid sulfur in the liquid sulfur tank is introduced into the catalytic reaction unit, and/or the waste-gas from the degassing of the liquid sulfur in the liquid sulfur tank is introduced into the tail-gas purification unit. In present invention, the H2S in purified tail-gas can be reduced to no more than 10 ppm(v) and the SO2 emission concentration of the sulfur plant can be reduced to no more than 100 mg/m3.