Apparatus for in-situ production of low dissolved hydrogen sulfide, degassed, sulfur from Claus sulfur recovery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789433-B2
Application number	US-201414303937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A horizontal sulfur condenser may include an exterior casing with a plurality of condenser tubes arranged longitudinally within the casing, a liquid sulfur reservoir at a longitudinal end within the exterior casing, and an internal baffle that protrudes into the liquid sulfur reservoir from the surface. The lowest of the plurality of condenser tubes is parallel to a wall of the exterior casing. A Claus process gas inlet is proximate a first end of the plurality of condenser tubes, which are arranged horizontally but are positioned vertically above the sulfur reservoir. A liquid sulfur outlet is located at the liquid sulfur surface. The baffle creates multiple chambers above the sulfur reservoir, such as a first chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle to receive condensed Claus sulfur in the liquid reservoir, and a second chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle to receive degassed liquid sulfur.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sulfur condenser comprising:
an exterior casing with a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet;
a plurality of condenser tubes arranged longitudinally within the exterior casing;
a liquid sulfur reservoir at a longitudinal end of the sulfur condenser;
a degassed liquid sulfur outlet in the liquid sulfur reservoir thereby defining a liquid sulfur surface below which, during operation of the sulfur condenser, liquid sulfur would collect for degassing;
catalyst positioned in the sulfur reservoir and distributed throughout the sulfur reservoir for catalytically degassing liquid sulfur; and
a baffle that protrudes into the liquid sulfur reservoir to a level below the degassed liquid sulfur outlet to direct process gas that enters process gas inlet of the sulfur condenser to pass through the liquid sulfur reservoir containing the catalyst before exiting the process gas outlet;
wherein the casing and the plurality of condenser tubes are arranged horizontally within the casing such that the tubes are aligned parallel to level ground with up to a 2 degree downward slope from horizontal and wherein a lowest of the plurality of condenser tubes is generally parallel to the exterior casing and positioned a first tube distance from the casing and wherein the liquid sulfur reservoir has a depth measured from the degassed liquid sulfur outlet to the casing that is less than the first tube distance from the casing and wherein the plurality of condenser tubes is positioned vertically above the sulfur reservoir at the longitudinal end of the sulfur condenser such that condensed liquid in all of the tubes fall out of the tubes and into the liquid sulfur reservoir and wherein the baffle creates multiple chambers above the sulfur reservoir and wherein the multiple chambers comprise a first chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle and a second chamber defined by the exterior casing and the baffle such that said first chamber is to contain condensed Claus sulfur in the liquid reservoir and wherein the second chamber is to contain degassed liquid sulfur and the degassed liquid sulfur outlet is directly connected to the second chamber and further wherein the catalyst is distributed fully across each and all of the chambers within the liquid sulfur reservoir and wherein the process gas inlet is arranged to deliver process gas into the casing and further wherein filler material fills the casing only at the end opposite the liquid sulfur reservoir up to the first tube distance to direct process gas and any liquids into at least the lowest of the plurality of condenser tubes and prevent the liquid buildup of liquid sulfur at the end of the casing opposite the longitudinal end of the liquid sulfur reservoir.

Assignees

• Phillips 66 Co

Inventors

• Keller Alfred E

Classifications

• F25J1/00

  Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures {(recovering volatile solvents by condensation B01D5/00; vapor recovery systems combined with filling nozzles B67D7/54; solidification of carbonic acid C01B32/55; for ammonia in general C01C1/00)} · CPC title

• C01B17/0439

  at least one catalyst bed operating below the dew-point of sulfur · CPC title

• B01D5/0093

  Removing and treatment of non condensable gases · CPC title

• B01D5/0012

  Vertical tubes · CPC title

• B01D5/00

  Condensation of vapours; Recovering volatile solvents by condensation (B01D8/00 takes precedence; condensers F28B) · CPC title