CA1045988A - Liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus - Google Patents
Liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1045988A CA1045988A CA221,199A CA221199A CA1045988A CA 1045988 A CA1045988 A CA 1045988A CA 221199 A CA221199 A CA 221199A CA 1045988 A CA1045988 A CA 1045988A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- disposed
- liquid sulphur
- casing
- reservoir
- passage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B17/00—Sulfur; Compounds thereof
- C01B17/02—Preparation of sulfur; Purification
- C01B17/0232—Purification, e.g. degassing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D19/00—Degasification of liquids
- B01D19/0042—Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
- Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
- Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus for removing hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides from liquid sulphur disposed in an enclosed reservoir. The apparatus comprises an outer casing extending upwardly from the reservoir in which a liquid sulphur downflow passage means is disposed. Downwardly canted baffle plates extending into the passage means in alternating fashion in opposing directions provide a cascade type downflow path which agitates the liquid sulphur and causes the release of sulphide gas therefrom. This gas is vented from the apparatus by means of openings disposed below the baffle plates and gas discharge and venting passages provided in the casing. Supply means for pumping liquid sulphur from the reservoir to the upper-most baffle plate in the downflow passage means is also provided.
A liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus for removing hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides from liquid sulphur disposed in an enclosed reservoir. The apparatus comprises an outer casing extending upwardly from the reservoir in which a liquid sulphur downflow passage means is disposed. Downwardly canted baffle plates extending into the passage means in alternating fashion in opposing directions provide a cascade type downflow path which agitates the liquid sulphur and causes the release of sulphide gas therefrom. This gas is vented from the apparatus by means of openings disposed below the baffle plates and gas discharge and venting passages provided in the casing. Supply means for pumping liquid sulphur from the reservoir to the upper-most baffle plate in the downflow passage means is also provided.
Description
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This invention relates to an apparatus for re-moving hydrogen sulF,hide and polysulphides ln liquid sulphur sub~equent to production of liquid sulphur b~ the Claus , process.
As is well known, liquid sulphur can be produced in the Claus process by passing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) through a combustion chamber where most o~ the hydrogen sul-phide is burned to produce sulphur and in such a manner that approximately one-third of the remaining volume of hydrogen sulphide is converted into sulphur dioxide. A~ter cooling, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide are passed through a catalyst converter where the hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide react to form liquid sulphur and water.
Liquid sulphur prepared by this process often ; 15 contains liquid hydrogen polysulphides as impurities 2S (ga6) ~ (X-l)S (liquid~ 2SX (liquid)]. The liquid polysulphides will 810wly decompose and evolve as H2S gas over a period of time to create dange~ to equipment and the health of employees. I~ the liquid sulphur ls shipped without removing the impurities and they gradually evolve as H2S during shipment, suf~iciently high levels of hydrogen sulphide may be evolved and under certain con-ditions an explo~ion might occur Similarly~ the escaping gas evolved during shipment could endanger workmen when the container is opened.
Previous attempts at reducing the hydrogen sulphide content o~ liquid sulphur have usually lnvolved more com-plicated proces~eæ, impractical for commerclal operations.
- For example, in United States Patent No. 3,364,655 a process 3Q i5 described in which llquid sulphur is degaæi~ied by
This invention relates to an apparatus for re-moving hydrogen sulF,hide and polysulphides ln liquid sulphur sub~equent to production of liquid sulphur b~ the Claus , process.
As is well known, liquid sulphur can be produced in the Claus process by passing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) through a combustion chamber where most o~ the hydrogen sul-phide is burned to produce sulphur and in such a manner that approximately one-third of the remaining volume of hydrogen sulphide is converted into sulphur dioxide. A~ter cooling, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide are passed through a catalyst converter where the hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide react to form liquid sulphur and water.
Liquid sulphur prepared by this process often ; 15 contains liquid hydrogen polysulphides as impurities 2S (ga6) ~ (X-l)S (liquid~ 2SX (liquid)]. The liquid polysulphides will 810wly decompose and evolve as H2S gas over a period of time to create dange~ to equipment and the health of employees. I~ the liquid sulphur ls shipped without removing the impurities and they gradually evolve as H2S during shipment, suf~iciently high levels of hydrogen sulphide may be evolved and under certain con-ditions an explo~ion might occur Similarly~ the escaping gas evolved during shipment could endanger workmen when the container is opened.
Previous attempts at reducing the hydrogen sulphide content o~ liquid sulphur have usually lnvolved more com-plicated proces~eæ, impractical for commerclal operations.
- For example, in United States Patent No. 3,364,655 a process 3Q i5 described in which llquid sulphur is degaæi~ied by
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atomizing liquid sulphur. By the process taught by this patent ammonia is added and the temperature of the liquid , sulphur cooled to approximately 125C. The liquid sulphur then is atomized by passage through nozzles of approximately 7 mm. in diameter. While this system may be used on a small sc~le, it would have inherent problems when practiced on ~.
the large commercial scale as contemplated by our invention.
Not only are the nozzles of small capacity and ~hus limiting ;~ production to a small scale but ~he necessity of adding ammonia f. 10 introduces another ingredient which may react to form stable l;~ ammonia polysulphide which would be a contaminant in the liquid ,~ sulphur, especially if the liquid sulphur is subsequently used to manufacture sulphuric acid. The need to cool the liquid sulphur requires additional cooling equipment, another disadvantage. Finally, no mention is made in the prior art of the hydrogen polysulphide problem and the need to remove ~, the same.
It is therefore an object of the invention to ~, .
provide a liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus which obviates ~; 20 the dangers of the shipment and storage of liquid sulphur by removing substantially all the hydrogen sulphide and dissolved hydrogen polysulphides in the liquid sulphur.
~,- Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, a liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus is provided for ,~ removing hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides from liquid ;l sulphur disposed in an enclosed reservoir. An elongated r; outer casing in communication with and extending vertically , ~ .
' upwardly from the reservoir is provided and includes a gas ~,l discharge passage for venting gas externally of the casing.
,, 30 Liquid sulphur downflow passage means is provided disposed within the casing and extending downwardly into the reservoir includes a first plurality of spaced apart openings disposed ~`
l 3 i,,~ , ,, ~ .~;)459t~18 in one side of the passage means and a second plurality of spaced apart openings disposed on the opposite side and offset with respect to the first plurality of openings. The casing and the passage means defined therebetween at least within a portion of the casing an annular gas venting passage communicating with the openings for venting gas from the passage means into the casing and externally of the casing through the gas discharge passage. A plurality of vertically spaced apart, downwardly canted baffle plates are provided disposed in the passage means and extend inwardly thereinto above each of the openings of the first and second plurallty of openings in alternating ashion, each of the plates extend into the passage means beyond the edge of the next lower '; adjacent baffle plate so as to form a cascade downflow path rom the liquid sulphur in the passage means. Means are provided coupled to the reservoir and extending inwardly into the passage means for supplying liquid sulphur from the ~ reservoir to the vertically uppermost of the baffle plates.
F~ The liquid sulphur downflow passage means is formed by an elongated cylinder coaxially disposed within the outer casing and in the portion of the casing disposed above the reservoir by a plurality of vertically disposed plates disposed within and spaced apart rom the casiny so as to define the annular gas venting passage.
Other features and objects of the invention will ~,, become apparent in the ollowing description, claims, and in the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of one embodiment of the process of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one ~, embodiment of a gas scrubber apparatus constructed according ii to the invention;
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Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a gas scrubber apparatus constructed according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the downflow passage of the apparatus taken along section 4-4 of Fig. 3;
and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the downflow passage of the apparatus of Fig. 3.
Referring now to the drawings, specifically -Fig. 1, liquid sulphur at approximately 280F. and containing hydrogen polysulphides is pumped from a Claus process pro-~; duction facility 1 through appropriate piping to a large $:
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enclosed reservoir illustrated as storage tank 2. This tank may b~ of any siæe and in one embodiment is a 13~000 long ton storage tank ln whlc~l the liquld sulphur is stored at atmospheric pressure and 2800F. By the practice of this invention the equilibrium between hydrogen polysulphide, hydrogen sulphide and llquid sulphur is shifted and the hydrogen polysulphides will decompose to for~ hydrogen sul-phide and liquid sulphur as follo~s:
H2SX (li~uid~ H2S ~ (gas) ~ (X-l)S (liquid) In order to provide agitation for removing the entrapped hydrogen sulphide, a vertical gas scrubber apparatus 5 is mounted with.in tank 2 in such a manner that it is communi-cative with and extends ~rom the bottom of tank 2 vertically upwardly through and beyond the top of tank 2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the tank has been partially fllled, the liquid sulphur stored in the tank ls continuously pumped from the tank 2 by a liquid sulphur supply means illustrated as pump 4 and supply pipe 16 to the top of the scrubber ~; apparatus 5 through pipe 16 where the liqùid sulphur is then allowed to flow in cascade fashion over a series of staggered internal baffle plates 8.
In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, a liqu~d sulphur downflow passage means is formed in ~ the upper portion o~ apparatus 5 above tank 2 by a pluralit~
,; 25 of vertically disposed plates 9 to which ba~fle plates 8 `
are attached. The baffle plates are downwardly canted and overlap the innermost edge of the next lower adjacent baffle ~;~ plate, so as to provide a cascad0 downflow path for the :~
liquid sulphur. Openings 15 are provided in opposing sides of the downflow passage formed by plates 9 in an of~set . ` .
~ .
arrangemen-t and are com~unicati~e ~ith an annular,gaa venting passage 14 def;ned b.y plates, ~ and an elongated outer ca4ing ~:
10 to w~i.ch t~e plate~ g are attached. The casing is communicative with and extends upwardly ~rom tank 2 and includes a gas dis-charge passage illustrated a~ vent and hood arrangement 7. Tank vents 19 are provided ~or venting yas from tank 2 to the atmos-phere. .~.
,, In the portion of the apparatus located within tank , .
2, the ba~fle plates 8 are composed of straight plates 2Q, one l~ end o~ ~hich is cut in an arc to match the shape of casing lQ :~
:: and is attached directly.to the inner sides of the casing by any ~
~,~; conventional means. By designing the lo~er portion of the ~ .. ' .. apparatus in this manner, the.fIow area of the sulphur is ,.~
,; increased. These lower plates 2Q continue to the bottom of apparatus 5 so that even when the sulphur in tank 2 is low .:
~ the incoming sulphur.is.not al.lowed to fall free for mo~eZ~.than ',~ one foot. This avoids static electrical charge buildup on the ~i sulphur and po~sible spark ignition re~ulking in fire oreexplosion. ~': ,.~-,' ~ ~ In the operation of the gas scrubber apparatus, .:.`
,'.1, 20, li~uid sulphur ~lows through.pipe 16 down the side of plates 9 on to the pitched ~a~fle plate~ a from one baffle plate . .~:
~, to the next in a zigzag flo~ do~n the do~n~.lo~ passage ~ormed !: in apparatus 5. This cascade.down~low within the apparatu~ ~.
agitates the. li~uid, increa~es.the sur~ace area of the liquid ~: sulphur and ~acili~ates the.break down of the hydrogen poly~
,,; sulphides into H2S and liquid sulphur. T~e H2S gas then ':
escapes.~rom the sulphur, pa~e~ through'vent openings 6 pro~ided : ,. ..~
$ . .in the lower portion of the casing w.ithin .t`ank ~ and coLlects .``~
,. in the upper portion of ~he tank 2. : ' ~` 30 ,:. :
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~(14L5~38 Gas i5 vented from the tank through vents 19. Gas escaping ,~ f`rom the liquid sulphur in thc upper portion of the apparatus is vented by openings 15, pa~sage 14~ and vent and hood 7 externally of casing 10. After the liquid sulphur has passed -~
through the scrubber apparatus 5 ~t spreads out over the surface of the liquid sulphur in the tank allowing more gaseous hy-drogen sulphide to escape. Openings 21 are provided in casing 10 near the top of the tank to venk the hydrogen sulphide gas from the tank into passage 14. After sufficient treatment~
the purified liquid sulphur in tank 2 is pumped from the tank by pump 17 through the appropriate piplng 18 to tank ~`~ cars or other suitable containers for shipment to the ulti-mate users.
Another alternative embodiment which can easily ~; 15 be adapted to this invention is to collect the escaping gas at vents 7 and 19 and recycle the gaseous hydrogen sulphide ~ through the production facility 1 to convert, this gaseous ;
hydrogen sulphide into liquid sulphur.
The typical dimensions for the splash tower shown d ~ ; 20 in Fig. 2 would be a tower of some 32' in height of which 5' protrudes above the 'GOp of the storage tank. The lnterior ~ baf~'les could be approximatel~ 16" ln helght with a vertical '~ separation of 12" between each baffle at the center point of the tower. A typical slope for the hor-lzontal surface 25 o~ each baffle would be 1" per 11". -Fig. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the gas ~` scrubber apparatus in Which the liquid sulphur downflow ,~ . . .
passage means comprises an elongated cylinder 22 coaxially disposed within casing 10. The cylinder terminates before the vertically upper end of casing 10 so as to form a ;: ' ' 'f,~ 7 ~: :
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, ~)45511~8 chamber 23 at the uppe~ end thereof.
Openings 15 are provided in opposing sides of cylinder 22 i.n an offset arrangement and are communicative wlth the gas venting passage lL~ deflned between cylinder 22 and casing 10. The openings terminate in cylind~r 22 above -the minimum sulphur leve} in tank 2, but addltional b~ffle plates 15a are disposed below the openings ln cylinder 22, one below and one above the minimum liquid sulphur level P ~ ?
the tank, to prevent free :~all of the sulphur for an excessive ~-10 dlstance. Coupllng means, illustrated as a discontinuous ;~ ~ .
sleeve 24, couples cylirder 22 to the storage tank and the reservoir of liquid sulphur to the downflow passage there- .
within. Each of baffle plates 8 ls also provided with liquid .~ .. ..
sulphur down.~low diversion means, illustrated as rectangular :::
.~ 15 shaped plates 25, disposed in a staggered arrangement on the upper surface thereof. The plates further agitate the liqu-ld sulphur flowing over the baPfle plates and increase the sur-face area thereof to ~acili-tate the release of gas. !~ ~
Chamber 23 conta.ins means for separating entrained :~ ;
.:
vapors from escaping gas, illustrated as demister pad 26.
Means for heating the demister pad, illustrated as steam `~ coils 27, are also provided, and serve to remove condensed ; ~;
liquid sulphur collected on pad 26 and return it to the re.ser~oir in tank 2. As in the previous embodiment of the ~ .
invention means for supplying liquid sulphur to the upper-~ most baffle plate is provided and includes supply pipe 16 'l and a U-shaped baffle plate 28. Steam tracing and insulation ~.
i;~ is also pro~ided in casing 10.
, . : .
, In an illustrative embodiment of the gas scrubber , ~ ..
; 30 apparatus shown in Figs~ 3 - 5, the cross-sectional area of 1: ~ '' - '. .
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casing lo with respect to the cross-sectional area of ~; cylinder 22 could ha~e a ratlo of approximately 3:1. Gas ~
discharge passage 7 would be approximately 2~ feet in length; ~:
cylinder 22 approxin~ately 36 feet long; and plates 25 approximately 3 inches in vertical height and 6 inches in horizontal length, and spaced apart by a distance of approxi-mately 6 inches. The operation of this ernbodiment of the scrubber apparatus is substantially khe same as that illus-trated in F~g. 2 In order to determine the effectiveness of this ., invention in reducing hydrogen sulphide and polysul.phide in liquid sulphur, the following tests were conducted by : :~
bubbling nitrogen through a weighed sample of sulphur, then , ~
¦~ passing the nltrogen through an absorption train consisting `
of a magnesium perchlorate drier, then ~ollowed by passage , through an activated copper phosphate hydrogen sulphide ; absorber. When tested by this process the following example illustra~es the ef~ectiveness of this invention in reducing hydrogen polysulphide in liquid sulphur. Liquid sulphur -;~
samples taken from the 13,000 long ton storage tank prior -~
to treatment in the scrubber or splash tower, when analyzed `~
for equivalent hydrogen sulphide content according to the `~
process described above~ have been found to contain between ` `
170 ppm (parts per million) and 218 ppm. After aging ~or 4 day~ and one pass through the spla~h tower, the equivalent hydrogen sulphide content of the liquid sulphur had been ~ :
~; . ., reduced to between 46 and 39 ppm. By continuously passing the liqu.id sulphur through the splash tower, the equivalent P~ hydrogen sulphide content of the liquid sulphur can be reduced even further.
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~()4S9198 A~ a ~urther illustratlon o~ the ~ffectiveness of our process, liquid sulphur which had been pretreated in accordance with thls invention and~shipped in a sealed tank car ~or a period O:r ~ days evolved hydrogen sulphide at the rate of 1.88 cublc ~eet per long ton. Liquid sulphur which had not been treated according to this invention but was shipped directly from the production facility in a sealed tank car for the same amount o~ time, evolved hydrogen sulphide at the rate of 4.39 cubic feet per long ton. This marked reduction in equivalent hydrogen sulphide was accomplished by only one passage through the splash tower.
t~ While the illustrated embodiments o~ the invention use a continuous circulation of the liquid sulphur during storage, another alternative embodiment which we have found most advantageous is to use two tanks. In one tank the material is stored rOr a period of l to ~ days during which time the hydrogen sulphlde slowly evolves and ls vented into ;-~ . ...
t ~ the atmosphere. After this storage period the liquid sulphur is then pumped to a second tank which includes the described ~-., .
gas scrubber apparatus. While the liquid sulphur is in this aecond tank it is circulated through the splash tower for a ;~:. ; .
suffic~ent period o~ time to circulate all the material at least twice. In this manner the hydrogen polysulphide content can be simllarly reduced to su~f:Lclentl~ low levels to provide j 25 ~or sa~e handling during storage and shipment. ;~
In the ~oregoing, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It ~l will be evident, however, that variations and modificakions `~ may be made thereto by those skilled in the art without de-parting from the spirit and scope Or the in~enkion.
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atomizing liquid sulphur. By the process taught by this patent ammonia is added and the temperature of the liquid , sulphur cooled to approximately 125C. The liquid sulphur then is atomized by passage through nozzles of approximately 7 mm. in diameter. While this system may be used on a small sc~le, it would have inherent problems when practiced on ~.
the large commercial scale as contemplated by our invention.
Not only are the nozzles of small capacity and ~hus limiting ;~ production to a small scale but ~he necessity of adding ammonia f. 10 introduces another ingredient which may react to form stable l;~ ammonia polysulphide which would be a contaminant in the liquid ,~ sulphur, especially if the liquid sulphur is subsequently used to manufacture sulphuric acid. The need to cool the liquid sulphur requires additional cooling equipment, another disadvantage. Finally, no mention is made in the prior art of the hydrogen polysulphide problem and the need to remove ~, the same.
It is therefore an object of the invention to ~, .
provide a liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus which obviates ~; 20 the dangers of the shipment and storage of liquid sulphur by removing substantially all the hydrogen sulphide and dissolved hydrogen polysulphides in the liquid sulphur.
~,- Thus, in accordance with the present teachings, a liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus is provided for ,~ removing hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides from liquid ;l sulphur disposed in an enclosed reservoir. An elongated r; outer casing in communication with and extending vertically , ~ .
' upwardly from the reservoir is provided and includes a gas ~,l discharge passage for venting gas externally of the casing.
,, 30 Liquid sulphur downflow passage means is provided disposed within the casing and extending downwardly into the reservoir includes a first plurality of spaced apart openings disposed ~`
l 3 i,,~ , ,, ~ .~;)459t~18 in one side of the passage means and a second plurality of spaced apart openings disposed on the opposite side and offset with respect to the first plurality of openings. The casing and the passage means defined therebetween at least within a portion of the casing an annular gas venting passage communicating with the openings for venting gas from the passage means into the casing and externally of the casing through the gas discharge passage. A plurality of vertically spaced apart, downwardly canted baffle plates are provided disposed in the passage means and extend inwardly thereinto above each of the openings of the first and second plurallty of openings in alternating ashion, each of the plates extend into the passage means beyond the edge of the next lower '; adjacent baffle plate so as to form a cascade downflow path rom the liquid sulphur in the passage means. Means are provided coupled to the reservoir and extending inwardly into the passage means for supplying liquid sulphur from the ~ reservoir to the vertically uppermost of the baffle plates.
F~ The liquid sulphur downflow passage means is formed by an elongated cylinder coaxially disposed within the outer casing and in the portion of the casing disposed above the reservoir by a plurality of vertically disposed plates disposed within and spaced apart rom the casiny so as to define the annular gas venting passage.
Other features and objects of the invention will ~,, become apparent in the ollowing description, claims, and in the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of one embodiment of the process of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one ~, embodiment of a gas scrubber apparatus constructed according ii to the invention;
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Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a gas scrubber apparatus constructed according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the downflow passage of the apparatus taken along section 4-4 of Fig. 3;
and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the downflow passage of the apparatus of Fig. 3.
Referring now to the drawings, specifically -Fig. 1, liquid sulphur at approximately 280F. and containing hydrogen polysulphides is pumped from a Claus process pro-~; duction facility 1 through appropriate piping to a large $:
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enclosed reservoir illustrated as storage tank 2. This tank may b~ of any siæe and in one embodiment is a 13~000 long ton storage tank ln whlc~l the liquld sulphur is stored at atmospheric pressure and 2800F. By the practice of this invention the equilibrium between hydrogen polysulphide, hydrogen sulphide and llquid sulphur is shifted and the hydrogen polysulphides will decompose to for~ hydrogen sul-phide and liquid sulphur as follo~s:
H2SX (li~uid~ H2S ~ (gas) ~ (X-l)S (liquid) In order to provide agitation for removing the entrapped hydrogen sulphide, a vertical gas scrubber apparatus 5 is mounted with.in tank 2 in such a manner that it is communi-cative with and extends ~rom the bottom of tank 2 vertically upwardly through and beyond the top of tank 2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the tank has been partially fllled, the liquid sulphur stored in the tank ls continuously pumped from the tank 2 by a liquid sulphur supply means illustrated as pump 4 and supply pipe 16 to the top of the scrubber ~; apparatus 5 through pipe 16 where the liqùid sulphur is then allowed to flow in cascade fashion over a series of staggered internal baffle plates 8.
In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, a liqu~d sulphur downflow passage means is formed in ~ the upper portion o~ apparatus 5 above tank 2 by a pluralit~
,; 25 of vertically disposed plates 9 to which ba~fle plates 8 `
are attached. The baffle plates are downwardly canted and overlap the innermost edge of the next lower adjacent baffle ~;~ plate, so as to provide a cascad0 downflow path for the :~
liquid sulphur. Openings 15 are provided in opposing sides of the downflow passage formed by plates 9 in an of~set . ` .
~ .
arrangemen-t and are com~unicati~e ~ith an annular,gaa venting passage 14 def;ned b.y plates, ~ and an elongated outer ca4ing ~:
10 to w~i.ch t~e plate~ g are attached. The casing is communicative with and extends upwardly ~rom tank 2 and includes a gas dis-charge passage illustrated a~ vent and hood arrangement 7. Tank vents 19 are provided ~or venting yas from tank 2 to the atmos-phere. .~.
,, In the portion of the apparatus located within tank , .
2, the ba~fle plates 8 are composed of straight plates 2Q, one l~ end o~ ~hich is cut in an arc to match the shape of casing lQ :~
:: and is attached directly.to the inner sides of the casing by any ~
~,~; conventional means. By designing the lo~er portion of the ~ .. ' .. apparatus in this manner, the.fIow area of the sulphur is ,.~
,; increased. These lower plates 2Q continue to the bottom of apparatus 5 so that even when the sulphur in tank 2 is low .:
~ the incoming sulphur.is.not al.lowed to fall free for mo~eZ~.than ',~ one foot. This avoids static electrical charge buildup on the ~i sulphur and po~sible spark ignition re~ulking in fire oreexplosion. ~': ,.~-,' ~ ~ In the operation of the gas scrubber apparatus, .:.`
,'.1, 20, li~uid sulphur ~lows through.pipe 16 down the side of plates 9 on to the pitched ~a~fle plate~ a from one baffle plate . .~:
~, to the next in a zigzag flo~ do~n the do~n~.lo~ passage ~ormed !: in apparatus 5. This cascade.down~low within the apparatu~ ~.
agitates the. li~uid, increa~es.the sur~ace area of the liquid ~: sulphur and ~acili~ates the.break down of the hydrogen poly~
,,; sulphides into H2S and liquid sulphur. T~e H2S gas then ':
escapes.~rom the sulphur, pa~e~ through'vent openings 6 pro~ided : ,. ..~
$ . .in the lower portion of the casing w.ithin .t`ank ~ and coLlects .``~
,. in the upper portion of ~he tank 2. : ' ~` 30 ,:. :
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~(14L5~38 Gas i5 vented from the tank through vents 19. Gas escaping ,~ f`rom the liquid sulphur in thc upper portion of the apparatus is vented by openings 15, pa~sage 14~ and vent and hood 7 externally of casing 10. After the liquid sulphur has passed -~
through the scrubber apparatus 5 ~t spreads out over the surface of the liquid sulphur in the tank allowing more gaseous hy-drogen sulphide to escape. Openings 21 are provided in casing 10 near the top of the tank to venk the hydrogen sulphide gas from the tank into passage 14. After sufficient treatment~
the purified liquid sulphur in tank 2 is pumped from the tank by pump 17 through the appropriate piplng 18 to tank ~`~ cars or other suitable containers for shipment to the ulti-mate users.
Another alternative embodiment which can easily ~; 15 be adapted to this invention is to collect the escaping gas at vents 7 and 19 and recycle the gaseous hydrogen sulphide ~ through the production facility 1 to convert, this gaseous ;
hydrogen sulphide into liquid sulphur.
The typical dimensions for the splash tower shown d ~ ; 20 in Fig. 2 would be a tower of some 32' in height of which 5' protrudes above the 'GOp of the storage tank. The lnterior ~ baf~'les could be approximatel~ 16" ln helght with a vertical '~ separation of 12" between each baffle at the center point of the tower. A typical slope for the hor-lzontal surface 25 o~ each baffle would be 1" per 11". -Fig. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the gas ~` scrubber apparatus in Which the liquid sulphur downflow ,~ . . .
passage means comprises an elongated cylinder 22 coaxially disposed within casing 10. The cylinder terminates before the vertically upper end of casing 10 so as to form a ;: ' ' 'f,~ 7 ~: :
,!
, ~)45511~8 chamber 23 at the uppe~ end thereof.
Openings 15 are provided in opposing sides of cylinder 22 i.n an offset arrangement and are communicative wlth the gas venting passage lL~ deflned between cylinder 22 and casing 10. The openings terminate in cylind~r 22 above -the minimum sulphur leve} in tank 2, but addltional b~ffle plates 15a are disposed below the openings ln cylinder 22, one below and one above the minimum liquid sulphur level P ~ ?
the tank, to prevent free :~all of the sulphur for an excessive ~-10 dlstance. Coupllng means, illustrated as a discontinuous ;~ ~ .
sleeve 24, couples cylirder 22 to the storage tank and the reservoir of liquid sulphur to the downflow passage there- .
within. Each of baffle plates 8 ls also provided with liquid .~ .. ..
sulphur down.~low diversion means, illustrated as rectangular :::
.~ 15 shaped plates 25, disposed in a staggered arrangement on the upper surface thereof. The plates further agitate the liqu-ld sulphur flowing over the baPfle plates and increase the sur-face area thereof to ~acili-tate the release of gas. !~ ~
Chamber 23 conta.ins means for separating entrained :~ ;
.:
vapors from escaping gas, illustrated as demister pad 26.
Means for heating the demister pad, illustrated as steam `~ coils 27, are also provided, and serve to remove condensed ; ~;
liquid sulphur collected on pad 26 and return it to the re.ser~oir in tank 2. As in the previous embodiment of the ~ .
invention means for supplying liquid sulphur to the upper-~ most baffle plate is provided and includes supply pipe 16 'l and a U-shaped baffle plate 28. Steam tracing and insulation ~.
i;~ is also pro~ided in casing 10.
, . : .
, In an illustrative embodiment of the gas scrubber , ~ ..
; 30 apparatus shown in Figs~ 3 - 5, the cross-sectional area of 1: ~ '' - '. .
t,'. :
. .. .
,.. "~ . . ,- ,- . '.' , ,, .,,' ,' ` . ' ., , ' ' " .': . ' ' ~ o~9~
casing lo with respect to the cross-sectional area of ~; cylinder 22 could ha~e a ratlo of approximately 3:1. Gas ~
discharge passage 7 would be approximately 2~ feet in length; ~:
cylinder 22 approxin~ately 36 feet long; and plates 25 approximately 3 inches in vertical height and 6 inches in horizontal length, and spaced apart by a distance of approxi-mately 6 inches. The operation of this ernbodiment of the scrubber apparatus is substantially khe same as that illus-trated in F~g. 2 In order to determine the effectiveness of this ., invention in reducing hydrogen sulphide and polysul.phide in liquid sulphur, the following tests were conducted by : :~
bubbling nitrogen through a weighed sample of sulphur, then , ~
¦~ passing the nltrogen through an absorption train consisting `
of a magnesium perchlorate drier, then ~ollowed by passage , through an activated copper phosphate hydrogen sulphide ; absorber. When tested by this process the following example illustra~es the ef~ectiveness of this invention in reducing hydrogen polysulphide in liquid sulphur. Liquid sulphur -;~
samples taken from the 13,000 long ton storage tank prior -~
to treatment in the scrubber or splash tower, when analyzed `~
for equivalent hydrogen sulphide content according to the `~
process described above~ have been found to contain between ` `
170 ppm (parts per million) and 218 ppm. After aging ~or 4 day~ and one pass through the spla~h tower, the equivalent hydrogen sulphide content of the liquid sulphur had been ~ :
~; . ., reduced to between 46 and 39 ppm. By continuously passing the liqu.id sulphur through the splash tower, the equivalent P~ hydrogen sulphide content of the liquid sulphur can be reduced even further.
,.~ .
~.~ 9' ;~"-' ' :~ .
~' '"'', ~, A ~
~()4S9198 A~ a ~urther illustratlon o~ the ~ffectiveness of our process, liquid sulphur which had been pretreated in accordance with thls invention and~shipped in a sealed tank car ~or a period O:r ~ days evolved hydrogen sulphide at the rate of 1.88 cublc ~eet per long ton. Liquid sulphur which had not been treated according to this invention but was shipped directly from the production facility in a sealed tank car for the same amount o~ time, evolved hydrogen sulphide at the rate of 4.39 cubic feet per long ton. This marked reduction in equivalent hydrogen sulphide was accomplished by only one passage through the splash tower.
t~ While the illustrated embodiments o~ the invention use a continuous circulation of the liquid sulphur during storage, another alternative embodiment which we have found most advantageous is to use two tanks. In one tank the material is stored rOr a period of l to ~ days during which time the hydrogen sulphlde slowly evolves and ls vented into ;-~ . ...
t ~ the atmosphere. After this storage period the liquid sulphur is then pumped to a second tank which includes the described ~-., .
gas scrubber apparatus. While the liquid sulphur is in this aecond tank it is circulated through the splash tower for a ;~:. ; .
suffic~ent period o~ time to circulate all the material at least twice. In this manner the hydrogen polysulphide content can be simllarly reduced to su~f:Lclentl~ low levels to provide j 25 ~or sa~e handling during storage and shipment. ;~
In the ~oregoing, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It ~l will be evident, however, that variations and modificakions `~ may be made thereto by those skilled in the art without de-parting from the spirit and scope Or the in~enkion.
:
~i~ 10. .. .
,., "
.~ .. ; . . . , , ~ : , . : .
Claims (10)
1. A liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus for removing hydrogen sulphide and polysulphides from liquid sulphur disposed in an enclosed reservoir, comprising:
an elongated outer casing communicative with and extending vertically upwardly from said reservoir and including a gas discharge passage for venting gas externally of said casing;
liquid sulphur downflow passage means, disposed within said casing and extending downwardly into said reservoir, in-cluding a first plurality of spaced-apart openings disposed in one side of said passage means, and a second plurality of spaced-apart openings disposed in an opposing side thereof and offset with respect to said first plurality of openings, said casing and said passage means defining therebetween at least within a portion of said casing an annular gas venting passage communica-tive with said openings for venting gas from said passage means into said casing and externally of said casing through said gas discharge passage;
a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, downwardly canted baffle plates, disposed in said passage means and extending inwardly thereinto above each of the openings of said first and second plurality of openings in alternating fashion, each of said plates extending into said passage means beyond the edge of the next lower adjacent baffle plate so as to form a cascade downflow path for the liquid sulphur in said passage means; and means, coupled to said reservoir and extending in-wardly into said passage means, for supplying liquid sulphur from said reservoir to the vertically uppermost of said baffle plates, said liquid sulphur downflow passage means being formed by an elongated cylinder coaxially disposed within said outer casing and in the portion of said casing disposed above the reservoir by a plurality of vertically disposed plates disposed within and spaced apart from said casing so as to define said annular gas venting passage.
an elongated outer casing communicative with and extending vertically upwardly from said reservoir and including a gas discharge passage for venting gas externally of said casing;
liquid sulphur downflow passage means, disposed within said casing and extending downwardly into said reservoir, in-cluding a first plurality of spaced-apart openings disposed in one side of said passage means, and a second plurality of spaced-apart openings disposed in an opposing side thereof and offset with respect to said first plurality of openings, said casing and said passage means defining therebetween at least within a portion of said casing an annular gas venting passage communica-tive with said openings for venting gas from said passage means into said casing and externally of said casing through said gas discharge passage;
a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, downwardly canted baffle plates, disposed in said passage means and extending inwardly thereinto above each of the openings of said first and second plurality of openings in alternating fashion, each of said plates extending into said passage means beyond the edge of the next lower adjacent baffle plate so as to form a cascade downflow path for the liquid sulphur in said passage means; and means, coupled to said reservoir and extending in-wardly into said passage means, for supplying liquid sulphur from said reservoir to the vertically uppermost of said baffle plates, said liquid sulphur downflow passage means being formed by an elongated cylinder coaxially disposed within said outer casing and in the portion of said casing disposed above the reservoir by a plurality of vertically disposed plates disposed within and spaced apart from said casing so as to define said annular gas venting passage.
2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said cylinder terminates before the end of said casing so as to form a chamber therewithin above said cylinder, and further comprising means disposed in said chamber for separating entrained vapors from gas vented externally of said casing through said gas dis-charge passage.
3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said separating means comprises a demister pad.
4. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further comprising means for heating said separating means and thereby causing removal of condensed liquid sulphur collected on said separating means and return thereof to the reservoir.
5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said heating means comprises steam coils disposed in said chamber ad-jacent said separating means.
6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said openings terminate in said downflow passage means vertically above a minimum liquid sulphur level in the reservoir, and further comprising a plurality of additional baffle plates disposed in said downflow passage means, at least one of said additional baffle plates being disposed below said minimum liquid sulphur level and at least one of said additional plates being disposed above said minimum level.
7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, further comprising means, disposed in and communicative with the reservoir, for coupling said downflow passage means to the liquid sulphur reservoir.
8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said coupling means comprises a discontinuous sleeve disposed on the lower end of said downflow passage means.
9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising liquid sulphur downflow diversion means, disposed on said baffle plates, for agitating liquid sulphur flowing in said downflow passage means.
10. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said diversion means comprises a plurality of upwardly extending plates disposed in a staggered arrangement on the upper surface of each of said baffle plates.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US448298A US3920424A (en) | 1971-02-16 | 1974-03-05 | Liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1045988A true CA1045988A (en) | 1979-01-09 |
Family
ID=23779740
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA221,199A Expired CA1045988A (en) | 1974-03-05 | 1975-03-04 | Liquid sulphur gas scrubber apparatus |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1045988A (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2263198A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114103195A (en) * | 2021-11-30 | 2022-03-01 | 广州市博卡利生物科技有限公司 | Production process and device of polysaccharide long-acting moisturizing non-woven fabric |
-
1975
- 1975-02-28 FR FR7506387A patent/FR2263198A1/en active Granted
- 1975-03-04 CA CA221,199A patent/CA1045988A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114103195A (en) * | 2021-11-30 | 2022-03-01 | 广州市博卡利生物科技有限公司 | Production process and device of polysaccharide long-acting moisturizing non-woven fabric |
| CN114103195B (en) * | 2021-11-30 | 2022-06-07 | 广州市博卡利生物科技有限公司 | Production process and device of polysaccharide long-acting moisturizing non-woven fabric |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2263198B1 (en) | 1977-11-18 |
| FR2263198A1 (en) | 1975-10-03 |
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