OUTLINE OF SULFUR RECOVERY PROCESSES

BSDT Seminars


I. Overview of Sulfur Recovery

          A. Processing H2S

          B. Typical processing elements

                   1. Scrubbing and concentration processes

                   2. H2S conversion processes

                   3. Final H2S removal processes

                   4. Typical sulfur recovery system block flow diagram

          C. Safety considerations

 

II. Sour water treating

          A. Basic sour water chemistry

                   1. Pure sour water chemistry

                   2. Real sour water chemistry

          B. Feed stream preparation

                    1. Degassing

                    2. Storage

          C. Sour water treating equipment

                   1. Sour water stripper

                   2. Overhead system

          D. Process variable monitoring and control

                   1. Process temperatures

                   2. Pressure

                   3. pH

                   4. Monitoring the SWS

          E. Alternative processes

                   1. Sour water oxidizers

                   2. Recovering ammonia

          F. Test questions

         

III. Amine units

          A. Purpose

          B. Process principles

                   1. Basic chemistry

                   2. Vapor-Liquid equilibrium reactions

                   3. Absorber heat balance

                   4. Regenerator heat balance

                   5. Commercial amines and their properties

          C. Amine unit process flow

          D. Amine unit equipment & operation

          D.1. Gas and LPG treating equipment and operation

                   1. Feed preparation

                   2. Absorber O/H KO drum

                   3. Gas absorber

                   4. LPG contactor

                   5. LPG-amine coalescer

          D.2. Amine regeneration equipment and operation

                   6. Flash drum

                   7. Rich amine pump

                   8. Lean/rich exchanger

                   9. Regenerator

                   10. Reboiler

                   11. Regenerator overhead condenser

                   12. Reflux drum

                   13. Reflux pump

                   14. Lean amine coolers

                   15. Amine filter

                   16. Amine carbon bed filter

                   17. Carbon treater after filter

                   18. Amine surge tank

                   19. Lean amine pump

                   20. Reclaimers

                   21. DGA reclaimers

                   22. NH3 scrubber

                   23. Sumps

                   24. Safety relief systems

          E. Amine unit monitoring

                   1. Monitoring amine quality

                   2. Heat stable salts

                   3. Recaliming

                   4. Makeup water

                   5. Analytical considerations

                   6. Unit performance

          F. Conversion to “super” amines

          G. Materials and corrosion

          H. Amine unit economics

                  1. Benefits

                  2. Costs

                  3. Tradeoffs

                  4. Project justification

          I. Test questions

 

 IV. Claus Units

          A. Basic Claus unit chemistry

                   1. Acid gas streams

                   2. Converting H2S to sulfur

                   3. Equilibrium and process variables

                   4. Sulfur product properties

                   5. Contaminants

                   6. Ammonia destruction

          B. Modified Claus unit process flow

          C. Claus unit equipment & operation

          C.1. Front end equipment

                   1. KO drums

                   2. Air blower

          C.2. Thermal section

                   3. Thermal reactor

                             3.1. Burner

                             3.2. Thermal reactor mechanical considerations

                             3.3. Air control – feed forward/feedback controls

                             3.4. Process considerations for ammonia destruction

                   4. Waste heat boiler

          C.3. Catalytic section    

                   5. Reheaters

                   6. Catalytic reactors (converters)

                   7. Sulfur condensers

                   8. Sulfur Seals

          C.4. Back end equipment

                   9. Sulfur pit

                   10. Sulfur degassing

                   11. Sulfur storage tank

                   12. Sulfur shipping and forming

                   13. Thermal oxidizer

          D. Monitoring performance

                   1. Catalyst

                   2. Claus unit pressure

                   3. Sulfur production

                   4. Claus unit performance

          E. Startup/Shutdown issues

                   1. Startup

                   2. Shutdown

          F. Emergency shutdown system

                   1. Emergency trips

                   2. ESD actions

                   3. Handling emergency shutdown

          G. Process enhancements

                   1. Oxygen enrichment

                   2. Advanced controls

          H. Test questions

 

V. Tail gas treating units

          A. Purpose

          B. Process options

          C. Amine based unit equipment & operation

                   1. Tail Gas Conditioning

                   2. Hydrogenation/hydrolysis reactor

                   3. Reaction Products Cooler

                   4. Quench column

                   5. Absorber

                   6. Regenerator

          D. Other commercial processes

                   1. Reduction-oxidation chemical processes

                   2. Extended Claus Reaction

                   3. Direct Oxidation

                   4. Oxidation to SO2

          E. Test questions

 

VI. Troubleshooting the sulfur recovery system

          A. Approach to troubleshooting

          B.   SWS unit

          C.   Amine unit

          D.   Claus unit

          E.    TGT unit

 

VII. Sulfur recovery system sample calculations

          A.   Miscellaneous notes

          B.   Amine system mass balance calculations

          C.   Claus unit production and air rate calculations

          D.   Tail gas treating unit mass balance calculations

          E.    O/H temp set point calculation for regenerator steam control

          F.    Regenerator heat balance calculations

          G.   Bulk amine loading estimate

          H.   Sour water stripper mass balance calculations