Patent ID: 6531109
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: C01B,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of treating a combustible gas stream containing hydrogen sulphide, comprising:burning a part of the hydrogen sulphide content of the gas stream in a flame which extends generally longitudinally within a furnace from a root at least adjacent its upstream end towards an outlet at its downstream end, causing oxygen molecules to enter the flame to support combustion of hydrogen sulphide therein so as to form sulphur dioxide and water vapour; creating within the flame one or more relatively oxygen-poor endothermic, hydrogen sulphide dissociation regions in which sulphur vapour is formed by thermal dissociation and one or more relatively oxygen-rich combustion regions; allowing residual hydrogen sulphide to react within the furnace with said sulphur dioxide so as to form further sulphur vapour; withdrawing an effluent gas stream containing sulphur vapour, water vapor, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide from said outlet end of the furnace; and recovering sulphur from the effluent gas stream; the furnace being of elongate configuration, having an aspect ratio of at least 6:1, and the flame diverging from its root to occupy at its maximum cross-sectional area at least about 80% of the cross-sectional area of the furnace interior coplanar therewith.