Patent ID: 7393513
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: C01B

Abstract:
1. A method for treating sulfur at elevated pressures, the method comprising: introducing a stream comprising sulfur and process gas into a separator at a pressure greater than about 15 psig, wherein the separator comprises an inlet for the stream comprising sulfur and process gas, an outlet for process gas, and a separator sulfur outlet for a stream consisting essential of sulfur; providing a first vessel comprising a first vessel sulfur inlet, a first vessel sulfur outlet, a pressurizing gas inlet, and a depressurizing gas outlet, wherein the first vessel is in fluid communication with the separator via a first transfer line which connects the separator sulfur outlet to the first vessel sulfur inlet whereby the first vessel sulfur inlet is elevated an elevation relative to the separator sulfur outlet; separating a stream consisting essentially of sulfur from the stream comprising sulfur and process gas in the separator; transferring at least a portion of the sulfur at elevated pressure from the separator up the elevation to the first vessel, whereby the first vessel contains essentially sulfur; whereby transfer of the sulfur from the separator to the first vessel is effected by maintaining the pressure of the first vessel at a pressure less than the pressure of the separator less the hydrostatic head of sulfur in the first transfer line during sulfur transfer by injecting gas through the pressurizing gas inlet or releasing gas through the depressurizing gas outlet; isolating the first vessel from the separator; and venting the first vessel containing the at least a portion of the sulfur to reduce the pressure of the sulfur.