Patent GB-890793-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for producing elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide containing cases
Inventor: WEBB MAURICE
IPC: C01B17/04
Filed: 1958-03-07
Abstract: An apparatus for producing S from H2S gases comprises a boiler vessel, a separating and storage vessel and a catalytic converter vessel, a fire tube, having means for injecting the gases and air thereinto and contained in the boiler, the outlet of which leads via return tubes in the boiler to a separating section of the separating and storage vessel, means for conveying gases therefrom to a conversion section of the catalytic converter, means for conveying gases therefrom to a condenser section in the boiler, the outlet of which leads to a storage section in the separating and storage vessel, and means for venting residual gases therefrom.  Inclined boiler 4 is an elongated cylindrical closed shell 83 (Fig. 5) divided laterally by tube sheets 96, 98 into three sections.  The end sections are further divided by partitions 124, 114 forming upper and lower compartments, the former being further divided by gas-tight partitions 126 (Fig. 7). Fire tube 84 extends through tube sheet 96 and spans the middle section of the boiler to terminate as a closed end against tube sheet 98.  Return tubes 103, 104 (Fig. 7) lead back through tube sheet 96 to refractory-lined header 106, and are of such bore that the hot gases emerging are at 1000-2000 DEG F.  Header 106 is connected directly to lower compartment 110, by conduits 108, which has by-pass ports 60, 62 for removal of part of the gases. The upper front sections of the boiler, 121 (Fig. 5) are connected to rear upper sections by conduits 94.  The middle section of the boiler is a steam boiler having inlet and outlet ports 80, 49 for water and steam respectively.  The combined gas-liquid separator 24 is a closed cylindrical shell 132 (Fig. 11) having independent inlets to two gas-tight chambers 138, both communicating separately through U-seal pipes 146 with storage section 148. Chambers 138 have outlets for uncondensed gases.  Storage section 148 has independent inlet 156, gas outlet 164, and liquid outlet p  158.  Catalytic reactor 14 is a shell divided into two separate gas-tight compartments each provided with inlets and outlets. H2S is burned with sufficient air to form a combustion product having a mole ratio H2S:SO2::2:1 in fire tube 84. The combustion products containing elemental S pass through return tubes 103, 104, header 106, and tubes 108 where S condenses and gases are cooled by heat exchange with water in the boiler.  S and uncondensed gases pass through 22 to gas-liquid separator chamber 138 where S is collected and stored in 148.  Residual gases leave by 26 and are mixed with hot by-pass gases from header 106 in 3-way valve 28, the proportion of added gas being controlled so that the temperature in line 30 to catalytic converter 14 is 450 DEG F.  Gases leaving 14 are fed by line 38, into first set of condensing pipes 94, whence they are lead to second separator chamber 138 through 42, where further S is removed. Uncondensed gases in line 44, mixed with further by-pass gas from header 106 in 3-way valve 46, enter the catalytic converter 14 by line 32.  Reacted gases from the catalytic <PICT:0890793/III/1> <PICT:0890793/III/2> <PICT:0890793/III/3> <PICT:0890793/III/4> <PICT:0890793/III/5> converter are passed by line 40 to second set of condensing pipes 94, and thence to storage section 148 for removal of S, while waste gases are vented at 164. Steam produced in boiler 4 is removed at 49 and returned as water to line 80 from condenser 51.