Patent ID: 7674449

Claim:
Apparatus for the combustion of a sulfur-containing liquid to produce a combustion gas comprising sulfur dioxide, the apparatus comprising: a furnace comprising a combustion chamber; a pressurized source of the sulfur-containing liquid; a pressurized source of an atomizing gas; and at least one sulfur lance positioned for discharging an atomized sulfur combustion mixture comprising particles of the sulfur-containing liquid and atomizing gas into said combustion chamber wherein the sulfur-containing liquid particles are combusted in the presence of oxygen to produce the combustion gas comprising sulfur dioxide, said sulfur lance comprising a mixing and atomizing nozzle directed into said combustion chamber, a first conduit communicating with said pressurized source of sulfur-containing liquid and said nozzle and a second conduit communicating with said pressurized source of atomizing gas and said nozzle, said nozzle being adapted for mixing the sulfur-containing liquid and the atomizing gas to form the atomized sulfur combustion mixture and having a plurality of spray apertures therein through which the atomized sulfur combustion mixture is discharged under pressure into said combustion chamber.