Burning sulfur crude oil in a fluidized catalyst bed

Abstract

The possibility of the environmentally friendly burning of sulfur crude oil in a fluidized catalyst bed is studied in order to use this method in an energy plant for local heat supply. Two types of oil are used in the experiments: sulfur and high-sulfur crude oil. The oils are combusted in a bed of aluminum–copper–chrome catalyst for the deep oxidation of organic compounds, and in a bed of inert material for comparison. The efficiency of sulfur crude oil combustion depends on the amount of toxic products in the combustion gas (CO, SO2 and NO x ) and how complete the burning-out of organic components is. Calcite is used in a fluidized bed to remove SO2 from flue gas. The burning of sulfur crude oil in a fluidized catalyst bed with calcite is shown to result in complete burning-out at relatively low temperatures (700°C) and excludes the presence of CO and SO2 in the combustion gas. At the same time, the concentration of nitrogen oxides remains minimal and does not exceed environmental norms.