Numerical study of the burner parameters on the thermal field in a sulfur recovery unit thermal reactor

Chun-Lang Yeh,W.-H Hsieh

doi:10.1051/matecconf/201816901013

Abstract

A sulfur recovery unit (SRU) thermal reactor is the most important equipment in a sulfur plant and is negatively affected by high temperature operations. In this paper, the effect of burner parameters, including the clearance of the acid gas tip and the inlet air swirler angle, on the thermal field in a SRU thermal reactor are investigated numerically, with the aim to reduce the high temperature inside the thermal reactor and to ensure an acceptable sulfur recovery. The simulation results show that the burner with a smaller clearance of the acid gas tip produces a lower temperature, a lower exit SO2 mole fraction and higher exit S2 and H2S mole fractions. Among the clearancs of the acid gas tip investigated, the horizontal clearance of 152.4mm and vertical clearance of 240mm yield the lowest temperature, exit SO2 mole fraction and highest exit S2, H2S mole fractions. The burner with a smaller inlet air swirler angle produces a higher temperature, a higher exit SO2 mole fraction and lower exit S2 and H2S mole fractions. Among the swirler angles investigated, 60° yields the lowest temperature, exit SO2 mole fraction and highest exit S2 , H2S mole fractions.

Highlights

Desulfurization is very important in the petroleum refining process because oxysulfides from the petroleum refining process are one of the major sources of air pollution
sulfur recovery unit (SRU) thermal reactors are negatively affected by high temperature operations because high temperature can damage the refractory and the heat exchanger tubes
To investigate the effects of burner parameters, parametric studies including the clearance of the acid gas tip and the inlet air swirler angle are performed

Summary

Introduction

Desulfurization is very important in the petroleum refining process because oxysulfides from the petroleum refining process are one of the major sources of air pollution. The most frequently used desulfurization process is the Claus process, which converts the H2S in natural gas or crude oil into sulfur elements and reduces the formation of oxysulfides. A SRU thermal reactor is the most important equipment in a sulfur plant. It converts the NH3, H2S and hydrocarbons in the reactants into sulfur. Most of the sulfur elements are recovered from the SRU thermal reactor. The first section of a SRU that uses the Claus process is composed of a burner, a thermal reactor and a waste heat exchanger. SRU thermal reactors are negatively affected by high temperature operations because high temperature can damage the refractory and the heat exchanger tubes

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