THE EFFECTS OF INLET AIR QUANTITY AND INLET OXYGEN MOLE FRACTION ON THE COMBUSTION AND FLUID FLOW IN A SULFUR RECOVERY UNIT THERMAL REACTOR

Abstract

Owing to the high temperature inside a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) thermal reactor, detailed experimental measurements are difficult. In the author’s previous studies, several methods have been assessed to resolve the abnormality of the SRU thermal reactor under high temperature operation. This paper presents a new easier and more economical method. The effects of inlet air quantity and inlet O2 mole fraction on the combustion and fluid flow in a SRU thermal reactor are investigated numerically. The flow field temperature, S2 recovery, H2S mole fraction, and SO2 emissions are analyzed. This paper provides a guideline for adjusting the inlet air quantity and the inlet O2 mole fraction to reduce the high temperature inside a thermal reactor and to ensure an acceptable sulfur recovery.