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Sulphur 2018 welcomes you to Gothenburg

Summary

CRU's annual Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid conference and exhibition will take place this year 5-8 November 2018 at Gothia Towers Gothenburg, Sweden. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry peers, attend workshops, hear the latest market analysis and price trends, take part in panel discussions and gain information from 36 technical papers covering operations, new technology, and equipment.

Abstract

Now in its 34th year, Sulphur 2018 is a premier industry event for business and professional development and high-level networking, regularly attracting over 550 delegates. Market presentations will feature CRU’s global outlook for sulphur and sulphuric supply and demand and price trends and CEFIC’s view on challenges and future opportunities for the European chemical market.  Keywords: Sulphur 2018, conference, exhibition, preview, programme, workshops, papers, panel discussions, Gothenburg, sulphur, sulphuric acid, Claus waste heat boiler, sulphur transport, pipelines, catalysts, sulphur recovery, sour gas, acid gas, water treatment, Claus tail gas treating, sulphur operations, troubleshooting, sulphuric acid towers, drying tower, pulp mill, copper smelter, heat recovery

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Successful start-up of first ICOn degassing system

Summary

Controls Southeast Inc (CSI) recently started operation of the first commercial ICOn sulphur degassing system. ICOn is a new approach to sulphur degassing, utilising a packed-bed catalyst to remove H2S from liquid sulphur to extremely low levels. Degassing is performed at low pressure and with a required residence time of less than five minutes. Brandon Forbes of CSI describes the ICOn system, its chemistry and advantages and reports on the successful results of the recent start-up of the first installation at a US Gulf Coast refinery.

Abstract

The modified Claus process is universally used for large-scale sulphur recovery. Gas streams containing various sulphur compounds are processed into elemental sulphur produced in a liquid form. As a by-product of this process, the liquid sulphur contains high levels of H2S. This H2S will gradually leave the sulphur during storage, handling, and transportation. H2S is highly toxic and explosive. Accumulation of H2S in the head space of vessels and operator exposure are significant safety concerns for refineries. Keywords: sulphur degassing , ICOn, Controls Southeast Inc, CSI, first ICOn system, degassing chemistry, temperature, apparatus, pumped liquid, pumpless liquid, process sparge, air sparge

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Energy efficiency vs sulphur and carbon management

Summary

Claus sulphur recovery provides significant energy benefits which should be leveraged, but striving for ever higher sulphur recovery efficiencies can erode these benefits. A. Slavens and S. Khan of UniverSUL Consulting discuss energy production and consumption in the sulphur plant and compare different sulphur recovery technologies with regard to energy efficiency, SO2 emissions and carbon footprint.

Abstract

The sulphur recovery facility within a refinery or gas plant is required to meet SO2 emissions regulations and is often viewed as a cost of production. However, waste heat from the exothermic Claus reaction is recovered as HP and LP steam, which usually makes the sulphur plant a net energy exporter, supplying needed steam and/or power to the processing complex. Keywords: Claus sulphur recovery, energy efficiency, energy production, energy consumption, SO2 emissions, carbon footprint, utility streams, fuel gas, electric power, sulphur recovery unit, amine-based tail gas treatment, incinerator, energy KPIs, CO2 emissions, alternative tail gas treating, wet gas sulphuric acid, UniverSUL Consulting

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At the forefront of sulphur granulation

Summary

IPCO's recent technological advancements in drum granulation have resulted in the SG20 sulphur granulation system. Developed for medium-capacity units, SG20 technology benefits include reduced maintenance, longer run times and reduced sulphur particulate emissions.

Abstract

IPCO is a world-leading supplier of sulphur processing equipment including the Rotoform® technology for low-to-medium capacity granulation operations and fully automated sulphur drum granulators for high capacity sulphur granulation. Keywords: sulphur, drum granulation, IPCO, SG20, granulation system, sulphur fines, wet scrubbing, seed generation, Rotoform, Sandvik Process Systems

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Alternative lean acid gas processing

Summary

New build economics for SRUs using Linde-Worley Parsons oxygen-enriched technology has been evaluated for applications in large gas plants processing lean acid gas containing benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTEX). Such plants typically require feed gas and/or combustion air preheating and the use of fuel gas co-firing and have not, historically, been considered for oxygen-enriched operation. S. Pollitt of WorleyParsons and Dr M. Guzmann of Linde Gas present the effects of oxygen enrichment in such cases and the resulting benefits in capital cost and operating cost reductions.

Abstract

L inde (also known as BOC) and ­WorleyParsons have worked together on the development and application of oxygen-enriched technology to SRUs for over 35 years. The basics of oxygen enrichment were explored using a custom-built pilot plant in the 1980s. The plant ran for three years and during that time work was done to fully characterise the operation of oxygen-enriched SRUs. Keywords: lean acid gas, oxygen enrichment, Linde, WorleyParsons, BTEX, large gas plants, economics, new build SRU, SURE technology, grassroots design, cost comparison, KPIs, capital cost, operative cost, NPV

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European sulphuric acid exports

Summary

Europe's sulphuric acid industry remains a major exporter of acid to other regions, but has seen a shift in the location of those exports as some markets contract and others expand.

Abstract

Europe is one of the world’s major sulphuric acid producers and exporters, accounting for about 10% of global acid production, with a long legacy of industrial production dating back to the industrial revolution. Although acid plants in some countries, like the UK, have mainly closed down as traditional heavy industries found it hard to compete with imports from the rest of the world, other traditional producers still maintain large capacities. Keywords: Production, demand, sulphur, sulfur, pyrites, titanium, smelter, smelting

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SUDIC 40 years on

Summary

Jerry D'Aquin of ConSul Inc looks at the SUDIC guidelines for producing formed sulphur 40 years on from their origins, and whether adjustments in the specification are warranted.

Abstract

The Sulphur Development Institute of Canada (SUDIC) produced its recommended guidelines for the production of formed (i.e.: produced through a manufacturing process) sulphur in a definitive 1977 report. The pioneering work commenced in 1976, conducted by the institute’s Sulphur Industry Forming Committee. It was to “identify methods by which an improved form of export sulphur could be developed for shipment to the export market”. Keywords: Prill, granule, pastille, polish, moisture, water, dust, wet, dry, particle, handling, store, storage, shape, H2S

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Vertical pumps for sulphuric acid service

Summary

Pumping of sulphuric acid is a very demanding application, and the lifetime of the equipment is a challenge considering the severe corrosive conditions encountered in several parts of the process. Sulzer Pumps explains how the selection of the pump design is a fundamental step in obtaining the best operating performance of the equipment.

Abstract

Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is one of the most important industrial chemicals as it is used in various process applications such as fertilizers, metals, pigments, explosives, and several others. The production of sulphuric acid is achieved through several steps. At first, liquid sulphur is burned in a furnace to produce sulphur dioxide (SO2). In this first phase, it is of primary importance to avoid humidity, which would lead to catastrophic corrosive conditions. Keywords: Radial, turbine, sump, column, flow, suction, discharge, circulate, circulation

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Using sulphur to store renewable energy

Summary

Overcoming the problems with storage of intermittently generated renewable electricity requires converting it to a form in which it can be stored and later recovered. Sulphur has been suggested as a way for achieving this, either thermally, chemically, or electrochemically.

Abstract

While the cost of renewable energy continues to fall as it achieves economies of scale, especially for wind and solar applications, there remain two basic problems with power from these sources. One is that it is not always most efficiently generated in the region where the power is required. Keywords: Transfer, heat, sun, solar, storage, density, energy, masdar, battery, lithium, Pegasus, asrl

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