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Key considerations for converter upgrades

Summary

Catalytic converters are the heart and hub of sulphuric acid plants. Converter replacement of equipment that has come to the end of its life is an opportunity to make improvements to the performance, productivity, reliability, durability and plant emissions. NORAM discusses design and project execution considerations for SO2 catalytic converter replacement and Chemetics considers the challenges and opportunities of converter retrofits.

Abstract

NORAM SO2 catalytic converter replacement – design and project execution considerations During the lifecycle of a sulphuric acid plant, there may be times when the performance of the plant needs to be improved e.g., to lower emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2). Keywords: sulphuric acid equipment, SO2 catalytic converter, converter replacement, upgrade, SO2 conversion, catalyst evaluation, converter design, converter sizing, pressure drop, internal exchanger, manways, refractory lining, support systems, fabrication, shipping, installation, project execution, radial flow converter, modular converter, NORAM, Chemetics

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Decreasing tail gas treating carbon intensity through solvent and catalyst swaps

Summary

Decreasing the carbon intensity of sulphur recovery is one of the many actions that operators can take to help meet their climate ambitions. It is also becoming increasingly rewarding financially because of the rising cost of carbon emissions. In this article, G. Kidambi of Shell Projects & Technology demonstrates the potential to cut the carbon intensity of tail gas treating units by more than 50% through swapping to the latest SCOT ULTRA amine solvent and catalyst technologies.

Abstract

Demand for energy will continue to increase as growing global populations need more energy to support a decent quality of life. Keywords: Claus tail gas treating, carbon intensity, sulphur recovery, carbon emissions, amine solvent, SCOT ULTRA, SCOT process, selectivity, circulation rate, solvent swap, JEFFTREAT ULTRA, Shell Catalysts & Technologies

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A novel monitoring and advisory system for SRUs

Summary

N. A. Hatcher, D. R. Jensen, and P. L. Ott of Optimized Gas Treating Inc. provide a technology overview of ProBot™ – a unit monitoring system developed by OGT to digitalise the sulphur processing assets in a facility in a manner that facilitates knowledge retention, rapid optimisation, and plant troubleshooting. ProBot™ has been built to allow rapid access to a virtual plant platform that provides advice, training and, monitoring to enable more efficient, safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly plant operations.

Abstract

Before Covid, did Stephen King and George Lucas have the prescience to predict the mess that Covid-19 would leave on the world? Probably not, but the world is definitely “moving on” and was headed that direction even before the pandemic. Keywords: sulphur recovery unit, SRU, monitoring, ProBot, troubleshooting, virtual plant, advisory system, training, knowledge retention, optimisation, plant data, corrosion rate prediction, Optimized Gas Treating

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Sulphur in Central Asia

Summary

Sulphur processing from sour gas fields dominates regional production, but the geographical remoteness of the area from end use markets and restrictions on sulphur storage means that producers often opt to reinject acid gas into oil and gas wells.

Abstract

Central Asia – the collection of post-Soviet states clustered around the Caspian Sea, as well as nearby or associated facilities in Russia and Iran, is responsible for around 15% of the world’s elemental sulphur production. Keywords: RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KASHAGAN, TCO, TENGIZ, TURKMENISTAN, UZBEKISTAN, IRAN, EXPORT, STORAGE, SOUR, ORENBURG, ASTRAKHAN, CASPIAN

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Refineries and the energy transition

Summary

As the world looks to a lower carbon future, refineries are having to examine their operating models, and look to, for example, renewable hydrogen production for desulphurisation technologies.

Abstract

As international attention begins to focus more and more upon the potential threat posed by climate change, as witnessed, for example, at the UN COP-26 conference in Glasgow last October, so the fossil fuel industry, source of 95% of the world’s sulphur, finds itself increasing in the crosshairs of governments and regulators. Keywords: BIOFUEL, CO2, CARBON, PETROCHEMICAL, HYDROGEN, ZERO, RECOVERY, CLAUS

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The impact of US duties on phosphate markets

Summary

Import duties on phosphates from Morocco and Russia imposed by the US government in 2021 have compounded a lack of availability of phosphate fertilizer caused by Chinese export restrictions and led to higher prices for US farmers. Are there knock-on effects possible for sulphuric acid demand?

Abstract

Phosphate prices soared during 2021 after being in a relatively settled range for most of the previous few years. For example, Tampa f.o.b. DAP prices swung between around $300/t and $500/t between 2013 and 2020 (see Figure 1)... Keywords: ITC, MOSAIC, PHOSAGRO, EUROCHEM, PRICE, DEMAND, DAP, QUOTA, RUSSIA, CHINA, MOROCCO

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