A Summary of Experiments in Converting Copper Oxide Process Regenerator Off-Gases to Elemental Sulfur, CRADA 97-F006, Final Report
Sorbent Technologies Corporation (Sorbtech) of Twinsburg, Ohio has developed a new technology for converting SO{sub 2}-rich gas streams directly to elemental sulfur. Key to the technology is a special catalyst that promotes the reaction of SO{sub 2} with reformed natural gas. The technology evolved from earlier flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) work that Sorbtech engineers performed in the late 1980's. In 1995, with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) support, Sorbtech designed and constructed a larger, skid-mounted pilot-test unit suitable for demonstrating the new technology in field tests. This Report summarizes months of preparation work and eight days of testing that were performed at FETC'S facilities during late September and early October, 1997. On the basis of the results of this phase of the project, the following conclusions were made: (1) The chemistry of the new technology was well proven and demonstrated at FETC. The overall S0{sub 2}-to-elemental sulfur yields were typically in the range of 93 to 98 percent. (The project goal was 95 percent, so the goal was exceeded). (2) Sulfur selectivity values, indicating the tendency of S0{sub 2} to be converted to elemental sulfur in preference to H{sub 2}S or COS, were typically in the range of 98 to 100 percent. (3) Bright yellow sulfur of high quality was produced at FETC. (4) The FETC regenerator exhaust gas presented no processing difficulties. Swings in the level of methane in the exhaust gas were handled with relative ease. (5) With the exception of the water condenser, all system components performed well. (6) Condensing of the sulfur after its production was a serious problem at FETC. Solid sulfur deposits built up in the process-gas lines at several locations in the system. Clogging of the lines necessitated terminating runs typically after 2 to 4 hours of operation. Clogging problems were most severe in the water condenser. Many planned parametric tests were not run because of the sulfur plugging problems. (7) Several suggestions were made by BP Oil Company for solving the sulfur pl ugging problems. Among the suggestions were to never allow the temperature of the process gas to fall below 118{degree}C, to increase the temperature of the sulfur condenser to 148{degree}C, and to eliminate the water condenser from the system entirely.
- Research Organization:
- Federal Energy Technology Center, Morgantown, WV, and Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
- OSTI ID:
- 3034
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/FETC-99/1085; CRADA 97-F006; ON: DE00003034
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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