If the sulfur recovery unit stops operating suddenly, how should acidic gases be handled?
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If the sulfur recovery unit stops operating suddenly, how should acidic gases be handled?
Of course, the acidic gas is burned in a flare. At this time, it is necessary to check whether the valve for releasing acidic gas to the flare is open, whether the valve leading the gas into the furnace is closed, and how well the flare is burning. When going out for inspections, pay attention to the wind direction, wear protective equipment, and work in groups for supervision.
How tall is the torch at your facility? What burner? Is the flare sent out via a separate flare line?
During sulfur production shutdowns, flaring is certainly used – people’s lives are of the utmost importance. However, it’s essential to confirm by phone that the flare has indeed been lit before doing so; otherwise, it poses a risk to lives. At our plant, the flare lines are part of a unified pipeline system, and the exact height of the flares is not known; they are roughly 80 meters high
How can operations stop suddenly? It’s a power outage; the exact cause depends on the specific situation. If the power outage lasts for a long time, then burning off the gas is the only option! There is a dedicated valve for burning off gas at the outlet of the acidic gas separation tank, and it is usually a cylinder valve.
When the sulfur recovery unit stops operating suddenly, the acidic gases must be vented through a flare. However, it should be noted that venting gases with such high concentrations through a flare for an extended period of time is very dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the operation of the upstream units promptly (such as carrying out regeneration or stripping) to reduce the steam supply to the bottom reboiler as soon as possible, thereby lowering the amount of acidic gas, and to minimize the time during which this acidic gas is vented to the flare.
During sulfur shutdown, acidic gases must be burned in a flare. Before releasing them through the flare, it is necessary to ensure that the flare is already lit; it is best to keep a constant flame in the flare so that it remains burning continuously. In this way, as soon as the control valve for the flare is opened, the acidic gases can be directly burned in the flare. Generally, sulfur systems have self-protection procedures: when the sulfur production is halted, the switch valves leading to the sulfur production furnace are automatically closed, while the switch valve for the flare is opened.
The acidic gas is sent to the flare via an emergency vent line, while nitrogen is injected into the furnace for protection.
Automatic interlock protection is activated, the valve allowing acidic gas to enter the furnace is closed, and the gas is directed to the flare
Light a torch to burn it................