Temperature of the sulfur primary converter bed
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This post was last edited by liaifeng on 2018-8-18 10:06. What causes the increase in the bed temperature of the first-stage sulfur converter? (Excluding the temperature at the converter inlet) Is it related to the temperature of the sulfur production furnace? Is it related to the amount of H2S and SO2 in the bed? Please, experts, tell me. Thank you very much
With the reactor inlet temperature held constant, an increase in the reactor bed temperature is most likely due to an increase in the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in the process gas entering the reactor. Since the Claus reaction is an exothermic reaction, the conversion of excess hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide in the reactor releases heat, which inevitably causes the bed temperature to rise.
It is directly related to the sulfur production furnace mentioned earlier; the temperature of this furnace indicates the conversion rate in that furnace. If the conversion rate is low, too much hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide will end up in the first Claus reactor
For the bed temperature, is it better to have it higher or lower? With the inlet temperature remaining constant, if the temperature in the first rotating bed layer is high, does it mean that the reaction in the sulfur production furnace ahead is insufficient, resulting in an excess of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide reacting in that first rotating bed layer?
Both the reactor inlet temperature and the bed temperature have a minimum value, which is determined by taking into account thermodynamic factors as well as the sulfur dew point and gas composition； Since the Claus reaction is an exothermic reaction, according to the principles of reaction thermodynamics, the lower the temperature, the more complete the Claus reaction will be. However, if the temperature is too low, sulfur will condense on the surface of the catalyst, thereby affecting its activity; moreover, a low temperature is not conducive to the hydrolysis of organic sulfur ； In summary, it can’t be too high nor too low; if it’s too high, it affects the Claus conversion rate, and if it’s too low, sulfur condenses ；
The temperature of the first-stage reactor bed is related, on the one hand, to the inlet temperature, and on the other hand, to the amount of heat released by the reactants in the bed. If the inlet temperature remains constant while the bed temperature increases, it is because more heat is released from the reactor bed, and less heat is carried away. Common influencing factors include an increase in the feed volume or concentration of acidic gas, as well as an increase in the amount of reactants. Additionally, if the acidic gas burner does not mix the acidic gas properly with air, it can lead to oxygen leakage into the system; oxygen entering the reactor can also cause the bed temperature to rise.
It is directly related to the incinerator mentioned earlier; the temperature of the incinerator indicates its conversion rate. If this conversion rate is low, too much hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide will end up in the primary Claus reactor.
The temperature of the first-stage reactor bed can increase due to various factors, including the inlet temperature, the amount of heat released by the bed, and oxygen leakage in the system.