The issue of temperature in the sulfur production furnace
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It is a 50,000-ton sulfur production plant, and the combustion furnace in this plant (the sulfur production furnace) burns acidic gas. When the volume of acidic gas is around 4,000 cubic meters, the temperature of the combustion furnace is about 1,200 degrees. I have a question that I can’t figure out: does an increase in the amount of acidic gas lead to a higher temperature in the combustion furnace? If the volume of acidic gas exceeds 7,000 cubic meters, will the temperature of the combustion furnace rise even further? Wouldn’t that damage the furnace? My understanding is that if the volume of acidic gas is much larger, a bigger furnace needs to be designed; in such a furnace, acidic gas in quantities of over 7,000 cubic meters can be burned, with the temperature reaching around 1,200 degrees. With the same amount of acidic gas, is the furnace temperature lower in larger furnaces and higher in smaller ones? Thank you, everyone, share your thoughts.
Your consideration is correct. The increase in furnace temperature does not depend entirely on the amount of acidic gas entering the furnace; it is rather related to factors such as combustion efficiency, burner design, combustion air supply, and furnace wall cooling. Firstly, for the same oxygen content, the higher the amount of acidic gas, the more oxygen will be diluted by that acidic gas, resulting in a reduced combustion efficiency and potentially a lower furnace temperature. On the other hand, if the amount of added oxygen is sufficient, the furnace temperature may rise. Secondly, the design of the furnace also affects the furnace temperature. Larger furnaces mean larger combustion chambers, which can provide a greater cooling area and help reduce the furnace temperature. If the furnace is properly designed, for example by enhancing wall cooling or altering the design and placement of the burners, it may also be possible to maintain the furnace temperature within an ideal range. Therefore, increasing the amount of acidic gases may raise the furnace temperature, but it does not necessarily damage the furnace. The best practice is to optimize the design of the unit to ensure that, under any operating conditions, the combustion furnace can operate within a safe and economical temperature range. .
The temperature of the combustion furnace is around ~1100 degrees Celsius, which is primarily determined by the oxygen-sulfur reaction.
Furnaces of different sizes have varying specifications; the amount of acidic gas required, the amount of air needed, the temperatures of the air and acidic gas before entering the furnace, the heat generated, and the heat loss of the furnace—all these factors need to be calculated by the design team. Even with 10,000 tons of sulfur, the design required for ammonia combustion can ensure that the furnace temperature is met.
This also requires calculating the combustion load of your furnace
When the amount of acidic gas is high, the calorific value decreases; therefore, diversion is necessary
The concentration of acidic gases is the main factor determining the furnace temperature.