摘要 |
A hydrogen sulphide containing feed gas stream (typically including at least 70% by volume of hydrogen sulphide) is divided into a minor stream and a major stream. The minor stream is burnt in a first combustion region to form sulphur dioxide and water vapor. The resulting gas mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger and is employed in a second combustion region in which a portion of the hydrogen sulphide content of the major stream is burnt to form sulphur dioxide and water vapor. Reaction between the sulphur dioxide and remaining hydrogen sulphide takes place in a thermal reaction region to form sulphur vapor and water vapor. The proportions of sulphur burnt in the respective combustion regions and are chosen such that about one-third of the total hydrogen sulphide content of the feed gas stream is burnt to sulphur dioxide in these regions. Subsequent reaction between hydrogen sulpide and sulphur dioxide typically takes place in one or more catalytic reaction regions resulting with sulphur vapor being extracted in sulphur condensers. By using substantially pure oxygen to support combustion in the second combustion region, a relatively large flow rate of feed gas mixture may be handled in a plant of given size.
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