Sulfur gasification

Sulfur Gasification by Carbon Dioxide in Non-Thermal and Thermal Plasmas... 

Sulfur gasification by CO2 leads to the formation of SO2 and CO in the endothermic process... 

The Eastman Chemicals from Coal faciUty is a series of nine complex interrelated plants. These plants include air separation, slurry preparation, gasification, acid gas removal, sulfur recovery, CO /H2 separation, methanol, methyl acetate, and acetic anhydride. A block flow diagram of the process is shown in Eigure 3. The faciUty covers an area of 2.2 x 10 (55 acres) at Eastman s main plant site in Kingsport, Teimessee. The air separation plant is... 

The ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is controlled by shifting only part of the gas stream. After the shift, the carbon dioxide, which is formed in the gasifier and in the water gas reaction, and the sulfur compounds formed during gasification, are removed from the gas. 

In a combined power cycle operation, clean (sulfur- and particulate-free) gas is burned with air in the combustor at elevated pressure. The gas is either low or medium heat-value, depending on the method of gasification. 

Methanol, a clean burning fuel relative to conventional industrial fuels other than natural gas, can be used advantageously in stationary turbines and boilers because of its low flame luminosity and combustion temperature. Low NO emissions and virtually no sulfur or particulate emissions have been observed (83). Methanol is also considered for dual fuel (methanol plus oil or natural gas) combustion power boilers (84) as well as to fuel gas turbines in combined methanol / electric power production plants using coal gasification (85) (see Power generation). 

Partial oxidation of heavy Hquid hydrocarbons requires somewhat simpler environmental controls. The principal source of particulates is carbon, or soot, formed by the high temperature of the oxidation step. The soot is scmbbed from the raw synthesis gas and either recycled back to the gasifier, or recovered as soHd peUetized fuel. Sulfur and condensate treatment is similar in principle to that required for coal gasification, although the amounts of potential poUutants generated are usually less. 

In this process, any sulfur present in the coal exits the gasifier as hydrogen sulfide which is removed by various processes such as a Hohnes-Stretford unit where the sulfide is absorbed and regenerated. The resulting sulfur is filtered out as a cake (39 wt %) which is sold as a valuable feedstock (see Coal CONVERSION PROCESSES, GASIFICATION SULFURREMOVAL AND RECOVERY). 

Ammonia production by partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feeds depends to some degree on the gasification step. The clean raw synthesis gas from a Shell partial oxidation system is first treated for sulfur removal, then passed through shift conversion. A Hquid nitrogen scmbbiag step follows. 

The high capital cost, about 1500/kW, is the principal deterrent to growth of the IGCC concept. The abiUty to remove up to 99% of the sulfur species from the combustion products make the IGCC an environmentally desirable option as make calcium carbide (see Carbides), from which acetjiene is made. Synthesis gas for methanol and ammonia production is also made from gasification of coke. 

Trace elements such as sulfur and nitrogen are also involved in the gasification reactions. Sulfur in coal is converted primarily to H2S under the reducing conditions of gasification. Approximately 5 to 15% of the sulfur is converted to COS, whereas the coal nitrogen is converted primarily to N, trace amounts of NH and HCN ate also formed. 

The Stretford Process sweetens and also produces sulfur. It is good for low feed gas concentrations of H2S. Economically, the Stretford Process is comparable to an amine plant plus a Claus sulfur recovery plant. Usually, the amine/Claus combination is favored over Stretford for large plants. Stretford can selectively remove H2S in the presence of high CO2 concentrations. This is the process used in the coal gasification example in the Introduction. 

In Lurgi coal gasification, an example of extremely important treating is in the sulfur removal step ahead of methanation where the catalyst is poisoned by even small traces of any sulfur compound. The sulfur removal step is a relatively high capital and operating cost item. 

Note that the methanation section is the last processing step in the HYGAS pilot plant, and it depends on the steady-state troublefree operation of the preceding steps (the gasification reactor, amine purification, and caustic wash sections for cleanup sulfur removal) before it can be brought on-line. 

---