Oxygen enrichment in sulfur plant

[ponderer]

We encounter bottleneck in our sulfur plant.

We now consider to adopt the oxygen enrichment
technology for increasing the capacity of the plant.

But we don't know if it is mature or safe technology.

Who can tell us how many sulfur plant using this
technology?

What is their operating experience?

We are especially worry about the safety issue.

 

[AUSLK]

You have similar concerns of all the other Sulfur plant operators who have switched to oxygen enriched air. It is common at the US refineries that I have experience with. Safety is always an issue, and the gas suppliers have developed very same delivery means for accomplishing this.

 

[JohnSames]

There are more than 100 applications of O2 enrichment that have been instigated in SRUs in the past 10 years - most are low level O2 enrichment but some have gone as far as 100% O2.

The beauty of O2 enrichment is that you only use it when you need it (i.e. high load situation).

O2 in refineries is always a concern but safety is no longer an issue in this application - this process has been safely engineered and practiced by the air companies together with the respective engineering companies to the point of a being a mature process modification.

The industry experience is all good - O2 has saved many the need for investment in parallel trains.

John A. Sames
President
Sulphur Experts Inc.

http://www.sulphurexperts.com

 

[jbarba]

Suggest you contact Industrial gas companues like BOC, Air Liquide, Linde and Praxair. Most of these companies have extensive marketing materials listing reference plants. They want to sell O2 and have developed a credible story. Justification may be linked to the cost of O2 in your area.