Temperature moderated claus process
Disclosed is a method for treating a feed gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide by partially combusting the feed gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide with an oxygen-enriched gas in a Claus reaction furnace to produce to a combustion reaction product stream containing sulfur. The combustion reaction product stream is split into a recycle stream and a treatment stream and the recycle stream directed back into the Claus reaction furnace, without first condensing sulfur out of the recycle stream, while the treatment stream is directed into a condenser to condense sulfur out of the treatment stream.
1. A process for recovering sulfur from a feed gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide comprising:
partially combusting a feed gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide with an oxygen-enriched gas in a Claus reaction furnace to produce combustion reaction product stream containing sulfur;
splitting the combustion reaction product stream into a recycle stream and a treatment stream;
directing the recycle stream into the Claus reaction furnace, without first condensing sulfur out of the recycle stream; and,
directing the treatment stream into a condenser to condense sulfur out of the treatment stream.
2. The process in accordance with claim 1 further comprising passing the recycle stream through a pressure booster, before the stream enters the Clause reaction furnace.
3. The process in accordance with claim 2 wherein the pressure booster is an eductor.
4. The process in accordance with claim 3 wherein the pressure of the recycle stream as it leaves the pressure booster is from about 20 to about 30 psia.
5. The process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the pressure of the recycle stream as it leaves the pressure booster is from about 23 to about 27 psia.
6. A method for treating a gas stream rich in hydrogen sulfide comprising:
introducing one or more feed gas streams rich in hydrogen sulfide into a Claus reaction furnace;
introducing air into the Claus reaction furnace;
introducing supplemental oxygen into the Claus reaction furnace to form a mixture;
partially combusting the mixture to produce to a combustion reaction product stream containing sulfur;
splitting the combustion reaction product stream into a recycle stream and a treatment stream;
directing the recycle stream to the Claus reaction furnace, without first condensing sulfur out of the recycle stream; and,
directing the treatment stream into a condenser to condense sulfur out of the treatment stream.
7. The process in accordance with claim 6 further comprising passing the recycle stream through a pressure booster, before the stream enters the Claus reaction furnace.
8. The process in accordance with claim 7 wherein the pressure booster is an eductor.
9. The process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the pressure of the recycle stream as it leaves the pressure booster is from about 20 to about 30 psia.
10. The process in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pressure of the recycle stream as it leaves the pressure booster is from 23 to about 27 psia.