Gas Processing, Treatment and Sulphur Recovery

Introduction

The removal of acidic components (primarily H2S and CO2) from hydrocarbon streams can be broadly categorized as those depending on chemical reaction, absorption, or adsorption. Processes employing each of these techniques are described.

Acid gas streams that contain H2S, may be flared, incinerated, or converted to elemental sulfur in a Sulphur Recovery Unit. Various Sulphur Recovery Processes (primarily The Modified Claus Process) are discussed.

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will

• Have an understanding of sweetening and Sulphur Recovery technologies
• Gain and explanation of the key features of gas treating
• Understand the thermodynamics of gas processing
• Identify the main process steps
• Monitor, evaluate and troubleshoot treating operations
• Perform process engineering calculation

Target Audience

The course is specifically designed to be of substantial benefit to graduate engineers with less than 3 years experience as technologists, mechanical engineers, inspection engineers and maintenance and project engineers

It is Participants both technical and non-technical personnel as well as operational staff at supervisory level employed in refineries, petrochemical, and oil and gas process industries

It will serve as an introduction to gas technology for those who are unfamiliar with the subject and will also assist those who need the ability to progress to a detailed knowledge of the gas processing technologies

Gas Processing Outline

The course covers the following topics:

Gas Sweetening

• General Considerations and Safety
• Types of Contaminants
• Process Selection and Classification
• Chemistry of Gas Sweetening
• Operating Problems
• Selective Sweetening Systems

Processes

• Process Flow and General Design Criteria Guidelines
  • Formulated Solvents
  • Sterically Hindered Amines
• Caustic Wash

Treating Processes

• Physical Solvent Processes
  • Selexol
• Purisol Process
• Fluor Solvent
• Rectisol Process
• Morphysorb
• Combination (Chemical and Physical) Processes
  • Sulfinol
  • Hi-Pure
• Alkaline Salt Processes Chemistry
• Batch Processes
  • Iron Sponge
  • ChemSweet
  • Sulpha-Check  Sulpha-Treat
  • Zinc Oxide
  • Molecular Sieve
• Iron Chelate processes
• Membrane Separation

Liquid Hydrocarbon Sweetening

• Regenerated Caustic
• Peco Solid Copper Chloride
• Batch Caustic Wash
• Solid Potassium Hydroxide
• Molecular Sieve
• Liquid Processes
• Gas and Hydrocarbon Liquid Sweetening

Sulfur Recovery

• Claus Process Considerations and Modifications
  • Tail Gas Handling
• Incineration
• Clean-up
• SO2 Recovery Process
• H2S Recovery Process
• Direct Oxidation Process
• Liquid Redox
• The EUROCLAUS Concept
• SCOT
• Sulfur Storage and Handling
• Claus Process Calculations and Exercises