Catalyst polishing Flow scheme
This process is designed to sweeten small sour gas flows. The catalyst is an absorbent which removes H2S. Iron water is a waste product of a sewage plant. Gazpack has developed, in co-operation with manufacturers of sewage plants, an application that transforms the iron water into granular beads. These beads absorb the H2S from sour gas. Fe2O3 + 3 H2S to Fe2 S3 + 3 H2O. The process is not reversible and creates heat during absorption.
The package consists of one compressor, a cooler, a scrubber and two towers with Sulago® beads.
To operate successfully the following precautions are necessary.
Design criteria:
- Diameter (low contact speed causes insufficient absorption).
- Height (crushing pressure)
- Two vessels (heat transfer)
- Stainless steel (hot H2S + H2O is aggressive)
- Drain water is acid, toxic and explosive in contact with water (dangerous: add water not inverse).
This system is suitable for small capacities (<1000 Nm3/h) and low H2S values (<250 ppmv H2S).
Production costs are high due to:
- The saturated absorbent is a chemical waste product and processing it as such is expensive.
- Cleaning of the vessel is dirty and risky work, environmental precautions are required.
- Price per kilo is high.
The waste absorbent is toxic and is easily flammable and should be stocked under a nitrogen blanket.
For higher capacities, the Sulaway ® system is the best choice. The investment costs are lower and the system is environment friendly. The H2S is transformed into acid water (0% H2SO4), which is marketable as an environmental friendly product.
