Reboiler Function

Sour water stripping requires heating to 100-130°C to vaporize dissolved H₂S and ammonia. The reboiler boils water at column bottom creating stripping steam that flows upward through trays or packing, carrying contaminants overhead while clean water exits below. Proper heat input achieves H₂S reduction to below 10 ppm and ammonia to target levels meeting wastewater treatment requirements.

Design Configuration

Kettle or thermosiphon reboilers based on column arrangement. Shell-and-tube construction with heating medium on shell side and sour water boiling on tube side. ERGIL sizes reboilers for heat duty typically 3-20 MMBTU/hr depending on water flow rate and contaminant loading. Operating pressure atmospheric to 50 psig with design accommodating corrosive service conditions.

Heating Methods

Steam reboilers use medium-pressure plant steam 100-200 psig in kettle configuration providing clean controllable heating. Thermal fluid systems circulate hot oil delivering uniform heat without steam requirements. Fire tube units employ burners for sites without utility infrastructure. ERGIL selects heating based on available utilities and facility preferences.

Material Selection

Stainless steel 316 construction resists severe corrosion from H₂S, ammonia, chlorides, cyanides, and organic acids in sour water. Special alloys for extreme conditions with high contaminant levels. Tube materials selected for corrosive environment and fouling resistance. Design per ASME Section VIII with NACE compliance for sour service.

Control Systems

Temperature control modulates heating medium flow maintaining optimal column bottom temperature for effective stripping without excessive energy consumption. Level control in kettle reboilers maintains proper liquid inventory. Integration with stripper controls optimizes contaminant removal efficiency while minimizing steam usage.

Applications

Refinery sour water treatment from crude units, FCC, coker, and hydrotreaters removing H₂S and ammonia. Petrochemical wastewater stripping. Gas plant produced water treatment. Serves facilities processing 50-5,000 GPM sour water flows with contaminant concentrations from 100 ppm to several percent.

Performance Features

Corrosion-resistant materials ensure reliable long-term operation in aggressive service. Efficient heat transfer achieves complete stripping with optimized energy consumption. Design accounts for fouling from hydrocarbons, iron sulfide, and scale with cleaning provisions. Proven technology with extensive refinery application.

Construction Standards

Design per ASME Section VIII with materials meeting NACE MR0175 for sour service. Hydrostatic testing validates integrity. Removable bundles enable maintenance and cleaning. Complete documentation includes material certifications, heat duty calculations, and corrosion considerations.

ERGIL sour water stripper reboilers deliver dependable thermal duty ensuring effective H₂S and ammonia removal meeting environmental standards through proven corrosion-resistant design.