Preheating Function

Tail gas from Claus sulfur recovery units exits at 130-180°C containing residual H₂S and sulfur compounds requiring thermal destruction. Thermal oxidizers or incinerators need 650-850°C for complete conversion to SO₂. Preheating tail gas using waste heat from incinerator flue gas or other hot streams reduces fuel firing requirements, improving energy efficiency while ensuring adequate temperature for emissions compliance.

Design Configuration

Shell-and-tube construction with cold tail gas on tube side and hot flue gas or heating medium on shell side. Design accommodates temperature cycling during startup and varying loads. ERGIL engineers preheaters based on tail gas flow rate, inlet/outlet temperatures, and available heat sources with typical duties 1-15 MMBTU/hr serving sulfur recovery capacities 10-300 tons per day.

Heat Recovery Integration

Recuperative designs use hot incinerator flue gas at 850-1100°C to preheat incoming tail gas. This waste heat recovery reduces incinerator fuel consumption 30-50% significantly lowering operating costs. Heat integration optimizes overall sulfur recovery unit thermal efficiency while maintaining required destruction temperatures for environmental compliance.

Material Selection

Stainless steel 304 or 316 construction resists corrosion from sulfur compounds, moisture, and acidic conditions in tail gas service. High-temperature alloys for sections exposed to flue gas above 800°C. Design addresses thermal expansion and cycling. Materials per NACE standards for sour service with sulfur-containing streams.

Applications

Claus sulfur recovery unit tail-gas incineration systems, acid gas destruction units, amine plant regenerator overhead treatment, and any application requiring tail gas thermal oxidation before atmospheric discharge. Serves refineries, gas processing plants, and chemical facilities with sulfur recovery operations.

Control Features

Temperature monitoring ensures adequate preheating for incinerator performance. Bypass provisions enable operation during startup or maintenance. Integration with incinerator controls optimizes fuel usage. High-temperature alarms protect materials from overheating.

Performance Benefits

Reduces incinerator fuel consumption through effective waste heat recovery. Ensures stable combustion temperatures for emissions compliance. Improves sulfur recovery unit economics through energy efficiency. Reliable operation with materials resisting corrosive service. Proven technology in sulfur recovery applications worldwide.

Construction Standards

Design per ASME Section VIII with materials rated for high-temperature sour service. Expansion joints accommodate thermal growth. Insulation minimizes heat losses. Complete documentation with thermal calculations and material certifications supporting emissions permit requirements.

ERGIL tail-gas preheaters deliver dependable temperature conditioning ensuring efficient sulfur compound destruction while reducing fuel consumption through effective heat recovery.