IMPROVING REFINERY STRETFORD UNIT OPERATION BYREMOVING THE SULFUR MELTER

摘要

A California oil refinery reduced process complications and operating costs related tothiosulfate and soluble sulfur generation in its Stretford tail gas units. Removing theautoclave or sulfur melter from the Stretford process eliminated thiosulfate accumulationwithout incurring additional operating or capital costs. The refinery changed operatingmethods and targets in its Claus and Stretford units in an effort to reduce vulnerability toupsets and to increase sulfur plant run length. The refinery attained a record sulfur plant runlength without a functioning air demand analyzer. Only a hydrogen analyzer was operationalon the outlet of the hydrogenator reactor of the tail gas unit.