Reducing Sulfur Emissions from Refinery Fuel Gas, Sulfur Recovery and Tail Gas Applications

摘要

Sulfur oxides (SOx) are precursors of particulate matter (PM2.5) and reducing SOx emissions from major stationary emission sources in the South Coast Air Basin is an effective strategy to help it reach its PM2.5 attainment. On November 5, 2010, after a comprehensive effort concerned with rule development and Best Available Retrofit Control Technologies (BARCT) analysis, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) amended its Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) program to require a reduction of 5.7 tons per day (tpd) SOx emissions from seven major categories of stationary sources by 2019. One of these seven major categories of sources includes petroleum refinery fuel gas treatment, sulfur recovery units (SRUs) and tail-gas treatment units (TGTUs). This paper examines the concept of sustainability (sulfur recovery) and SOx emission environmental control combining into one common goal. Specifically, the paper provides an overview of available technologies that can be implemented to improve overall sulfur recovery and simultaneously reduce sulfur emissions from the refinery fuel-gas treatment, sulfur-recovery, and tail-gas applications. It also describes the rule development process, the BARCT analysis conducted in 2010, and the implementation to date at the South Coast Air Basin refineries as well as at some other refineries across the United States.