Patent US3838979A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3838979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sulfur recovery process
Assignee: Thermo Mist Co
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Filing: 1971-04-15
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1991-04-15
Abstract
Abstract Sulfur is continuously recovered from native sulfur-bearing ore by heating the ore within a vessel to produce a sulfur vapor, condensing the sulfur vapor within the vessel by direct heat exchange with incoming ore, and collecting the condensed sulfur. The gas from which the condensed sulfur is collected is recycled by passing it into the sulfur recovery vessel where it absorbs heat from the spent ore. The condensation of sulfur vapor occurs by direct heat exchange with cold, incoming ore so that heat loss is minimal. Sufficient time is allowed for the sulfur to age before it is collected to avoid difficulties in collecting amorphous sulfur.
Inventors
- 👤 A Sims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:52
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/02; C01B17/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING A SULFUR PRODUCT FROM A SULFURBEARING ORE COMPRISING: A. CONTINUOUSLY PASSING THE SULFUR-BEARING ORE THROUGH A VESSEL HAVING A SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VESEL, B. HEATING THE ORE IN THE SULFURE RECOVERY ZONE BY COUNTERCURRENT DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A RECYCLE GAS, THEREBY COOLING THE RECYCLE GAS, C. HEATING THE ORE IN A HEATING ZONE WITHIN THE VESSEL TO PRODUCE A SULFUR VAPOR PRODUCT AND GANGUE, THE HEATING ZONE BEING BELOW THE SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE AND UPSTREAM THEREFROM WITH RESPECT TO GAS FLOW, D. CONDENSING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE SULFUR VAPOR WITHIN THE SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE BY DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH INCOMING ORE,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING A SULFUR PRODUCT FROM A SULFURBEARING ORE COMPRISING: A. CONTINUOUSLY PASSING THE SULFUR-BEARING ORE THROUGH A VESSEL HAVING A SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VESEL, B. HEATING THE ORE IN THE SULFURE RECOVERY ZONE BY COUNTERCURRENT DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A RECYCLE GAS, THEREBY COOLING THE RECYCLE GAS, C. HEATING THE ORE IN A HEATING ZONE WITHIN THE VESSEL TO PRODUCE A SULFUR VAPOR PRODUCT AND GANGUE, THE HEATING ZONE BEING BELOW THE SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE AND UPSTREAM THEREFROM WITH RESPECT TO GAS FLOW, D. CONDENSING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE SULFUR VAPOR WITHIN THE SULFUR RECOVERY ZONE BY DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH INCOMING ORE,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ore is heated in the heating zone by hot gases generated from the combustion of a fuel and air mixture and by recycle gas previously heated by passage through the gangue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur vapor is subjected to countercurrent direct heat exchange with incoming ore such that the sulfur vapor is condensed to a solid fume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the condensed sulfur vapor, in the form of a solid fume, is passed from the upper section of the vessel to a cyclone separator for recovery of the sulfur product.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur vapor is subjected to countercurrent direct heat exchange with incoming ore sufficient to form a sulfur liquid mist.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the sulfur liquid mist is passed from the upper section of the vessel to a hot wall cyclone for recovery of the sulfur product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cooled recycle gas is passed through the vessel countercurrent to the flow of ore by a gas blower.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gangue leaves the sulfur recovery vessel through a discharging device that forms a seal and regulates the flow of ore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur recovery vessel has means for effecting the cone flow of ore through the heating zone of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur recovery vessel is vertically disposed such that ore flows by gravity through the vessel, a gas blower being provided for passing the recycle gas countercurrent to the flow of ore.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process claimed in claim 1 wherein the ore is heated in the heating zone by hot gases generated from the combustion of a fuel and air mixture and by recycle gas previously heated by passage through the gangue, the fuel and air being combined to consume essentially all available oxygen to avoid the oxidation of elemental sulfur.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process claimed in claim 1 wherein the condensing step includes condensing the sulfur vapor to a solid fume of amorphous sulfur by direct heat exchange with incoming ore in the sulfur recovery zone; and including the step of aging the amorphous fume to form crystalline sulfur prior to the collection step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process claimed in claim 12 wherein the aging step is in the gas stream prior to the collection step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process claimed in claim 12 including the step of agglomerating the sulfur fume before collection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process claimed in claim 14 wherein the gas stream from the sulfur recovery zone is subjected to a first stage of cyclone separation to separate gangue dust therefrom before the sulfur agglomerates substantially.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process claimed in claim 15 wherein the sulfur is collected by a second stage cyclone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |