US3852408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the removal of sulfur dioxide from carrier gases
Assignee: Lone Star Steel Co LP
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Filing: 1972-09-21
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1992-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A process is disclosed for the removal of sulfur dioxide from carrier gases formed in industrial processes such as as smelting, refining and power generating processes wherein the carrier gas is driven through an elongate mixing tube by means of a hot-water ejector drive in which finely atomized droplets of water in the form of a jet spray are intimately and turbulently mixed with the carrier gas in the mixing tube downstream of the hot-water ejector. An alkaline reagent is injected as a series of intense jets into the central portion of the jet spray emerging from the hot-water ejector and becomes intimately and turbulently mixed with the mixture of atomized droplets of water, steam and carrier gas which contains sulfur dioxide. The flow of the turbulent mixture through the mixing tube is regulated to provide retention time sufficient for the sulfur dioxide in the carrier gas to react with the alkaline reagent to form aqueous droplets of sulfur reaction products and for the droplets to grow to a size sufficient to permit removal by centrifugal means. In an alternative form of the invention, the carrier gases from which the sulfur dioxide has been substantially completely removed is further treated by driving the gases through a secondary mixing tube by means of a steam ejector and passing the turbulent mixture of gas, steam and water droplets through a condenser in which the condensible vapors are separated from the carrier gas. In the alternative form of the invention, alkaline reagents can be injected into the turbulent mixture contained in the secondary mixing tube to react with traces of sulfur dioxide or such odors and acidic gases as may then be present in the carrier gas.
Inventors
- 👤 T Ewan
- 👤 O Holland
- 👤 W Martin
- 👤 J Hurse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:27
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/46; B01D53/48; B01D53/50; B01D53/501
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF GASEOUS SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM A CARRIER GAS COMPRISING DRIVING THE CARRIER GAS THROUGH AN ELONGATE MIXING TUBE AND FORMING A TURBULENT MIXTURE OF STEAM, ATOMIZED WATER AND SULFUR DIOXIDE-CONTAINING CARRIER GAS BY DIRECTING WATER, HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ITS BOILING POINT AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND MAINTAINED UNDER PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT BOILING AT THE TEMPERATURE, THROUGH A CONVERGING-DIVERGING NOZZLE TO FORM A JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM DIRECTED INTO THE MIXING TUBE, INTRODUCING A FLUID-CONTAINED ALKALINE REAGENT INTO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE IN SAID MIXING TUBE BY FORMING A SERIES OF INTENSE JETS OF SAID FLUID-CONTAINED ALKALINE REAGENT DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM EMERGING FROM SAID NOZZLE AND INJECTING SAID INTENSE JETS GENERALLIN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF AND INTO THE JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM EMERGING FROM SAID NOZZLE, FURTHER MIXING THE ALKALINE REAGENT AND THE SULFUR DIOXIDE-CONTAINING CARRIER GAS BY THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE UTILIZED WATER WITHIN THE MIXING TUBE, AND SO REGULATING THE FLOW OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE THROUGH SAID MIXING TUBE AS TO PROVIDE RETENTION TIME OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE IN SAID MIXING TUBE SUFFICIENT FOR REACTION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IN SAID CARRIER GAS WITH THE ALKALINE REAGENT TO FORM AQUEOUS DROPLETS OF SULFURCONTAINING REACTION PRODUCTS AND FOR GROWTH IN SIZE OF SAID AQUEOUS DROPLETS, AND THEREAFTER SEPARATING SAID AQUEOUS DROPLETS THUS GROWN IN SIZE FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID CARRIER GAS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A PROCESS FOR THE REMOVAL OF GASEOUS SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM A CARRIER GAS COMPRISING DRIVING THE CARRIER GAS THROUGH AN ELONGATE MIXING TUBE AND FORMING A TURBULENT MIXTURE OF STEAM, ATOMIZED WATER AND SULFUR DIOXIDE-CONTAINING CARRIER GAS BY DIRECTING WATER, HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ITS BOILING POINT AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND MAINTAINED UNDER PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT BOILING AT THE TEMPERATURE, THROUGH A CONVERGING-DIVERGING NOZZLE TO FORM A JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM DIRECTED INTO THE MIXING TUBE, INTRODUCING A FLUID-CONTAINED ALKALINE REAGENT INTO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE IN SAID MIXING TUBE BY FORMING A SERIES OF INTENSE JETS OF SAID FLUID-CONTAINED ALKALINE REAGENT DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM EMERGING FROM SAID NOZZLE AND INJECTING SAID INTENSE JETS GENERALLIN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF AND INTO THE JET OF ATOMIZED WATER AND STEAM EMERGING FROM SAID NOZZLE, FURTHER MIXING THE ALKALINE REAGENT AND THE SULFUR DIOXIDE-CONTAINING CARRIER GAS BY THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE UTILIZED WATER WITHIN THE MIXING TUBE, AND SO REGULATING THE FLOW OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE THROUGH SAID MIXING TUBE AS TO PROVIDE RETENTION TIME OF SAID TURBULENT MIXTURE IN SAID MIXING TUBE SUFFICIENT FOR REACTION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IN SAID CARRIER GAS WITH THE ALKALINE REAGENT TO FORM AQUEOUS DROPLETS OF SULFURCONTAINING REACTION PRODUCTS AND FOR GROWTH IN SIZE OF SAID AQUEOUS DROPLETS, AND THEREAFTER SEPARATING SAID AQUEOUS DROPLETS THUS GROWN IN SIZE FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID CARRIER GAS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process described in claim 1 in which the alkaline reagent consists essentially of at least one of the reagents selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, magnesium oxide, ammonium hydroxide and potassium permanganate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process described in claim 1 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process described in claim 1 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process described in claim 4 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide wherein the sodium hydroxide comprises at least 10% of the stoichiometric equivalent of the mixture required to react with the sulfur dioxide present in the carrier gas and the quantity of the mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide does not exceed the stoichiometric quantity required for reaction by a substantial amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process described in claim 1 where the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gas with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained in the carrier gas in a steam condenser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process described in claim 6 in which the alkaline reagent consists essentially of at least one of the reagents selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, magnesium oxide, ammonium hydroxide and potassium permanganate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process described in claim 6 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process described in claim 6 wherein the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process described in claim 9 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide wherein the sodium hydroxide comprises at least 10% of the stoichiometric equivalent of the mixture required to react with the sulfur dioxide present in the carrier gas and the quantity of the mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide does not exceed the stoichiometric quantity required for reaction by a substantial amount.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process described in claim 1 which includes conditioning of the carrier gas in a chamber by spraying the gas in said chamber with an alkaline reagent in an aqueous carrier prior to said driving of the carrier gas through said mixing tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process described in claim 11 in which the alkaline reagent consists essentially of at least one of the reagents selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, magnesium oxide, ammonium hydroxide and potassium permanganate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process described in claim 12 in which the alkaline reagent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process described in claim 11 in which the alkaline reagent utilized to condition the carrier gases is calcium hydroxide and the alkaline reagent injected into the central portion of the turbulent mixture in said mixing tube comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The process described in claim 14 in which the alkaline reAgent comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide wherein the sodium hydroxide comprises at least 10% of the stoichiometric equivalent of the mixture required to react with the sulfur dioxide present in the carrier gas and the quantity of the mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide does not exceed the stoichiometric quantity required for reaction by a substantial amount.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process described in claim 11 wherein the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gases with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained therein in a steam condenser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process described in claim 12 wherein the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gases with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained therein in a steam condenser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process described in claim 13 wherein the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gases with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained therein in a steam condenser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process described in claim 14 wherein the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gases with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained therein in a steam condenser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process described in claim 15 wherein the carrier gas from which the sulfur dioxide has been removed is further treated to remove steam and other condensible vapors contained therein comprising the additional steps of driving the carrier gases with a steam jet ejector and condensing the steam and other condensible vapors contained therein in a steam condenser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
158 words
The process described in claim 1 which includes further treating said remainder of said carrier gas to remove additional sulfur dioxide by driving said remainder of said carrier gas with a steam jet ejector utilizing saturated steam as the driving fluid, forming a turbulent mixture of steam and said remainder of said carrier gas by expanding the saturated steam through the nozzle of the steam ejector, injecting a second alkaline reagent into the central portion of the turbulent mixture of steam and gas, further mixing said second alkaline reagent and the sulfur dioxide-containing gas by the continued expansion of the steam driving fluid to cause reaction of the remaining gaseous sulfur dioxide with said second alkaline reagent to form and to promote the growth in size of a second group of aqueous droplets of sulfur-containing reaction products, separating said second group of droplets from the now-remaining carrier gas, and condensing the remaining condensible vapors in a steam condenser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The process described in claim 21 in which the alkaline reagents injected into the central portion of the turbulent mixture in said mixing tube and into the central portion of said turbulent mixture of steam and remaining carrier gas are selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, magnesium oxide, ammonium hydroxide and potassium permanganate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process described in claim 21 in which the alkaline reagent injected into the central portion of the turbulent mixture in said mixing tube comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and in which the alkaline reagent injected into the central portion of said turbulent mixture of steam and remaining carrier gas comprises potassium permanganate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
151 words
The process described in claim 11 which includes further treating said remainder of said carrier gas to remove additional sulfur dioxide by driving said carrier gas with a steam jet ejector utilizing saturated steam as the driving fluid, forming a turbulent mixture of steam and carrier gas by expanding the saturated steam through the nozzle of the steam ejector, injecting a second alkaline reagent into the central portion of the turbulent mixture of steam and gas, further mixing said second alkaline reagent and the sulfur dioxide-containing gas by the continued expansion of the steam driving fluid to cause reaction of the remaining gaseous sulfur dioxide with said second alkaline reagent to form and to promote the growth in size of a second group of aqueous droplets of sulfur-containing reaction products, separating said second group of droplets from the now-remaining carrier gas, and condensing the remaining condensible vapors in a steam condenser.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process described in claim 24 in which the alkaline reagents utilized to condition the carrier gases and injected into the central portion of the turbulent mixture in said mixing tube and into the central portion of said turbulent mixture of steam and remaining carrier gas are selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, magnesium oxide, ammonium hydroxide and potassium permanganate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process described in claim 24 in which the alkaline reagent utilized to condition the carrier gases is calcium hydroxide and the alkaline reagent injected into the central portion of the turbulent mixture in said mixing tube comprises a mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and in which the alkaline reagent injected into the central portion of said turbulent mixture of steam and remaining carrier gas comprises potassium permanganate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |