Process for purifying sulfur compound contaminated gas streams

Claim 2

A CYCLIC FOUR-STAGE METHOD FOR PURIFYING A SOUR GAS STREAM BY REMOVING SULFUROUS CONTAMINANTS THEREFROM COMPRISING PROVIDING AT LEAST FOUR HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BEDS AND AT LEAST TWO LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENTS BEDS; AT LEAST TWO OF SAID HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BEDS BEING ON ADSORPTION STEPS DURING ANY OF SAID FOUR STAGES, AND AT LEAST TWO OF SAID HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BEDS BEING ON REGENERATION STEPS AND INTERCONNECTED TO A LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED DURING ANY OF SAID FOUR STAGES WHEREBY DURING REGENERATION SAID CONTAMINANTS WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SOUR GAS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PASS INTO THE ATOMSPHERE; SAID ADSORPTION STEPS COMPRISING PASSING THE SULFUROUS CONTAMINATED GAS TO SAID HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BEDS TO ADSORB SAID SULFUROUS CONTAMINANTS AND FLOW A PURIFIED GAS THEREFORM; SAID REGENERATION STEPS COMPRISING DEPRESSURIZING A HIGH PRESSURE ABSORBENT BED THROUGH LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED, PASSING AN OXYGEN CONTAINING GAS THROUGH THE HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED AND THEN THROUGH THE LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED THEREBY CONVERTING ADSORBED SULFUR COMPOUNDS TO ELEMENTAL SULFUR; HEATING THE HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED AND THE LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED TO GREATER THAN 825*F BY PASSAGE OF A HEATED GAS AND COLLECTING SAID ELEMENTAL SULFUR, COOLING SAID HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED AND SAID LOW PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED AND PURGING SAID ADSORBENT BEDS TO REMOVE ANY OXYGEN CONTAINING GASES PRIOR TO SWITCHING THE HIGH PRESSURE ADSORBENT BED TO AN ADSORPTION STEP.

Claim 3

A cyclic method as in claim 1 comprising providing four high pressure adsorbent beds and two low pressure adsorbent beds wherein in a first stage sour gas is being fed to one end of a first pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; a second high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbenT bed are interconnected and being regenerated by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of said purified gas; and a third high pressure adsorbent bed is interconnected with a first low pressure adsorbent bed and is being regenerated by releasing the pressure on said third high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said third high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said first low pressure bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said third high pressure adsorbent bed and said first low pressure adsorbent bed thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir.

Claim 4

A cyclic method as in claim 2 wherein in a second stage sour gas is being fed to one end of a first high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said second high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; a third high pressure adsorbent bed and a first low pressure adsorbent bed are interconnected and being regenerated by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of said purified gas; and a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed is interconnected with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and is being regenerated by releasing the pressure on said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said second low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said second low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed and said second low pressure adsorbent bed thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir.

Claim 5

A cyclic method as in claim 3 wherein a third stage sour gas is being fed to one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said second high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbent bed are interconnected and being regenerated by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of said purified gas; and a first high pressure adsorbent bed is interconnected with a first low pressure adsorbent bed and is being regenerated by releasing the pressure on said first high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said first high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said first low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said first high pressure adsorbent bed and said first low pressure adsorbent bed thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to A storage reservoir.

Claim 6

A cyclic method as in claim 4 wherein in a fourth stage contaminated gas is being fed to one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed and end of a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; a first high pressure adsorbent bed and a first low pressure adsorbent bed are interconnected and being regenerated by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; and a second high pressure adsorbent bed is interconnected with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and is being regenerated by releasing the pressure on said second high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said second high pressure bed flow to said first low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said second high pressure adsorbent bed and said first low pressure adsorbent bed thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir.

Claim 7

A cyclic method as in claim 5 wherein after said fourth stage, said first stage is repeated thereby producing a cyclic method which continuously purifies a sour gas yielding a continuous stream of a non-sulfur compound containing gas.

Claim 8

A cyclic method as in claim 6 wherein the adsorbent in said high pressure adsorbent beds and said low pressure adsorbent beds is a crystalline zeolite.

Claim 9

A cyclic method as in claim 7 wherein said crystalline zeolite is a synthetic zeolite selected from the group consisting of Zeolite A, Zeolite X and Zeolite Y.

Claim 10

A cyclic method as in claim 8 wherein said zeolite contains ions selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, lithium, potassium, cesium, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

A cyclic method as in claim 7 wherein the said crystalline zeolite is a naturally occurring zeolite.

Claim 12

A cyclic method as in claim 10 wherein said zeolite contains ions selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, lithium, potassium, cesium, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

A cyclic method for purifying a sour gas stream by removing sulfurous contaminants comprising providing at least four high pressure adsorbent beds and at least two low pressure adsorbent beds, at least two of said high pressure adsorbent beds being on adsorption steps during each of four differing stages of a cycle, and at least two of said high pressure adsorbent beds being on regeneration steps during each of four differing stages of each cycle, comprising: in a first stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a first high pressure adsorbent bed and to one end of fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a second high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; interconnecting a third pressure adsorbent bed with a first low pressuRe adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said third high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said third high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said first low pressure bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed; passing an oxygen containing gas through adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a second stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a first high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said second high pressure bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a third high pressure adsorbent bed and a first pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; and interconnecting a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said second low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said second low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a third stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said second high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; interconnecting a first high pressure adsorbent bed with a first low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said first high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said first high pressure bed flow to said first low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed; passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a fourth stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed and to one end of a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a first high pressure adsorbent bed and a first low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, pAssing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas, interconnecting a second high pressure adsorbent bed with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said second high pressure bed whereby effluent gases from said second high pressure bed flow to said second low pressure bed and are adsorbed in said second low pressure bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; and repeating said first stage, thereby producing a cyclic method which continuously purifies a sour gas yielding a continuous stream of a non-sulfur compound containing gas.

Claim 14

A cyclic method for purifying a sour gas stream by removing sulfurous contaminants comprising providing at least four high pressure adsorbent beds and at least two low pressure adsorbent beds, at least two of said high pressure adsorbent beds being on adsorption steps during each of four differing stages of a cycle, and at least two of said high pressure adsorbent beds being on regeneration steps during each of four differing stages of each cycle, comprising: in a first stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a first high pressure adsorbent bed and to one end of fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a second high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; interconnecting a third pressure adsorbent bed with a first low pressuRe adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said third high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said third high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said first low pressure bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed; passing an oxygen containing gas through adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a second stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a first high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said first high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said second high pressure bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a third high pressure adsorbent bed and a first pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; and interconnecting a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed flow to said second low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said second low pressure adsorbent bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a third stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a second high pressure adsorbent bed and one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said second high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed and a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each bed and collected, passing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas; interconnecting a first high pressure adsorbent bed with a first low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said first high pressure adsorbent bed whereby effluent gases from said first high pressure bed flow to said first low pressure adsorbent bed and are adsorbed in said first low pressure adsorbent bed; passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; in a fourth stage, feeding contaminated gas to one end of a third high pressure adsorbent bed and to one end of a fourth high pressure adsorbent bed with a purified gas exiting from an other end of said third high pressure adsorbent bed and an other end of said fourth high pressure adsorbent bed, said purified gas being conducted through a manifold for use; interconnecting a first high pressure adsorbent bed and a first low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by passing a heated gas at a temperature of at least about 825F through said adsorbent beds whereby residual elemental sulfur is vaporized, removed from each adsorbent bed and collected, pAssing a cooling gas through said adsorbent beds, and purging said adsorbent beds of said cooling gas with a portion of purified gas, interconnecting a second high pressure adsorbent bed with a second low pressure adsorbent bed and regenerating said adsorbent beds by releasing the pressure on said second high pressure bed whereby effluent gases from said second high pressure bed flow to said second low pressure bed and are adsorbed in said second low pressure bed, passing an oxygen containing gas through said adsorbent beds, thereby converting adsorbed sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and collecting said elemental sulfur and passing a partially oxygen depleted gas to a storage reservoir; and repeating said first stage, thereby producing a cyclic method which continuously purifies a sour gas yielding a continuous stream of a non-sulfur compound containing gas.

Claim 15

A cyclic method as in claim 12 wherein the adsorbent in said high pressure adsorbent bed and said low pressure adsorbent beds is a crystalline zeolite.

Claim 16

A cyclic method as in claim 12 wherein said crystalline zeolite is a synthetic zeolite selected from the group consisting of Zeolite A, Zeolite X and Zeolite Y.

Claim 17

A cyclic method as in claim 14 wherein said zeolite contains ions selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, lithium, potassium, cesium, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

A cyclic method as in claim 13 wherein said zeolite is a naturally occurring zeolite.

Claim 19

A cyclic method as in claim 16 wherein said zeolite contains ions selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, lithium, potassium, cesium, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals and mixtures thereof.