RU2348579C2 - Device for onsite sulphur melting - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: mechanics; heating.

SUBSTANCE: heater element comprises a set of spacing-separated melting tubes that form a heating plane, the upper collector tube and the lower collector tube attached to the relevant ends of the melting tubes and communicating with them. The upper collector tube has an inlet for steam delivery and distribution within the melting tubes system. The lower collector tube has an outlet for condensate collection and discharge. In addition the heater element is equipped with a hot-tipped tube positioned beside and before the lower collector tube. The hot-tipped tube has a steam inlet and a condensate outlet and is intended for sulphur melting before the lower collector. The heater elements may be controllable and modular. The device for solid sulphur melting consists of a support tower for the heater element transportation, a fixture for at least partial support of the heater element in the vertical position, a fixture for the heater element transfer from the vertical position to a basically horizontal one on a transportation truck, a fixture for the melting device travel across the ground surface in the direction of solid sulphur storage location. The latter fixture comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a directional distributing valve and a variable volume pressure compensation pump. The heater element for melting cross band contaminated sulphur consists of a set of spacing-separated melting tubes confining the melting plane and individual melting tubes having steam inlets and condensate outlets with the specified set of melting tubes performing cross band contaminated sulphur melting whenever the device comes in contact with a bulk of sulphur containing a cross band.

EFFECT: simplified and relatively inexpensive fabrication technique; possibility of onsite sulphur melting.

31 cl, 28 dwg

Description

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for melting sulfur in blocks.

Sulfur is obtained as a by-product from the extraction of natural gas from the earth and is usually stored in solid form in large blocks near the production site. For the convenience of transporting large quantities of sulfur, it can be melted.

The following patents generally relate to the subject of the present invention, and it is not intended that they make the present invention as expected or obvious, taken individually or together.

US patent No. 4203625 (Ellitorp), entitled "Device for melting sulfur by transverse movement of the heating element." This patent discloses a device and method for melting sulfur in blocks. The device contains a steam heated element designed to apply heat to sulfur, pivotally attached to a trolley moving along the rails of the trailer. The heating element is advanced by the counterweight, and the molten sulfur flows down the collection pipes.

US patent No. 4050740 (Ellitorp), entitled "Method and device for melting sulfur blocks." This patent describes a device and method for melting sulfur in blocks, in which a steam-heated element is placed over sulfur, which then flows into a collecting tray.

In US patent No. 4597609 (Dezhinsky and others), entitled "Method of melting sulfur", Dezhinsky and others proposed a method and device for melting sulfur in blocks, in which a steam-heated element is applied to the upper surface of the block. The heating element is tilted so that when the sulfur is melted, it flows into the collection area from which it is taken.

In US patent No. 4651817 (Dagger and others), entitled "Heat exchanger used for melting sulfur", Dagger and others described a steam peak, convenient for melting sulfur. The main expected benefit is the melting of solid sulfur underneath the railway sulfur tank, which contains molten sulfur. When melting sulfur, a pressure is applied to the tip of the peaks, causing the peaks to advance. Condensate formed during heat transfer is removed, preventing water from contacting with the molten sulfur.

Canadian Patent No. 1091430 (Potts), entitled “Device for Effectively Placing and Functioning Sulfur Remelting Equipment in Blocks in Place,” describes the use of melting devices suspended on cables over sulfur in blocks. Cables move over the unit by means of bogies that allow precise control of displacement. The use of both electric and steam heating means is considered.

The present invention can be considered as an improvement of the patent of US patent No. 4203625 and the corresponding patent of Canada No. 1064224, in which a box-shaped upper steam collector is connected to sequences of vertical pipes arranged in two parallel, offset rows connected to the box-shaped lower collector. Behind the vertical pipes is an insulated support panel. The molten sulfur drains from the outside of the vertical pipes and accumulates in the trough behind the lower collector. These elements have standard sizes to ensure interchangeability, with the set of elements placed one above the other in the form of a mast (for example, 4 elements 10 feet high each are used in the case of a sulfur block 40 feet high). Element modules are mounted one above the other to achieve the required height of a particular sulfur block. Sulfur collected from the upper elements is sent via drain pipes to the prefabricated gutter system. Sulfur from the lower element is lifted by an Archimedean screw and discharged into the same collecting chute. The vertical pipes and the front wall of the box-type steam collectors are made of the same thin-walled material, which ensures the same intensity of melting in all parts of the unit. All melting occurs in the primary zone in front of the element.

The disadvantages of this design include the following.

- Elements are expensive to manufacture due to the design of the box-type steam collector and the fact that four elements are required for a 40-foot unit.

- The elements are not particularly rigid, since they do not include soft support spans.

- The system of prefabricated trays involves draining under the influence of gravity into a well or ditch for collecting sulfur, which requires digging ditches near the sides of the sulfur, which, in turn, causes problems with the general drainage of rainwater from the site.

- The retraction of the elements after each advancement requires the simultaneous operation of the retracting cylinder when the winch is unwound.

- At the site of the placement of the elements of the melting device there is a significant emission of smoke and sulfur vapor.

There are in-place improvements to the design of the smelting apparatus described in US Pat. No. 4,203,625, but there are various drawbacks to these designs, some of which are listed below.

- The use of double connecting elbows between steam collectors and vertical pipes.

- A large difference in wall thickness between the various components that melt sulfur. As a result, the element enters the block at the speed of the most slowly moving component. Related to this is the fact that the force required to move the element must be kept at a relatively low level to prevent overload and damage to the most slowly moving floating part of the element. In addition, if steam pressure is not kept at a low level, thinner sections of the element may overheat sulfur, making it viscous. The heterogeneity of the wall thickness reduces the overall intensity of the melting element.

- The use of a casing closed sump made of a thick sheet and causing slow melting, thus reduces the speed of movement of the entire element.

- The use of a round steam collector connected by a double bend to a series of vertical pipes that discharge condensate through the double bends into a collector with a complex bottom shape formed by a box-shaped and a semicircular pipe.

- The force under which the unit is promoted must be reduced so as not to overload the site with the lowest melting rate.

- When working with high vapor pressure, sulfur, due to the duration of its contact when passing along the length of a vertical pipe, overheats to a viscous state, further interfering with the remelting operation.

- A settling tank with a thick-walled steam casing that slowly melts sulfur.

- The condensate drain from the lower collector is weak.

- The mounting system does not allow for thermal expansion of the element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for melting a sulfur block containing a heating element for applying heat to sulfur, the heating element comprising a group of parallel or substantially parallel pipes (preferably arranged in a row), input means for supplying a steam jet through the pipes, and output means for the release of steam and condensate from the pipes; means for supporting the heating element at least approximately upright and means for moving the heating element in a position and direction at least approximately parallel to the ground in the direction of the sulfur block, the device also comprising at least one of the following features: (a) direct the connection between the pipes and the input and / or output means; (b) a pipe with a hot tip with a thickness similar to the thickness of the pipes intended for melting sulfur, located in front of the pipes; (c) intermediate trays designed to remove molten sulfur from the pipes and to form a support for the pipes; (d) a sump formed by a thin-walled pipe open from below to allow molten sulfur not collected in a collection pan; (e) an effective means for recovering condensate from the outlet means.

The device may also comprise a chassis supporting the heating element, support means including means for transferring the heating element from its vertical position to a substantially horizontal part on the chassis for transportation.

The moving means may comprise a hydraulic cylinder, a directional control valve and a pressure-compensated variable displacement pump in which the force applied to the moving element is controlled by varying the hydraulic pressure.

The support means may include means for installing a heating element for movement by the moving means relative to the chassis.

The support means may also comprise hinge means for supporting the heating element to rotate around at least approximately the horizontal axis and hydraulically expanding and retracting means in the composition of the piston and cylinder, designed to raise and lower the heating element by rotation around the axis.

The support means may include means for lifting the heating element from the folded, essentially horizontal position to a vertical position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for melting a sulfur block, comprising an elongated heating element for applying heat to sulfur, the heating element comprising a series of pipe spaced apart (preferably parallel and arranged in a row), input means for supplying a steam jet through the pipes and outlet means for discharging steam and condensate from the pipes; trolley for moving the heating element; means for supporting the heating element at least approximately vertically on the chassis; supporting means including means for raising and lowering the heating element relative to the chassis between the deployed position in which the heating element is in a vertical arrangement and the folded position in which the heating element is in the lowered state for transportation; and means for biasing the bogie and the heating element toward the sulfur block in a direction at least approximately parallel to the ground, the device also comprising at least one of the following features: (a) direct connection between the pipes and the input and / or output means; (b) a pipe with a hot tip with a thickness similar to the thickness of the pipes intended for melting sulfur, located in front of the pipes; (c) intermediate trays designed to remove molten sulfur from the pipes and to form a support for the pipes; (a) a sump formed by a thin-walled pipe open from below to allow molten sulfur not collected in a collection pan; (e) an effective means for recovering condensate from the outlet means.

The device may also include rails, supporting and guiding the trolley to move the support means.

The device may also comprise a trailer for supporting the trolley, support means and biasing means, the rails being placed on the trailer.

The device may also comprise means for laterally adjusting the position of the front ends of the rail relative to the ground.

The device may be such that the trolley is horizontally elongated and may also comprise roller means on the trolley designed to interact with the rails by means of which the trolley is shifted back with the help of biasing means to a position where the rear end of the trolley protrudes back further than the rear end of the trailer and also provides means for swiveling the heating element with the rear end of the trolley.

The rails may comprise horizontal sections representing the running surfaces on their upper and lower sides, and the roller means may comprise pairs of rollers on opposite sides of the trolley, each of the pairs of rollers comprising an upper roller and a lower roller interacting by rolling with the upper running surface and the lower running surface respectively belonging to one of the rails.

The connecting means may comprise means pivotally connecting the heating element to the rear end of the cart to rotate the heating element about a horizontal axis relative to the cart.

The biasing means may comprise a hydraulic cylinder, a directional control valve and a pressure-compensated variable displacement pump in which the force applied to the moving element is controlled by varying the hydraulic pressure.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sulfur melting method described herein with reference to a device according to another aspect of the present invention.

The claimed group of inventions is characterized by the totality of the features set forth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, where:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to a variant implementation of the present invention in place directly next to the sulfur block;

on figa shows a side view of the trailer, trolley and support tower according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

2B is an isometric side view of a trailer, a trolley and a support tower according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the support tower is in a raised position;

on figs shows an isometric side view of the trailer, truck and support tower according to a variant implementation of the present invention, in which the support tower is in the folded position;

figure 3 and 4 show views of parts made in section through the rollers of the trolley of the device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

5 is a side view of a heating element as part of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 shows an isometric separate view of a portion of a front portion of a heating element as part of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 shows a separate view of a portion of a rear portion of a heating element as part of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

on figa and 8B shows a top view of the pump installed in the device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

8C and 8D show side views of a pump installed in a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 shows a hydraulic control diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

10A and 10B show partially transparent top and side views of the upper collector as part of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

11A and 11B show partially transparent top and side views of the lower collector as part of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

on figa and 12B shows a top view of the lower collector and the receiving tray as part of the device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on figa and 13B shows top and side views of the intermediate trays as part of the device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on figa and 14B shows side views of a pipe with a tip as part of a device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a side view of a pipe with a tip and the lower collector as part of a device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows an isometric view of the mounting bracket as part of a device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a perspective view of the currently used device in place directly next to the sulfur block;

on Fig shows an isometric view of the trailer, trolley and support tower of the currently used device, with the support tower in the raised position;

on Fig shows an isometric separate view of part of the front section of the heating element as part of the currently used device;

on Fig shows a side view of the infrastructure of the smelting device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate side view of part of the infrastructure of the smelting device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate front view of part of the infrastructure of the smelting device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate front view of part of the infrastructure of the smelting device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate front view of part of the infrastructure of the smelting device according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a side view of a modular element for melting sulfur according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate front view of part of a modular element for melting sulfur according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows a separate front view of part of a modular element for melting sulfur according to a variant implementation of the present invention;

on Fig shows an isometric view of part of a modular element for melting sulfur according to a variant implementation of the present invention.

On Fig-19 shows the currently used device (described in the applicant’s patent US No. 4203625), located directly next to the sulfur block P67, which contains a heating element P11, which is supported by the support tower P12, which itself is mounted on the cart P14, which, in turn, is mounted on a P15 trolley. The heating element P11 is advanced by the counterweight P48. As shown in FIG. 19, the box-shaped upper steam collector P73 is connected to a group of vertical pipes P71, which are installed in two parallel, offset rows connected to the box-shaped lower condensate collector P74. Pipes P71 communicate with their opposite ends with the hollow internal parts of the upper and lower collectors P73 and P74. The upper collector P73 has a supply pipe P75, designed to supply steam from a vertical pipe P76, supplying steam. The lower collector P74 communicates via a discharge pipe P77 with a vertical exhaust pipe P78, which is similarly connected to the lower collector of each of the outer sections of the heater. The lower collector P74 has a flat upper surface P89, which is inclined back and provided with vertical side walls P81, so that the molten sulfur melted by the pipes P71 when using the device will drain into the back of the surface P80, and then into the collecting tray P82, located horizontally along the back side of the lower collector P74. The assembly tray P82 communicates with a vertical drain pipe P83 common to all sections of the heater and placed when used so as to drain molten sulfur down into a chute or the like (not shown). Sulfur collected from the upper elements is directed through a drain pipe into the collecting system of the gutters. Sulfur from the lower elements is lifted using an Archimedean screw and poured into the same collecting chute.

1-16, a sulfur melting apparatus 1 is shown, which comprises an elongated rectangular melting or heating element 2 shown in the raised position of at least approximately the vertical arrangement in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. The heating element 2 is supported on the rear side by a support tower, generally indicated by 3, which has the shape of a frame, and the support tower 3 is rotatably supported by swivel joints 4 (Fig. 2A) at the rear end of the auxiliary frame or carriage, which is generally indicated by 5.

The auxiliary frame or carriage 5 is movably supported, as will be described in more detail below, on the rear end of the chassis of the mobile platform or trailer, generally indicated by 6, can be extended and retracted in the longitudinal direction relative to the trailer 6 to and from the rear end of the trailer 6 the retracted position in which the trolley 5 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 B and 2C, and the extended position shown in FIG. 2A, in which the trolley 5 is rotated outward further than the rear end of the trailer 6. As a means of horizontal movement of the trailer Yiler caterpillars can be used.

More specifically, the trolley 5 comprises opposing longitudinal vertical side walls 7 in the form of rectangular lattice frames that are joined at their corners by transverse elements 8, the hinges 4 being placed at the very rear and uppermost corners of the side walls 7. On the other hand, the side walls 7 may interconnected by lattice structures.

The truck 5 is movably supported by a path formed by a pair of parallel rails, which are generally indicated by 9 and which are located along the trailer 6. Each of the side walls 7 is provided with three pairs of rollers 10-12 interacting with the corresponding rail 9.

As is more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each rail 9 comprises an I-beam with an upper shelf, forming an upper running surface 14 on top and a lower running surface 15 on the lower side.

The roller 10, which is shown in FIG. 3, interacts by rolling with the upper running surface 14 and can rotate on the neck 16, protruding from one end of the tubular element 17 located across the cart 5.

Figure 4 shows the rollers 11 and 12 and, as will be seen, these rollers contain pairs of rollers separated by a vertical gap, which are in the interaction of rolling with the upper and lower running surfaces 14 and 15, respectively. The rollers 11 and 12 are rotatably mounted on the corresponding short axes 18 and 19, protruding to the side of the truck 5 at its lower front end.

Since the rollers 10, as shown in FIG. 2A, are located at a distance approximately equal to one third of the length of the trolley 5 from the front end of the latter, on which the rollers 11 and 12 are placed, the placement of the rollers 10 and 12 and two I-beams 13 allows the trolley 5 to be retracted from the rear end of the trailer 6, leaving it in a horizontal position, i.e. no tilt at the rear end of the trailer 6.

A lifting mechanism in the form of a hydraulic plunger, indicated generally by 20, is placed on each side of the trolley 5 to rotate the support tower 3 of the heating element together with the heating element 2 around the horizontal common axis of rotation of the hinge joints 4, with their translation in the raised, working position. Each hydraulic plunger 20 is pivotally connected at one end to a corresponding side wall 7 of the carriage 5 by a pivot joint 21 and at its other end is pivotally connected to a corresponding side of the support tower 3.

Each mast support 20a is pivotally connected with its upper end to the corresponding lateral side of the support tower 3 and rotates until it aligns with the corresponding connection point on the side wall of the carriage 5, after which it is secured by a pin connection.

After removing the pin from the connection of the mast support 20a to the side wall of the trolley 5, the mast support 20a rotates around its upper connection with the support tower 3 until it is in a vertical position, after which it is attached to the support tower 3, and after tightening the hydraulic a plunger 20 for lowering the support tower 3 by turning down around the common horizontal axis of the swivel joints 4 with the trolley 5 in the front, retracted position, the support tower 3 becomes essentially horizontal as It seemed 2C, in its lowest position, and the support tower 3 can be secured relative to the trailer by any suitable means for transportation and / or storage.

The trolley 5 together with the support tower 3 and its heating element 2 can, when required, be shifted back to move back from the trailer 6 from the retracted position, in which the trolley 5 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, to the rearward extended position, wherein the rear end of the trolley 5 is biased back relative to the rear end 6 by means of a second hydraulic cylinder 23, as shown in FIG. 2A.

As described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 9, the element is telescoped and retracted by a system that includes a hydraulic cylinder, a directional control valve and a variable-pressure pump with pressure compensation. The force applied to the moving member is controlled by varying the hydraulic pressure.

The trailer 6 has on its lateral side a pair of wheels 24 interacting with the soil, which can be raised or lowered relative to the trailer 6 by means of an adjustable suspension containing a pair of cranked levers 25. A pair of hydraulic plungers 26 are pivotally connected to the corresponding I-beam 13 and to one end of the corresponding cranked levers 25, and the other ends of the cranked levers 25 are pivotally connected to the connected lower ends of the pairs of racks connected to the lower side of the trailer 6. The cranked levers 25 are operatively connected , between their ends, with wheels 24, so that when actuating the hydraulic plungers 26, the wheels 24 rise or fall.

The trailer 6 is also equipped with supports 27a with a hydraulic drive, designed to stabilize the trailer 6 when using a sulfur melting device.

We now turn to the heating element 2 and the support tower 3 with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. As shown in the side view of FIG. 5, the heating element 2 and the support tower 3 together comprise an upper steam collector 28, vertical steam pipes 29, intermediate trays 30, drain pipes 31 and a mast or tower 32 of the melting device, a sump pump 34 and a sump coil 33.

6, the system is shown isometrically. During operation, when the heating element 2 approaches the sulfur block 66, the steam is introduced into the round hollow upper collector 28 through the supply flanges 35 for steam. Then the steam enters and passes down the vertical pipes 29 until the steam reaches the lower collector 36, where the steam enters the hollow lower collector 36.

The upper collector 28 may be cylindrical in shape and directly connected by concentric adapters 42 (see FIG. 10B) to vertical pipes 29, which can be aligned in one parallel row. The upper collector 28 also serves as the upper holder of the heating element 2. It is possible to use a direct connection between the collectors 28 and 36 and the vertical pipes. Vertical pipes 29 are directly connected by concentric adapters 43 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) to a lower adapter 36, which serves as an outlet for condensate. The lower collection 36 may also be cylindrical. Condensate is removed from the bottom of the collector 36 by large siphons 44 separated by equal intervals to prevent accumulation of condensate. The lower collector 36 has mounting brackets 45 that include a sliding device that allows for thermal expansion of the heating element 2. The mounting brackets are shown in more detail in FIG. 16. The brackets are in the form of a channel, which covers a square pipe 45a attached to the support tower 3. The other end of the bracket 45c is attached to the lower collector 63. The channel of the channel transfers horizontal force to the element 2 of the melting device, while the flanges absorb lateral forces. Loose fitting bolts or pins placed in the slotted holes 45b of the channel flanges hold the element during the retraction phase during operation.

A thin-walled pipe with a wall thickness similar to the wall thickness of the vertical pipes 29 is used as a hot tip pipe 41 to melt the path through the sulfur in front of the lower collector 36. This tip pipe 41 has a steam inlet (see Fig. 14B) with several outputs 45 into the pipe 41, as well as 3 outputs for the condensate 48 to ensure high-quality distribution of steam and prevent the accumulation of condensate in the pipe 41 with a tip. The siphon 44 allows for improved removal of condensate from the lower collector 36. If all parts are melted at the same speed, more force can be evenly distributed throughout the unit. The increase in force creates a closer contact, which increases the intensity of heat transfer.

Near the heating element, horizontal intermediate trays 30 are arranged horizontally at vertical intervals. The trays 30 divert molten sulfur from the vertical pipes 29, allowing the heating element 2 to be used at a higher vapor pressure. The trays 30 are opened into the drain pipes 31, so that the molten sulfur can enter the collecting pan system 39. This, combined with a higher advancement force associated with an even load distribution, allows closer contact between the pipes 29 and the unmelted sulfur, providing improved heat transfer and thus a higher melting rate (advance).

Trays 30 can be attached at regular intervals from the bottom to the bottom of the element in order to collect sulfur as it melts, and to form intermediate supports for vertical pipes. When the sulfur in front of the vertical pipes 29 (called the primary zone) melts, it drains along the entire length of the pipe 29 and accumulates in a receiving pan 39 located behind the lower collector 36.

Part of the sulfur passes in the form of non-molten debris or plates between the vertical pipes 29, where they are in contact with the support panel BP (shown in Fig. 15), which causes their destruction or warping, and fall into the lumen between the rear side of the pipes 29 and the support panel BP, located behind the vertical pipes 29 between the upper collector 28, the intermediate trays 30 and the lower collector 36. This sulfur then falls into the space between the rear side of the pipes 29 and the support panel BP, falling on the receiving tray 39. Here, secondary melting occurs, and Lee tertiary melting occurs when sulfur nerasplavivshayasya poured hot molten sulfur from the primary and secondary zones. This tertiary melting takes place in trays 30, a receiving pan 39 and a sulfur sump 33. A single-row structure can provide a reduction in smoke and vapor emission compared to an offset double-row structure.

Sulfur melts either due to contact with the rear side of the pipes 29 (called the secondary zone) or a stream of molten sulfur in the receiving pan 39 (called the tertiary zone). Sulfur flows from the receiving tray 39 into the box of the sump 33, from where it is pumped out by the sulfur pump 34 (see FIG. 5). The molten sulfur, not collected in the receiving pan 39, is collected in the recess 49a in the sulfur support platform 49 (see FIG. 5), melted by the settling coil and then enters the settling tank 33 through the opening in its bottom. The sump 33 is located behind the receiving pan 39 and contains a series of steam coils made of thin-walled pipes, and a hole in its bottom, allowing leakage of all molten sulfur not collected by the receiving tray 39.

The melting device according to the present invention uses a single element, made specifically for the desired height. The advantage of this configuration is its low cost, which is associated with the use of several collectors of simple design, that is, with a circular cross section.

Since the pressure-resistant parts of the element are made entirely of round pipes supplied by the industry, there is no difficulty observing the technical specifications for pressure, the unit is simple and orderly and therefore less expensive to build.

Figure 9 shows that the hydraulic control circuit includes a reservoir R for accommodating a source of working fluid and a pressure compensated hydraulic pump 50 driven by dual variable displacement hydraulic pumps 51 and right and left motor paths 52, and motor M. A hydraulic pump 50, pressure compensated, has a pump inlet connected by hydraulic line 52a to reservoir R. A constant volume pump is indicated by FDR.

The hydraulic lines 53 and 54 are connected to the output of the FDR hydraulic pump and the reservoir inlet R, respectively, and a plurality of manually actuated control valves V ₁ to V _{5 are} connected in parallel to the hydraulic lines 53 and 54 by hydraulic lines 55 and 56.

Valves V ₁ and V ₂ have outputs connected by hydraulic lines 56a-59 to the cylinders of the hydraulic plungers 26 on the left and right wheels of the trailer 6, respectively.

Valves V _{2 are} connected by hydraulic lines 60 and 61 to hydraulic plungers 20 for raising and lowering the support tower 3 of the heating element.

Valves V ₄ and V _{5 are} connected by hydraulic lines 62-65 to the respective cylinders of the front bearings 27a.

The safety valve RV is connected by a hydraulic line 56 between the hydraulic lines 53 and 54.

The device described above operates as follows. To deliver the device to sulfur block 66 (Fig. 1), the trailer is towed by a truck (not shown) with the support tower 3 of the heating element in the folded position, as shown in Fig. 2C. Then, the trailer 6 is brought to the sulfur block 66 in the desired position and the wheels 24 interacting with the soil are lifted, lowering the supports 27a, so that the trailer 6 is reliably mounted on the ground. The hydraulic plunger 20 is actuated to rotate the support tower 3 of the heating element, and with it the heating element 2, from the folded position on the trailer 6 to the vertical operating position. After that, pipes for supplying steam for supplying steam to them are connected to the collectors 28 and 36 of the heating element 2. When the device is thus prepared for operation, the sulfur melts and the carriage 5 advances forward, thus promoting the heating element 2 towards the sequentially melting sulfur block 66.

The heat transferred to the sulfur block 66 from the heating element 2 melts the sulfur in the immediate vicinity of the heating element 2. More specifically, the pipe 41 with the tip first melts its way into the sulfur block, being the first part of the device in contact with the block 6, and then serves as a junction, when the vertical pipes 29 approach the block 66 and melt it, so that the molten sulfur flows through the collection pipes 29 in the manner described above, and soldering the block 66 with the forward edge of the pipe 41 with the tip does not allow its stack tions forward. The molten sulfur can be pumped into storage tanks by a sulfur pump 34.

More specifically, the smelting proceeds as follows: when the element 2 moves horizontally with the upper collector 28 extended over the sulfur block 66, the front surface of the vertical pipes 29 and the front surface of the horizontal hot-end pipe 41 melt the sulfur in the primary melting zone. Fragments or plates of unmelted sulfur passing between the pipes 29 crumble and break upon contact with the BP support panel, where they melt in the secondary zone. Any unmelted sulfur that passes through this zone is melted by a stream of molten sulfur, which moves it through a tray 30, a drain pipe 31, and a collection pan system 39 (tertiary zone). Sulfur is discharged from the collection tray 39 into the sump 33, where it is pumped out by a sulfur submersible pump 34 supplied by the industry.

If necessary, it is possible to actuate the tracks 6a for laterally adjusting the position of the truck 5 by laterally displacing the front end of the trailer 6 to properly align the support tower 3 of the heating element with sulfur block 66. In this way, a cut of the same thickness can be obtained.

After the heating element 2 thus moves back relative to the trailer 6 to the maximum distance, i.e. when the trolley 5 reaches the maximum permissible backward movement, the trolley 5 is returned back to its original position by means of a return hydraulic cylinder 23. Then the trailer 6 moves further to the remaining unmelted part of the sulfur block 66 by means of the caterpillar block 6a, and the process is repeated. The caterpillar unit 6a is connected to the trailer 6 by a fifth wheel mount, which can be raised and lowered to obtain the desired elevation of one end of the trailer 6, while the position of the second end is adjusted by means of the sliding supports 27a and suspension. The crawler track 6a is equipped with brakes, allowing it to serve as an anchor, so that it can counteract the reactive forces created by the cylinder 23, pushing the melting element 2 to the sulfur block.

The device described above not only has the advantage of mobility, but also ensures the safety of operating personnel who work with the device at ground level and who are not required to work in places close to molten sulfur and to the heating element. Since the flow of molten sulfur moves vertically downward and since sulfur is collected in the intermediate trays, the loss of sulfur through cracks in the block is minimized, and large volumes and speeds of the flow of sulfur are not allowed. Energy efficiency is ensured by transferring heat to the unit through a layer of molten sulfur of minimum thickness. The device requires minimal continuous preparation of the production site, since the needs for steam and electricity are usually easily met in all locations of the blocks during normal operation of the enterprise. The use of this device does not require large labor costs and does not require special skill and experience. Using the device can be continuous or intermittent, depending on the requirements, since the device simply starts and shuts down.

Contaminated Sulfur Smelter (CSRU)

In the process of casting sulfur blocks, they are susceptible to pollution associated with various elements and causes, such as moisture from snow and rain, dirt and ash from surrounding fields and processing plants, as well as chemicals that occur due to process disruptions in the gas section.

The modular sulfur melting element is a device that can be used both with elements of an existing melting device (such as those described above) and elements of earlier melting devices (as described, for example, in Canadian Patent 1064224, issued to the applicant).

The purpose of this block is to melt a generally horizontal sulfur strip as the block advances in front of the main melting element. A strip of sulfur is usually contaminated with dirt, ash, chemicals, or excess moisture; all of them reduce the melting rate and can damage the main melting element. If the melting rate of the CSPU is lower than that of the main element, the entire unit will advance only at the speed of the slowest melting part, however, since the CSRU is separated from the main element, its steam supply can be adjusted so as to bring it into line with specific operating conditions without negative impact on the main element. Sulfur, molten CSRU, is collected separately and can be removed, recycled or re-mixed with the rest of the sulfur.

As shown in FIG. 20, CSRU (68) consists of a series of steam-heated parallel melting pipes (69) located at an angle to the horizontal. There is a small space between these pipes (69), and each of the melting pipes (69) is closed at both ends. As shown in FIG. 21, steam enters the inlet pipe (70), which penetrates the shutter at the lower end of each melting pipe and extends to the other end, thereby providing good circulation of the steam. There is also a hole in the bottom gate of each melting pipe through which condensate is discharged through a discharge pipe (71) into a pipe system connected to a condensation pot. In Fig.23 shows the pipe supplying steam, and Fig.24 - pipe discharging condensate.

The melting pipes (69) are attached to the support panel in such a way that each successively lower pipe continues somewhat higher. There is a base that connects the lowest pipe to the support panel. As shown in FIG. 20, end panels and mounting brackets connect the CSRU to a trolley (72) that moves along the guides (73) attached to the mast of the melting device. The block can be moved up and down by means of winches, hydraulic cylinders or special keys (74).

As the CSRU (68) moves horizontally with the sulfur block melted, the sulfur melted by each pipe (69) flows around the pipe and enters the area between the pipes and the support panel, where it accumulates at the bottom. Sulfur fragments passing between the pipes come into contact with the support panel, where they crack and fall between the back of the pipes and the support panel. Here, the debris melts due to contact with the back side of the hot pipes, as well as molten sulfur flowing through them. Since the block (including the bottom) is slightly inclined towards the outer end (as shown in the front view in Fig. 22), sulfur flows to this end, where it accumulates and merges into the drain pipe. As an example, you can specify that the slope is 4 inches vertically for pipes 16 feet long. Sulfur, which flows under the lowest pipe, will be collected by the main melting element, and therefore the CSRU (68) will be positioned so that the lowest pipe is in contact with pure sulfur, located under the strip of contaminated sulfur (75), as shown in FIG. twenty.

With a steam inlet pipe connected to the upper end, and due to the slope, the condensate flows to the outer end for discharge, which leads to good steam circulation without condensation.

The design is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be made of various materials, including aluminum. Aluminum has good thermal conductivity and has been used in working with sulfur for many years.

Modular sulfur melting element

The modular sulfur melting element uses the principles already described above (CSRU). The purpose of the modular element is to horizontally melt the sulfur block in approximately the same way as in previous designs, such as that shown in FIG. The model element is designed in such a way as to be installed on the mast of the previous design, thus using all the signs of existing alignment and advancement systems.

As shown in FIG. 25, the modular element is formed by a series of modules of the melting element (76), mounted vertically one above the other, up the front surface of the mast. The design involves the use of as many modules as is required to achieve a sulfur block height.

Each module is formed by a series of parallel steam melting pipes (77) located at an angle to the horizontal. There is a small space between these pipes (77), and each of the melting pipes (77) is closed at both ends. As in the case of CSRU, steam enters the inlet pipe (78), which penetrates the gate at the lower end of each melting pipe and extends to the other end, thus ensuring good circulation of the steam. There is also an opening in the bottom gate of each melting pipe through which condensate is discharged through a discharge pipe (79) into a pipe system connected to a condensation pot. In Fig.26 shows pipes supplying steam, and in Fig.27 - pipes that discharge condensate. There is a bottom that connects the lowest pipe to the support panel. The support panel of each module has a hook-shaped flange along its upper edge, which is hooked onto a mounting rail attached to the mast. This connection allows thermal expansion of the element (both vertically and horizontally), and also simplifies the replacement of the module in case of damage. A pair of clamps prevents the module from sliding to the side or unintentionally removing it from the mounting rail.

When the melting element is moved horizontally with the sulfur block melted, the sulfur melted by each pipe 77 flows around the pipe and enters the area between the pipes and the support panel, where it accumulates at the bottom. Sulfur fragments passing between the pipes come into contact with the support panel, where they crack and fall between the back of the pipes and the support panel. Here, the debris melts due to contact with the back side of the hot pipes, as well as molten sulfur flowing through them. Since the block (including the bottom) is slightly inclined towards the outer end, as described in relation to the CSRU, sulfur flows to this end, where it accumulates and merges into the drain pipe. Sulfur that flows under the lowest pipe of each module will be collected by the module below. Liquid sulfur (83), as shown in FIG. 28, flows under the lowest pipe of the lower module and flows along the surface of the inclined base cushion (80) to the outer edge of the melt section where it accumulates.

At first glance, the inclined cushion of the base (80) to the left of the lower module can cause problems, however, due to each subsequent cut down the vertical tilt line, the entire cushion of the base (80) remains flat, and the additional advantage is that liquid sulfur (83 ), which flows under the lower element (81), accumulates in the resulting trough (81), from where it can be taken out using an industrial sulfur pump or an Archimedean screw (82).

If only a sulfur pump is used, it is necessary to surround it with a heated steam coil or pipe so that it can melt the sump in the base cushion (80), as described in the earlier patent description. If an Archimedean screw (82) is used, liquid sulfur can be removed from the trough (81) without melting the sludge. Since the Archimedean screw (82) has very limited possibilities with respect to the lifting height, it will be unloaded into the gravity discharge system or into the storage tank, where this sulfur accumulates along with sulfur flowing from the upper modules. An industrial sulfur pump may be installed in the storage tank to pump the molten sulfur.

With a steam inlet pipe connected to the upper end and due to the slope, the condensate flows to the outer end for discharge, which leads to good steam circulation without condensation.

Modules can be easily adapted for building with the desired width without significantly increasing the cost of construction. A wider element simply requires longer pipes, while with the previous design, more vertical pipes and a longer collector are required to produce a wider element. In contrast, a higher unit requires more modules (with increased costs), however, they are needed as many as are needed to reach the top of the unit, which eliminates the usual practice of constructing a melting element higher than required.

The design is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be made of various materials, including aluminum. Aluminum has good thermal conductivity and has been used in working with sulfur for many years.

The sulfur melting unit described herein directly on site offers a device and method for melting a sulfur block, a by-product of oil production and refining.

Claims (31)

1. A heating element intended for use in a device for melting solid sulfur, containing:
a group of interconnected intervals of melting pipes forming a heating plane;
the pipe of the upper steam collector and the pipe of the lower condensate collector at the respective ends of the melting pipes and in communication with them; moreover, the pipe of the upper steam collector has an inlet for passing steam into it and distributing it through the melting pipes, and the pipe of the lower condensate collector is configured to collect condensate and dispense through an outlet made therein; and
a pipe with a hot tip, placed next to and in front of the pipe of the lower condensate collector, having an inlet for steam and an outlet for condensate and intended for melting sulfur in front of the lower collector. 2. The heating element according to claim 1, in which the melting pipes are located at least essentially vertically, while in the working position. 3. The heating element according to claim 1, in which the melting pipes are made in communication with the pipe of the upper steam collector and the pipe of the lower condensate collector by means of a direct connection. 4. The heating element according to claim 1, in which the pipe of the lower condensate collector is provided with at least one siphon for extracting condensate from it. 5. The heating element according to claim 1, which also contains:
a support panel located behind the melting pipes and designed to guide the sulfur passing between the pipes down into a collecting pan located behind and below the melting pipes to collect sulfur, which is then pumped;
a sump having an entrance in its lower part located behind the collection tray for collecting sulfur, which is then pumped out and which is close to the collection tray. 6. The heating element according to claim 1, which also contains:
mounting brackets placed between the pipe of the lower condensate collector and the support tower, which include a sliding device for allowing thermal expansion of the heating element. 7. A heating element intended for use in a device for melting solid sulfur, containing:
a group of interconnected intervals of melting pipes forming a heating plane;
the pipe of the upper steam collector and the pipe of the lower condensate collector at the respective ends of the melting pipes and in communication with them, the pipe of the upper steam collector has an inlet for passing steam into it and distributing it through the melting pipes, and the pipe of the lower condensate collector is configured to collect condensate and dispense through there is an outlet in it; and
intermediate trays, separated by vertical spaces, located behind the melting pipes and designed to collect sulfur, which passes between the melting pipes, and the intermediate trays communicate with the storage section, allowing the flow of sulfur into it, while the intermediate trays are attached to the melting pipes and serve their support. 8. The heating element according to claim 7, in which the melting pipes are located at least essentially vertically, while in the working position. 9. The heating element according to claim 7, in which the melting pipes are made in communication with the pipe of the upper steam collector and the pipe of the lower condensate collector by means of a direct connection. 10. The heating element according to claim 7, in which the pipe of the lower condensate collector is provided with at least one siphon for extracting condensate from it. 11. The heating element according to claim 7, which also contains:
a support panel located behind the melting pipes and designed to guide the sulfur passing between the pipes down into a collecting pan located behind and below the melting pipes to collect sulfur, which is then pumped;
a sump having an entrance in its lower part located behind the collection tray for collecting sulfur, which is then pumped out and which is close to the collection tray. 12. The heating element according to claim 7, which also contains:
mounting brackets placed between the pipe of the lower condensate collector and the support tower, which include a sliding device for allowing thermal expansion of the heating element. 13. An adjustable heating element for use with a solid sulfur melting device for melting a transverse strip of contaminated sulfur in front of a main heating element, comprising:
a group of melting tubes separated by spaces that form a melting plane that is smaller than the melting plane of the main heating element and located in front of the main heating element;
melting pipes having an inlet for receiving steam into it and an outlet for discharging condensate;
an adjustable heating element configured to adjust a position adjacent to the transverse strip of contaminated sulfur to improve its melting. 14. The adjustable heating element according to item 13, in which the adjustable heating element is made with height adjustment. 15. The adjustable heating element according to item 13, in which the melting pipes are slightly inclined relative to the horizontal along the melting plane, and the melting pipes together are inclined upward towards the main heating element. 16. The adjustable heating element according to item 13, in which the melting pipes are located in an inclined row. 17. The adjustable heating element according to item 13, which also contains a support panel and an accumulation trough located behind the melting pipes for collecting sulfur separately from sulfur melted by the main heating element. 18. The adjustable heating element according to clause 15, in which the inlet is located and passes into the pipe at the lower end of each pipe, and the condensate outlet is located and passes in the pipe near or at the lower end of each pipe, with molten sulfur being discharged at the lower end. 19. The adjustable heating element according to item 13, in which the adjustable heating element is attached to the troll, which moves along vertical guides attached to the mast of the device for melting. 20. A modular heating element for use in a device for melting solid sulfur, comprising:
a plurality of heating element modules mounted detachably along the heating element;
and each module contains:
a group of interconnected intervals of melting pipes, limiting the melting plane;
a group of melting pipes having an inlet for receiving steam and an outlet for releasing condensate. 21. The modular heating element according to claim 20, in which at least one module is configured to receive steam regardless of at least one other module for controlled melting by selective distribution of steam. 22. The modular heating element according to claim 20, in which each module also contains a support panel having a hook flange along its upper edge that is hooked to a mounting rail attached to the support tower of the melting device. 23. A melting device for melting solid sulfur, comprising:
support tower for transporting the heating element;
means for supporting the heating element at least partially in an upright position;
means for moving the heating element from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position on the transport trolley;
means for moving the melting device over the soil surface in the direction of solid sulfur, which includes a hydraulic cylinder, a directional control valve and a variable-pressure pump with pressure compensation. 24. The melting device according to item 23, which further comprises:
a mobile platform for moving the melting device over the soil surface, the mobile platform carrying a trolley configured to reciprocate relative to the mobile platform by means of a hydraulic cylinder; and
in which the support tower is pivotally connected to the trolley to move between the raised working position and the retracted storage position. 25. A melting device for melting solid sulfur, comprising:
a heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and 20-22; and
means for supporting the heating element in at least approximately vertical arrangement; and
means for moving the melting device over the soil surface in the direction of solid sulfur. 26. A melting device for melting solid sulfur, comprising:
the main heating element and the adjustable heating element attached to it according to any one of claims 13-19. 27. A heating element for melting a transverse strip of contaminated sulfur, comprising:
a group of interconnected intervals of melting pipes, limiting the melting plane; and
melting pipes having an inlet for receiving steam and an outlet for discharging condensate,
in which a group of smelting pipes melts a transverse strip of contaminated sulfur upon contact with sulfur in a unit including a transverse strip. 28. The heating element according to item 27, in which the melting pipes are slightly inclined relative to the horizontal along the melting plane, and the melting pipes are inclined upward together. 29. The heating element according to claim 28, wherein the melting pipes are arranged in an inclined row. 30. The heating element according to item 27, which also contains a support panel and a storage chute located behind the melting pipes for collecting sulfur. 31. The heating element according to claim 28, wherein the inlet is located and passes into the pipe at the lower end of each pipe, and the condensate outlet is located and passes in the pipe near or at the lower end of each pipe, with molten sulfur being discharged at the lower end.

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