SULPHURIC ACID PROCESS

SULPHUR
MELTING

AIR
O2

DRYING

S + O2 SO2

1
SO2 + O2 SO3
2

SULPHUR
COMBUSTION

SO2
CONVERSION

SO3
ABSORPTION
SO3 + H 2O H 2 SO4

H2SO4

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

GAS SECTION

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
A blower takes in air thro a filter and dry it in the Drying Tower
using concentrated sulphuric acid.
Molten sulphur is atomised at a burner and burnt with dry air
from DT to produce SO2 gas.
SO2 gas from the furnace is cooled in a waste heat boiler prior to
1st conversion at the Converter. Steam is generated at the boiler
for processing use.
After 1st conversion, SO3 gas is cooled in a super-heater and led to
the Converter for 2nd conversion.
After 2nd conversion, SO3 gas is cooled in Heat Exchanger I by using
the returning gas from 1st Absorbing Tower, prior to entering the
3rd conversion.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
After 3rd conversion, the gas is cooled in Heat Exchanger II using
the returning gas from 1st Absorbing Tower. Further gas cooling is
done by an economizer before it enters 1st Absorbing Tower for 1st
absorption.
After 1st Absorption, the returning SO2 gas is heated thro heat
exchanger I and II in series by using the hot gas from 2nd and 3rd
conversion.
Finally the gas enters the converter for 4th conversion. The gas is
cooled by a super-heater and economizer before entering 2nd
absorption.
The tail gas is finally treated using NaOH solution before release
to the atmosphere.

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

ACID SECTION

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
DT
Acid is pumped from the circulation tank, thro an acid cooler and
circulate in DT. Air is dried in this tower before burning with
sulphur at furnace.
Acid concentration and level is maintained by cross-flow with 1st
AT.
1st AT
Acid is pumped from the circulation tank, thro an acid cooler and
circulated in 1st AT. 3rd converter bed outlet gas is passed through
this tower to be absorbed by the concentrated acid.
Acid concentration increases after SO3 absorption. Water is added
to reduce acid concentration to 98.5%. Acid is being produced
thro this dilution process.
Acid concentration is maintained by water dilution. Acid level is
maintained by cross flow to DT and gravity flow to 2nd AT.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
2nd AT
Acid is pumped from the circulation tank, thro an acid cooler, and
circulated in the tower. 4th converter bed outlet gas is passed
through this tower to be absorbed by the concentrated acid.
Acid concentration is controlled by water dilution. Acid level is
maintained by dispatch to storage tank.