Claims
- 1. A method for treating sulfur at elevated pressures, the method comprising:
transferring at least a portion of the sulfur to a first vessel; and venting the first vessel to reduce the pressure of the sulfur.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure of the sulfur is reduced to ambient pressure.
- 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transferring at least a portion of the sulfur to ambient storage after reducing the pressure.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfur is separated in a separator from a stream comprising sulfur and at least a portion of the separated sulfur is transferred from the separator to the first vessel.
- 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
separating the sulfur in a separator from a stream comprising sulfur; transferring at least a portion of the separated sulfur from the separator to an intermediate vessel; and transferring at least a portion of the sulfur in the intermediate vessel from the intermediate vessel to the first vessel.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the rate of transfer of sulfur from the separator to the intermediate vessel is controlled by controlling the pressure in the intermediate vessel.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the height of the entry point of the sulfur into the intermediate vessel is elevated relative to the exit point of the sulfur from the separator.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the relative elevation is greater than 5 feet.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the relative elevation is no less than 7 feet and no more than 8 feet.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the elevated pressure is greater than 15 psig.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the elevated pressure is greater than 50 psig.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the elevated pressure is greater than 70 psig.
- 13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transferring at least a portion of the sulfur to a second vessel; and venting the second vessel to reduce the pressure in the second vessel.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first vessel and the second vessel are operated alternatively.
- 15. A method for receiving molten sulfur, comprising the steps of:
providing a separation tank that receives a stream containing molten sulfur and separates at least a portion of the molten sulfur from the stream, said separation tank having a first pressure therein of at least 15 psig; passing at least a portion of the separated molten sulfur through a liquid riser to a short-term sulfur storage tank, said short-term sulfur storage tank having a second pressure that is less than the pressure in the separation tank by a pressure differential at least as great as the head of sulfur in the liquid elevation.
- 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of transferring at least a portion of the short-term sulfur storage tank contents into a third tank, isolating the contents of the third tank, reducing the pressure in the third tank, and transferring at least a portion of the sulfur from the third tank.
- 17. The method according to claim 15, further including measuring the first and second pressures and including controlling the second pressure in response to at least one of the measured pressures.
- 18. The method according to claim 15, further including controlling the rate of sulfur transfer from the separation tank to the storage tank by controlling the second pressure.
- 19. The method according to claim 15, further including providing a fluid source for increasing said second pressure and a fluid vent for decreasing said second pressure and controlling the rate of fluid from the separation tank to the storage tank by controlling the flow of fluid through the fluid source and the fluid vent.
- 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the fluid source and the fluid vent comprise gas lines.
- 21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the fluid source comprises a gas line in fluid communication with the overhead space of the separation tank.
- 22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the pressure in the separation tank is at least 100 psig.
- 23. The method according to claim 15 wherein the pressure in the separation tank is at least 500 psig.
- 24. The method according to claim 15 wherein the pressure in the separation tank is at least 1000 psig.
- 25. An apparatus for handling molten sulfur at elevated pressure, comprising:
a first tank having an inlet and an outlet, a fluid channel traversing a desired vertical distance, said fluid channel having first and second ends, said first fluid channel end in fluid communication with said first tank outlet; a second tank having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid inlet being in fluid communication with said first channel second end.
- 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, further including a third tank having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said second tank fluid outlet.
- 27. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the level of molten sulfur in said second tank is maintained below said second tank fluid inlet.
- 28. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said first and second tanks have first and second overhead spaces, respectively and wherein said first and second overhead spaces are in fluid communication via a first gas line.
- 29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the rate of flow through said first gas line is controlled in response to a measurement of gas pressure within said second tank.
- 30. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the rate of flow through said fluid channel is controlled by controlling the gas pressure in said second tank.
- 31. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the rate of flow through said fluid channel is controlled by controlling the gas pressure differential between said first tank and said second tank.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/474,842 filed Jun. 2, 2003, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60474842 |
Jun 2003 |
US |