Sulfuric Acid Production Process (Pdf)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
3. The Production Process Historically, sulfuric acid production was based on the Lead Chamber Process, involving the oxidation of sulfur dioxide by nitric acid and nitrogen oxides in the presence of water. This has been replaced by the Contact Process in which sulfur dioxide is oxidized by atmospheric air at high temperatures and in the presence of a vanadium pentoxide catalyst. Specifics will vary from one plant to another, but this description is provided as an overview of a typical Contact Process. The process begins with cleaning of the gas. The sulfur dioxide from smelting and roasting operations passes through a series of gas cleaning steps that Quench Tower: Weak acid jets remove particulate matter from hot process gasses ProductionThe Process Scrubber:Scc rubber: The criteriacriter of purity and FurtherFurt contact with aciaacidh jetser contact provides w accuracyac of grade are d cu addiadditionaljets prov cooling theth primaryra ia goals of ti sulfurice pracidcy production.pr aandn cleaningona i d a idesded th lf i id o clc llc c ees im f leaeane oooolo ThTThe Contact arProcess,g ingng ingng e Contact Pry g g ggo almostala deddescribed universally here, used is lm scribed to converto SO odd c st unive u ono ooc vert hee e rs rre S saal , is O ly used 2 to H H 2 SO 4 Weak Acid Pump Tank ©NorFalco. By reading this document you agree that you will not copy or reproduce any part ooff itsits contente in any form or for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of NorFalco. 6 Electrostatic Precipitators: Weak Acid Solution Acid mist and remaining dust particles removed 93% Acid Stream SO 2 Gas Stream 98% Acid Stream SO 3 Acid PumpsGas Stream cool and remove almost all metallurgical dusts. The gas is then drawn through electrostatic precipitators where acid mist and any remaining dust particles are removed. The wet gas is dried in a tower by direct contact with 93% sulfuric acid and a blower then forces the gas through a series of heat exchangers and converter beds, where, in the presence of vanadium pentoxide, the sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfur trioxide. The purpose of the heat exchangers is to utilize the heat of reaction in the converter beds to heat the incoming cool gas to the reaction temperature. The SO an absorption tower where it combines with the water in 98% sulfuric acid to make additional sulfuric acid. Depending on the required product strength, acid from the absorption or drying towers can be stripped of SO 3 gas then passes through storage. Some acid is exchanged between the absorption and drying circuits to maintain acid strength. Drying Tower: Clean gasses are dried by contact 2 , cooled, and pumped to with concentrated H 2 SO 4 Converter: SO converted2 in the to clean SO dry gas is O y g 3 as is Drying ToT Stack Tower Sta Pump ckk Tank SO AirA stream2 Stripper:S removes excess ©NorFalco. Heat s exc : ExchangersExc By reading this document bbetweenyouy u agagree that you will not copy or reproduce any parpart of itsts contentc eachween stages angers s in any form or for any pupurposepuof cconversiong whawhatsoever without the prior written consent of NorFalcoNor SOalco. 2 To Drying Tower Absorption Tower: SO in concentrated3 acid to form moreis absorbed H by water 2 SO 4 Absorption Tower Pump Tank 93% 96% 98% 7.