GB355272A - Apparatus for condensing sulphur - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0355272/III/1> <PICT:0355272/III/2> <PICT:0355272/III/3> <PICT:0355272/III/4> Apparatus for condensing sulphur vapour to recover the sulphur in freely flowing liquid form comprises an inner shell forming the condenser chamber and consisting of header sections connected by an intermediate tube section, an outer shell spaced from and surrounding the inner shell and forming therewith a fluid-containing jacket, means being provided for controlling the fluid pressure in this jacket and for withdrawing condensed liquid sulphur and residual gases and vapours from the condensing chamber. In one form, condensers 10a, 10b, 10c connected in series are used, the sulphur vapours entering, through tube 24, a header portion 14 of the condenser chamber of condenser 10a, and passing up through tubes 12, which have helical baffles 22, to a header 16. When the sulphur is to be collected at the lower temperature range at which it is freely liquid, about 113-160 DEG C., the outer jacket of the condenser is supplied with water through an inlet 18, and the steam generated is vented through an outlet 20 having a pressure-regulating valve 67. A pressure gauge 68 is provided. The liquefied sulphur runs off through an outlet 30 to moulds &c. The residual gases and vapours pass through a tube 26 to condenser 10b, flowing downwards therethrough, and finally up through condenser 10c. The three condensers are similarly constructed and may be maintained at different temperatures by controlling the steam pressures in the jackets, e.g. condenser 10a at 150 DEG C. and the others at 135 DEG and 115 DEG C. respectively. Each of the water-inlets 18 may be connected to a constant level water feeder. Other forms of baffles, e.g. perforated horizontal plates, may be used in the tubes 12, or the baffles may be omitted. The three condenser jackets may be connected by means of water pipes 65 having valves 66, the feed water being first supplied to condenser 10c and led in series through the jackets. In a further form, Fig. 4, (not shown) a single condenser arranged nearly horizontal is employed, the liquid sulphur and residual gas and vapour outlets being both situated at the lower header of the inner shell. Where the condensers are operated without baffle means in the tubes, the residual gases and vapours are preferably passed through apparatus in which any sulphur mist remaining therein is collected. This may be formed of a chamber 58, Figs. 6, 7, having a steam jacket 54 and provided with rows of baffles 60, or with a plurality of inclined shelves. The apparatus may be used for condensing sulphur within the higher temperature range at which it is in freely flowing liquid form, e.g. 240-250 DEG C., by replacing the water used in the jackets by a suitable liquid of high boiling point. The apparatus may be used in the process of Specification 321,911, [Class 90, Non-metallic elements].