Automated sulfur recovery loop

Abstract

A method operable to remove contaminants from a contaminated fluid stream is provided. The process includes receiving the fluid stream containing contaminants. A first portion of the contaminants are removed from the fluid stream with a first scrubbing vessel. A first alkaline solution reacts with the contaminants such that the contaminants enter a contaminant solution. A remaining portion of the contaminants from the fluid stream is then removed with a at least one additional scrubbing vessel, wherein a second alkaline solution reacts with the contaminants such that part of the remaining portion of the contaminants enter a second solution. Water content is then removed from the fluid stream with a desiccating module, wherein the desiccating module outputs a clean fluid stream.

1 . A scrubber comprising:
 an inlet operable to receive and meter a fluid feed stream comprising hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S);   at least one scrubbing stage coupled to the inlet operable to receive the fluid feed stream comprising H 2 S;   a scrubbing solution distribution system coupled to the at least one scrubbing stage, the scrubbing solution distribution system operable to meter alkaline solutions within the scrubber based on:
 the chemical composition and concentration of the alkaline solutions; 
 the chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream; 
   an outlet operable to meter and output a substantially H 2 S free stream from the scrubbing stages;   a process monitor system operable to monitor physical parameters, fluid chemical compositions, the fluid chemical compositions comprising the concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream and flow rates, and alkaline solution chemical compositions and flow rates at at least one point within the scrubber; and   a control system coupled to the process monitor system operable to control fluid flows, alkaline solution flows and physical parameters within the multistage scrubber based on the monitor physical parameters, fluid chemical compositions and flow rates, and alkaline solution chemical compositions.   
     
     
         2 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , wherein the process monitor system is operable to monitor chemical concentrations of fluid components within the fluid stream. 
     
     
         3 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a desiccating stage operable to remove H2O from the fluid feed stream.   
     
     
         4 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , whereby:
 the process monitor system is operable to monitor the concentration of H 2 S within the substantially H 2 S free stream.   
     
     
         5 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , wherein a byproduct is black liquor. 
     
     
         6 . The scrubber of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a black liquor processing module operable to process the black liquor and produce substantially elemental sulfur.   
     
     
         7 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline solutions comprise an aqueous KOH solution. 
     
     
         8 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline solutions within each of the at least one scrubbing stages are monitored and metered at each stage individually. 
     
     
         9 . The scrubber of  claim 8 , wherein a concentration of the alkaline solutions within each of the at least one scrubbing stages differ. 
     
     
         10 . The scrubber of  claim 2 , wherein the alkaline solutions exiting a subsequent at least one scrubbing stage is metered to a at least one prior scrubbing stage, the at least one prior scrubbing stage operable to remove H2S from an inlet fluid stream with the alkaline solutions exiting a subsequent at least one scrubbing stage. 
     
     
         11 . The scrubber of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline solutions exiting the at least one scrubbing stage is processed by a recovery module operable to regenerate the alkaline solutions exiting the at least one scrubbing stage. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 providing a fluid feed stream comprising hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S);   determining a chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid feed stream;   metering the fluid feed stream to a scrubber, the scrubber comprising at least one stage;   metering an alkaline solution to the scrubber, based on:
 the chemical composition and concentration of the first alkaline solution; 
 the chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream; 
   mixing the fluid feed stream with the first alkaline solution within the scrubber to produce a fluid stream having a reduced H 2 S content;   removing a solution containing the sulfide ions from the first scrubber and directing the solution containing the sulfide ions to a sulfur recovery process wherein a byproduct of the sulfur recovery process is a regenerated alkaline solution; and   determining a chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream having a reduced H 2 S content; and   outputting the fluid stream having a reduced H 2 S content.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining a chemical composition and concentration of contaminants within the fluid stream after removing a first portion of the contaminants from the fluid stream;   metering the concentrated alkaline solution to a second scrubbing stage based on the chemical composition and concentration of contaminants within the fluid stream after removing a first portion of the contaminants; and   removing a remaining portion of the contaminants from the fluid stream with at least one additional scrubbing stage, wherein the concentrated alkaline solution reacts with the contaminants such that part of the remaining portion of the contaminants enter a second alkaline solution.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining a base concentration of the second alkaline solution, wherein the first alkaline solution comprises the reacted second alkaline solution.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a base concentration of the concentrated alkaline solution, wherein the first alkaline solution comprises the concentrated alkaline solution.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the contaminates comprise sulfur containing compounds. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the contaminates comprise hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 extracting contaminates from the contaminate solution; and   regenerating the contaminant solution, wherein the first alkaline solution comprises regenerated contaminant solution.   
     
     
         19 . A fluid stream comprising:
 hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), wherein:
 a first portion of the H 2 S is removed within an automated H 2 S scrubber comprising at least one stage, the automated H 2 S scrubber operable to:
 monitor in real time the chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream; 
 adjust chemical processes within the H 2 S scrubber based on the real time the chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream; and 
 produce a substantially H 2 S free fluid stream. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The fluid stream of  claim 19 , the scrubber comprising:
 an inlet operable to receive and meter the fluid feed stream comprising H 2 S;   at least one scrubbing stage coupled to the inlet operable to receive and process the fluid feed stream comprising H 2 S;   a scrubbing solution distribution system coupled to the at least one scrubbing stage scrubbing stage, the scrubbing solution distribution system operable to meter alkaline solutions within the scrubber based on:
 the chemical composition and concentration of the alkaline solutions; 
 the chemical composition and concentration of H 2 S within the fluid stream; 
   an outlet operable to meter and output a substantially H 2 S free stream from the scrubbing stages;   a process monitor system operable to monitor physical parameters, fluid chemical compositions and flow rates, and alkaline solution chemical compositions and flow rates within the scrubber; and   a control system coupled to the process monitor system operable to control fluid flows, alkaline solution flows and physical parameters within the scrubber based on the monitor physical parameters, fluid chemical compositions and flow rates, and alkaline solution chemical compositions.