Hydrogen sulfide scrubber using polymeric amine and associated methods

• US 20050274256A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Q2 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Power Control Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Jerry M., Cheshire, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,077,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/199
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1468 Removing hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents

Abstract

A hydrogen sulfide scrubber includes first and second scrubber tanks with scrubber media contained therein. Scrubbing solution circulators each include a dispenser for dispensing scrubbing solution into contact with the scrubber media, a sump for collecting the scrubbing solution after contact with the scrubber media, and a circulating pump for circulating the scrubbing solution from the sump back to the dispenser after contact with the scrubber media. A polymeric amine supply is provided for supplying a polymeric amine to the scrubbing solution in the second tank. The scrubbing solution in the first tank may be charged with the polymeric amine by a charging line extending from the second tank to the first tank. In other embodiments, a regenerative blower and associated nozzle may be used to generate a scrubbing solution mist in the space beneath the scrubber media and above the sump.

Claims

1. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber comprising:

a first scrubber tank and first scrubber media contained therein, said first scrubber tank having a gas flow inlet to receive a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow and a gas flow outlet;

a second scrubber tank and second scrubber media contained therein, said second scrubber tank having a gas flow inlet connected downstream from the gas flow outlet of said first scrubber tank;

a first scrubbing solution circulator comprising a first dispenser for dispensing a first scrubbing solution into contact with said first scrubber media, a first sump for collecting the first scrubbing solution after contact with said first scrubber media, and a first circulating pump for circulating the first scrubbing solution from said first sump back to said first dispenser after contact with said first scrubber media;

a second scrubbing solution circulator comprising a second dispenser for dispensing a second scrubbing solution into contact with said second scrubber media, a second sump for collecting the second scrubbing solution after contact with said second scrubber media, and a second circulating pump for circulating the second scrubbing solution from said second sump back to said second dispenser after contact with said second scrubber media;

a polymeric amine supply connected to said second scrubbing solution circulator; and

a scrubbing solution charging line for supplying a portion of the second scrubbing solution to the first scrubbing solution to charge the first scrubbing solution with the polymeric amine.

2. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling said polymeric amine supply.

3. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 2 further comprising at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor connected to said controller;

and wherein said controller controls said polymeric amine supply based upon said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor.

4. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 3 wherein said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an inlet gas sensor including:

a first sampling tube having a first inlet connected in fluid communication with the hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow to said first scrubber tank, and a first outlet;

a first hydrogen sulfide sensing device connected to the first outlet;

a first purge pump connected to said first sampling tube adjacent the first outlet; and

a first condensation drain valve connected to said first sampling tube.

5. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 4 wherein said controller periodically operates said first purge pump and said first condensation drain valve.

6. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 3 wherein said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises a discharge gas sensor including:

a second sampling tube having a second inlet connected in fluid communication with a discharge gas flow from said second scrubber tank, and a second outlet;

a second hydrogen sulfide sensing device connected to the second outlet;

a second purge pump connected to said second sampling tube adjacent the second outlet; and

a second condensation drain valve connected to said second sampling tube.

7. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 6 wherein said controller periodically operates said second purge pump and said second condensation drain valve.

8. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 1 further comprising a make-up water supply connected to at least one of said first and second scrubbing solution circulators.

9. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 1 further comprising:

a caustic supply; and

a switchover valve arrangement for permitting selective alternate operation using said caustic supply or said polymeric amine supply.

10. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said polymeric amine comprises SULFA-CLEAR®

.

11. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 1 further comprising a regenerative blower and a nozzle connected thereto for generating a scrubbing solution mist in said first scrubber tank.

12. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 11 wherein said first scrubber tank has a first space above said first sump and beneath said first scrubber media;

and wherein said regenerative blower and said nozzle generate the scrubbing solution mist in the first space.

13. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 11 wherein said nozzle comprises a venturi injector nozzle.

14. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber comprising:

a first scrubber tank and first scrubber media contained therein, said first scrubber tank having a gas flow inlet to receive a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow and a gas flow outlet;

a second scrubber tank and second scrubber media contained therein, said second scrubber tank having a gas flow inlet connected downstream from the gas flow outlet of said first scrubber tank;

a first scrubbing solution circulator comprising a first dispenser for dispensing a first scrubbing solution into contact with said first scrubber media, a first sump for collecting the first scrubbing solution after contact with said first scrubber media, and a first circulating pump for circulating the first scrubbing solution from said first sump back to said first dispenser after contact with said first scrubber media;

a second scrubbing solution circulator comprising a second dispenser for dispensing a second scrubbing solution into contact with said second scrubber media, a second sump for collecting the second scrubbing solution after contact with said second scrubber media, and a second circulating pump for circulating the second scrubbing solution from said second sump back to said second dispenser after contact with said second scrubber media;

a polymeric amine supply connected to at least one of said first and second scrubbing solution circulators; and

a regenerative blower and a nozzle connected thereto for generating a scrubbing solution mist in at least one of said first and second scrubber tanks.

15. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 14 wherein said first scrubber tank has a first space above said first sump and beneath said first scrubber media;

and wherein said regenerative blower and said nozzle generate the scrubbing solution mist in the first space.

16. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 14 wherein said nozzle comprises a venturi injector nozzle.

17. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 16 further comprising a controller for controlling said polymeric amine supply.

18. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 17 further comprising at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor connected to said controller;

and wherein said controller controls said polymeric amine supply based upon said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor.

19. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 18 wherein said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an inlet gas sensor including:

a first sampling tube having a first inlet connected in fluid communication with the hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow to said first scrubber tank, and a first outlet;

a first hydrogen sulfide sensing device connected to the first outlet;

a first purge pump connected to said first sampling tube adjacent the first outlet; and

a first condensation drain valve connected to said first sampling tube.

20. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 19 wherein said controller periodically operates said first purge pump and said first condensation drain valve.

21. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 18 wherein said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises a discharge gas sensor including:

a second sampling tube having a second inlet connected in fluid communication with a discharge gas flow from said second scrubber tank, and a second outlet;

a second hydrogen sulfide sensing device connected to the second outlet;

a second purge pump connected to said second sampling tube adjacent the second outlet; and

a second condensation drain valve connected to said second sampling tube.

22. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 21 wherein said controller periodically operates said second purge pump and said second condensation drain valve.

23. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 14 further comprising a make-up water supply connected to at least one of said first and second scrubbing solution circulators.

24. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 14 further comprising:

a caustic supply; and

a switchover valve arrangement for permitting selective alternate operation using said caustic supply or said polymeric amine supply.

25. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 14 wherein said polymeric amine comprises SULFA-CLEAR®

.

26. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber comprising:

a scrubber tank and scrubber media contained therein;

a scrubbing solution circulator comprising a dispenser for dispensing a scrubbing solution into contact with said scrubber media, a sump for collecting the scrubbing solution after contact with said scrubber media, and a circulating pump for circulating the scrubbing solution from said sump back to said dispenser after contact with said scrubber media;

a polymeric amine supply connected to said scrubbing solution circulator; and

a regenerative blower and a nozzle connected thereto for generating a scrubbing solution mist in said scrubber tank.

27. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 26 wherein said scrubber tank has a space above said sump and beneath said scrubber media;

and wherein said regenerative blower and said nozzle generate the scrubbing solution mist in the space.

28. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 26 wherein said nozzle comprises a venturi injector nozzle.

29. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 26 further comprising a controller for controlling said polymeric amine supply.

30. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 29 further comprising at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor connected to said controller;

and wherein said controller controls said polymeric amine supply based upon said at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor.

31. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 26 further comprising a make-up water supply connected to said scrubbing solution circulator.

32. A hydrogen sulfide scrubber according to claim 26 wherein said polymeric amine comprises SULFA-CLEAR®

.

33. A method for hydrogen sulfide scrubbing comprising:

using a first scrubber tank and first scrubber media contained therein by operating a first scrubbing solution circulator comprising a first dispenser dispensing a first scrubbing solution into contact with the first scrubber media, a first sump collecting the first scrubbing solution after contact with the first scrubber media, and a first circulating pump circulating the first scrubbing solution from the first sump back to the first dispenser after contact with the first scrubber media;

using a second scrubber tank and second scrubber media contained therein downstream from the first scrubber tank by operating a second scrubbing solution circulator comprising a second dispenser dispensing a second scrubbing solution into contact with the second scrubber media, a second sump collecting the second scrubbing solution after contact with the second scrubber media, and a second circulating pump circulating the second scrubbing solution from the second sump back to the second dispenser after contact with the second scrubber media;

supplying a polymeric amine to the second scrubbing solution circulator; and

supplying a portion of the second scrubbing solution to the first scrubbing solution via a charging line to charge the first scrubbing solution with the polymeric amine.

34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising controlling supplying the polymeric amine using a controller.

35. A method according to claim 34 further comprising controlling based upon at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an inlet gas sensor.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein the at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an outlet gas sensor.

38. A method according to claim 33 further comprising adding make-up water to at least one of the first and second scrubbing solutions.

39. A method according to claim 33 further comprising permitting selective alternate operation using a caustic or the polymeric amine.

40. A method according to claim 33 wherein the polymeric amine comprises SULFA-CLEAR®

.

41. A method according to claim 33 further comprising generating a scrubbing solution mist in at least one of the first and second scrubber tanks using a regenerative blower and a nozzle connected thereto.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein the first scrubber tank has a first space above the first sump and beneath the first scrubber media;

and wherein the scrubbing solution mist is generated in the first space.

43. A method for hydrogen sulfide scrubbing comprising:

using a scrubber tank and scrubber media contained therein by operating a scrubbing solution circulator comprising a dispenser dispensing a scrubbing solution into contact with the scrubber media, a sump collecting the scrubbing solution after contact with the scrubber media, and a circulating pump circulating the scrubbing solution from the sump back to the dispenser after contact with the scrubber media;

supplying a polymeric amine to the scrubbing solution circulator; and

generating a scrubbing solution mist in the scrubber tank using a regenerative blower and a nozzle connected thereto.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein the scrubber tank has a first space above the sump and beneath the scrubber media;

and wherein the scrubbing solution mist is generated in the space.

45. A method according to claim 43 wherein the nozzle comprises a venturi injector nozzle.

46. A method according to claim 43 further comprising controlling supplying the polymeric amine using a controller.

47. A method according to claim 46 further comprising controlling based upon at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor.

48. A method according to claim 47 wherein the at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an inlet gas sensor.

49. A method according to claim 47 wherein the at least one hydrogen sulfide sensor comprises an outlet gas sensor.

50. A method according to claim 43 further comprising adding make-up water to the scrubbing solution.

51. A method according to claim 43 further comprising permitting selective alternate operation using a caustic or the polymeric amine supply.

52. A method according to claim 43 wherein the polymeric amine comprises SULFA-CLEAR®

.