LAPSE:2025.0266v1
Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0266v1
Analysis for CFD of the Claus Reaction Furnace with Operating Conditions: Temperature and Excess Air for Sulfur Recovery
June 27, 2025
Abstract
In this work, a Claus reaction furnace was analyzed in a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) of the Abadan Oil Refinery where the combustion operating temperature is important since it ensures optimal performance in the reactor, this study focused on temperature of control of 1400, 1500 and 1600 K and excess air of 10, 20 and 30% to improve the reaction yield and H2S conversion. The CFD simulation was carried out in Ansys Fluent in transitory state and in 3 dimensions, considering turbulence model ? -e standard, energy model with transport by convention and mass transport with chemical reaction using the Arrhenius Finite rate/Eddy dissipation model for a Kinetic model of destruction of acid gases H2S and CO2, obtaining a good approximation with experimental results of industrial process of the Abadan Oil Refinery, Iran. The percentage difference between experimental and simulated results varies between 0.5 to 5 % depending on species. The temperature of 1600 K and with excess air of 30% was the best, with one fraction mol of 0.054 of S2 at the outlet and with conversion of the acid gas (H2S) of 97.64%, which is quite good compared to the experimental one.
In this work, a Claus reaction furnace was analyzed in a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) of the Abadan Oil Refinery where the combustion operating temperature is important since it ensures optimal performance in the reactor, this study focused on temperature of control of 1400, 1500 and 1600 K and excess air of 10, 20 and 30% to improve the reaction yield and H2S conversion. The CFD simulation was carried out in Ansys Fluent in transitory state and in 3 dimensions, considering turbulence model ? -e standard, energy model with transport by convention and mass transport with chemical reaction using the Arrhenius Finite rate/Eddy dissipation model for a Kinetic model of destruction of acid gases H2S and CO2, obtaining a good approximation with experimental results of industrial process of the Abadan Oil Refinery, Iran. The percentage difference between experimental and simulated results varies between 0.5 to 5 % depending on species. The temperature of 1600 K and with excess air of 30% was the best, with one fraction mol of 0.054 of S2 at the outlet and with conversion of the acid gas (H2S) of 97.64%, which is quite good compared to the experimental one.
Record ID
Keywords
Claus Reaction, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Furnace, SRU, Sulfur
Subject
Suggested Citation
Morales PV, Cabrera MÁM, Nieto FSM. Analysis for CFD of the Claus Reaction Furnace with Operating Conditions: Temperature and Excess Air for Sulfur Recovery. Systems and Control Transactions 4:711-716 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.176489
Author Affiliations
Morales PV: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Mexicano para la producción más Limpia, Gustavo Madero, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Cabrera MÁM: Universidad Veracruzana, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Nieto FSM: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Mexicano para la producción más Limpia, Gustavo Madero, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Cabrera MÁM: Universidad Veracruzana, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Nieto FSM: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Mexicano para la producción más Limpia, Gustavo Madero, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
711
Last Page
716
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 0711-0716-1114-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2025.0266v1
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Jun 27, 2025
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References Cited
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