Sulfur-bearing residue treatment system

A process for stripping organics from a sulfur-bearing residue stream comprising:

• a) conveying a liquid, organics-containing, sulfur-bearing residue stream to a stripping zone,
• b) separating the liquid, organics-containing, sulfur-bearing residue stream, in the stripping zone, into a vapor stream containing organics and a liquid residue stream,
• c) conveying the liquid residue stream to a lower flash zone, and
• d) indirectly heating the contents of the lower flash zone to flash vaporize the contents of the lower flash zone into a lower flash zone vapor stream and a lower flash zone liquid residue stream.

A process for stripping organics from a sulfur-bearing residue stream comprising:

• (a) conveying a liquid, organics-containing, sulfur-bearing residue stream to a stripping zone;
• (b) in the stripping zone, separating the liquid, organics-containing, sulfur-bearing residue stream into a vapor stream containing organics and a liquid residue stream:
• (e) conveying the liquid residue stream to a lower flash zone;
• (d) in the lower flash zone, flash vaporizing the liquid residue stream into a lower flash zone vapor stream and a lower flash zone liquid residue stream;
• (e) withdrawing the lower flash zone liquid residue stream from the lower flash zone and separating the lower flash zone liquid residue stream into a first portion and a second portion;
• and
• (f) indirectly heating the first portion of the lower flash zone liquid residue stream and returning the heated first portion of the lower flash zone liquid residue stream to the lower flash zone.

A sulfur-bearing residue treatment apparatus comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical residue treatment system having an upper flash tank section, a stripping vessel section, a lower flash tank section, an upper transition section fluidically connecting the upper flash tank section and the stripping vessel section, and a lower transition section fluidically connecting the stripping vessel section and the lower flash tank section;
• the upper flash tank section having a diameter different from that of the stripping vessel section;
• the lower flash tank section having a diameter different from that of the stripping vessel section;
• an indirect heater, operatively connected to the lower flash tank section;
• a liquid inlet port in the upper flash tank section;
• a vapor exit port in the upper flash tank section;
• and
• a liquid exit port in the lower flash tank section.

A sulfur-bearing residue treatment apparatus comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical residue treatment system having an upper flash tank section, a stripping vessel section, a lower flash tank section, an upper transition section fluidically connecting the upper flash tank section and the stripping vessel section, and a lower transition vessel section fluidically connecting the stripping vessel section and the lower flash tank section;
• the upper flash tank section having a diameter different from that of the stripping vessel section;
• the lower flash tank section having a diameter different from that of the stripping vessel section;
• a liquid inlet port in the upper flash tank section;
• a vapor exit port in the upper flash tank section;
• a liquid exit port in the lower flash tank section;
• a return port in the lower flash tank section;
• and
• an indirect heater, operatively connected between the liquid exit port in the lower flash tank section and the return port in the lower flash tank section.