Sulphur melting apparatus and method

A method for melting sulfur comprising:

• feeding solid sulfur into a substantially vertical tube having open upper and lower ends;
• filling the tube with solid sulfur, the solid sulfur being in direct contact with the wall of the tube;
• maintaining direct contact between the top surface of an adjustable, heated plate externally positioned directly below the open lower end of the vertical tube and the solid sulfur in the tube so as to prevent the flow of the solid sulfur from the lower end of the vertical tube but allowing the flow of molten sulfur from the open lower end of the tube onto the plate, said plate having a top surface with opposing end rails and a rear rail enclosing three sides of said surface and said rails extending upward above the surface of the plate, said plate sloping downward from the rear rail;
• the lower side of the plate is fitted with a heating means;
• heating the inside wall of the substantially vertical tube to melt the solid sulfur in direct contact with the wall;
• and
• flowing the melted sulfur down along the inside wall of the substantially vertical tube and out of its lower end onto the plate.