Device and method for condensing, separating, and storing liquid sulfur in a Claus plant

A device for the condensation, separation and storage of liquid sulfur derived from a hydrogen sulfide-containing process gas, comprising:

• a) a gas scrubbing unit by means of which hydrogen sulfide is removed from the process gas by scrubbing with an absorbtion liquid, forming a hydrogen sulfide laden absorbtion liquid;
• b) an absorbtion liquid regeneration unit which removes hydrogen sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide laden absorbtion liquid, forming a hydrogen sulfide concentrated stream and a regenerated solvent stream;
• c) a Claus plant, comprising
• c)i) a Claus furnace in which the hydrogen sulfide concentrated stream from the absorbtion liquid regeneration unit is combusted with a gas containing oxygen to produce a first effluent stream containing containing elemental sulfur;
• c)ii) a waste heat boiler in which the effluent stream containing elemental sulfur is cooled to a temperature sufficient to condense the elemental sulfur to liquid sulfur;
• c)iii) at least one Claus reactor which receives a sulfur depleted process stream from the waste boiler, the sulfur-depleted process stream containing residual hydrogen sulfide, combusting at least a portion of the residual hydrogen sulfide to form sulfur dioxide, and catalytically reacting the sulfur dioxide with hydrogen sulfide to form a second effluent stream containing elemental sulfur;
• c)iv) a condensing unit which receives the second effluent stream containing elemental sulfur and condenses elemental sulfur in the second effluent stream to liquid sulfur;
• g) a siphon-type immersion chamber, contained within a heatable ground level vessel, which receives liquid sulfur streams from the waste heat boiler c)ii) of the Claus plant and from the condenser c)iv) of the Claus plant, wherein liquid sulfur flows from the immersion chamber through a discharge point,
• wherein the lowest discharge point of the immersion chamber is positioned at least 4 m below the Claus plant, such that liquid sulfur can flow to the immersion chamber without the aid of conveying equipment.