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| Chamber Process for Sulphuric Acid Production |
Process Overview
The Chamber Process is a traditional method for producing sulphuric acid, which involves the oxidation of sulphur dioxide (SO2) to sulphur trioxide (SO3) in the presence of nitrogenous oxides and a catalyst. The SO3 is then absorbed into water to produce sulphuric acid.
Process Description
- Sulphur Burning: Sulphur is burned with air to produce SO2 gas.
- Gas Purification: The gas mixture is filtered to remove solid particles.
- Nitre Pots: The gas mixture is passed through nitre pots, where NO2 and NO are mixed.
- Glower's Tower: The gas mixture is passed through Glower's Tower, where it is cooled and scrubbed with dilute sulphuric acid.
- Lead Chambers: The acid scrub is passed through lead chambers, where it is further concentrated and purified.
- Gay-Lussac's Tower: The unabsorbed gases are passed through Gay-Lussac's Tower, where they are reacted with dilute HNO3 to produce NO2 and H2SO4.
Chemical Reactions
1. Sulphur Burning: 2S + O2 → 2SO22. Oxidation: 2SO2 + O2 → 2SO33. Absorption: SO3 + H2O → H2SO44. Nitre Pots: 2NO + SO2 + H2O → 2H2SO4 + NO + NO25. Glower's Tower: SO2 + NO2 + H2O → H2SO4 + NO6. Gay-Lussac's Tower: HNO3 + NO.HSO4 → 2NO2 + H2SO4
Process Flow Sheet
The process flow sheet for the Chamber Process is as follows:
1. Sulphur Burning2. Gas Purification3. Nitre Pots4. Glower's Tower5. Lead Chambers6. Gay-Lussac's Tower
Operating Conditions
The operating conditions for the Chamber Process are as follows:
- Temperature: 450-650°C (Glower's Tower), 70-80°C (Lead Chambers)- Pressure: Atmospheric pressure- Feed composition: Sulphur, air, water
Product Specifications
The product specifications for the Chamber Process are as follows:
- Sulphuric acid concentration: 50-60% H2SO4- Purity: High purity sulphuric acid
Safety Considerations
The safety considerations for the Chamber Process are as follows:
- Handling of corrosive and toxic chemicals- High temperature and pressure conditions- Explosion and fire hazards
Environmental Considerations
The environmental considerations for the Chamber Process are as follows:
- Emissions of SO2 and NOx- Disposal of waste acid and chemicals- Water pollution from acid spills and leaks
Some general design and dimension guidelines for the chambers used in the Chamber Process for sulphuric acid production:
Lead Chambers
- Shape: Rectangular or square shape with a flat roof and walls.
- Material: Lead-lined or ceramic-lined to prevent corrosion.
- Size: Typically 10-15 meters (33-49 feet) in length, 5-7 meters (16-23 feet) in width, and 6-8 meters (20-26 feet) in height.
- Volume: Around 300-500 cubic meters (10,600-17,700 cubic feet).
- Inlet and Outlet: Gas inlet at the top, acid outlet at the bottom.
Glower's Tower
- Shape: Cylindrical or rectangular shape with a conical or flat roof.
- Material: Brick, stone, or concrete with acid-resistant lining.
- Size: Typically 10-20 meters (33-66 feet) in height, 2-5 meters (6-16 feet) in diameter.
- Volume: Around 50-200 cubic meters (1,800-7,100 cubic feet).
- Inlet and Outlet: Gas inlet at the bottom, acid outlet at the top.
Nitre Pots
- Shape: Small, cylindrical or rectangular vessels.
- Material: Ceramic, glass, or acid-resistant materials.
- Size: Typically 1-5 meters (3-16 feet) in height, 0.5-2 meters (1.6-6.6 feet) in diameter.
- Volume: Around 0.5-10 cubic meters (18-350 cubic feet).
- Inlet and Outlet: Gas inlet and outlet at the top.
Gay-Lussac's Tower
- Shape: Cylindrical or rectangular shape with a conical or flat roof.
- Material: Brick, stone, or concrete with acid-resistant lining.
- Size: Typically 10-20 meters (33-66 feet) in height, 2-5 meters (6-16 feet) in diameter.
- Volume: Around 50-200 cubic meters (1,800-7,100 cubic feet).
- Inlet and Outlet: Gas inlet at the bottom, acid outlet at the top.
Please note that these are general guidelines, and actual dimensions may vary depending on the specific plant design, capacity, and operating conditions.