| abstract |
A method for generating energy from sulphur combustion without causing harmful emissions to the environment entails steps of evaporating liquid sulphur to generate sulphur dioxide gas and sulphur vapor, combusting the sulphur vapor with oxygen gas to generate heat, and reducing (either at high temperature or catalytically) the sulphur dioxide to carbon dioxide and sulphur vapor by reacting the sulphur dioxide with carbonyl sulfide. The carbonyl sulphide can be generated by reacting hydrogen sulfide with recycled carbon dioxide that is recycled by condensing sulphur vapor, carbon dioxide and water to yield liquid sulphur, elemental sulphur, steam and carbon dioxide. Energy in the hot reactor products (SO2 gas and sulphur vapor S2) and steam can be harnessed using this emission-free process. Likewise, this process can be used to produce elemental sulphur and/or carbon monoxide without polluting the atmosphere. Furthermore, this process can be used for the transshipment by pipeline of sulphur by transporting it as carbonyl sulphide. |