Unit 14 / Sulphur Springs H2S Abatement Process Screening and Stretford Improvements Study--part 1

Abstract

This report gives the results of Part 1 of a three part study performed in 2007 to improve the primary H2S abatement system at Sulphur Springs Unit 14 Power Plant owned by Calpine Corporation and located at The Geysers. The existing Stretford system is approximately 30 years old and under-loaded due to reduced NCG as a result of Geysers Recharge water injection. The 2007 study investigated three lines of inquiry: Part 1): Is replacement of the existing Stretford system economically advantageous, given the availability of modern, environmentally-friendly gas treatment technology that could handle the current low sulfur load with a much smaller footprint and less parasitic power load? Part 2): In lieu of replacing the Stretford system, what operational improvements can be made to the existing system to reduce the total cost of treatment? Part 3): What physical modifications can be made to the system to reduce process shutdowns caused by sulfur plugging? Two primary conclusions that were identified follow. i) Every alternative technology considered proved to have a higher total treatment cost than continuing with the existing Stretford unit, even if no improvements are made, and even though it is operating at ~10% of original design loading. ii) Significant reductions in total treatment cost should be possible by implementing several recommended improvements described in Part 2 and Part 3 of the report