Objective The aim is to study the influence of the flow field change at the bottom of the reactor in the gas-liquid-solid three-phase complex system on the sedimentation characteristics of sulfur particles.

Method Based on computational fluid dynamics, the k-ω-SST turbulence model (liquid phase) and discrete phase model (DPM) were adopted to conduct simulation research on the generation distribution of sulfur particles and the particle motion trajectory in the absorber of the chelated iron desulfurization unit.

Result In the case of symmetrical distribution of the gas distributor, due to the influence of static pressure distribution, the sulfur generation amount was not uniformly distributed. The duckbill, which was the farthest from the main pipeline of the feed gas inlet and the closest to the wall, had the largest gas flow rate and sulfur output. On the other hand, as the outlet flow rate of rich liquid from the absorber increased, the generated sulfur particles shifted towards the axis during the downward sedimentation process. When the outlet flow rate was less than 0.90 m/s, the deposition rate and deposition area of sulfur on the conical surface showed a linear downward trend with the increase of the rich liquid outlet flow rate. When the outlet flow rate was greater than 0.90 m/s, the downward trend of the deposition rate and deposition area slowed down.

Conclusion The outlet flow rate should be controlled in the range of 0.90-1.10 m/s, and the internal circulation process of the rich liquid at the bottom of the absorber can effectively prevent the deposition and blockage of sulfur particles.