The Use of FEM in the Revamping of Existing Systems

Often the revamping of existing sulfur recovery systems requires replacing some of the equipment. At the same time, economic considerations can dictate re-using as much of the existing system as is possible and practical. This paper examines the process used to connect a new thermal reactor to an existing waste heat exchanger. Included are some of the design considerations necessary to ensure a safe and reliable final arrangement. The complexity of the configuration — including the stresses developed in the existing equipment and the interconnection — required the use of Finite Element (FE) to assess the final design.