Implemented strategies for the saving of energy in a liquid sulfur tank: Case of the maritime terminal of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico

The present work describes the reconstruction of a tank of liquid sulfur with a capacity of 7,500 metric tons, which has its interior serpentines operating as heat exchangers, the steam that flows into the coils exchanges heat with liquid sulfur. This tank is located in the Maritime Terminal of Storage and Distribution of Sulfur in the port of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. The container had a useful life of more than 40 years and had high energy consumption for the exchange of heat between steam and sulfur. In addition, it had structural wear due to years of operation without adequate maintenance, which represented a technical and environmental risk. The objective of this work is to make the modifications corresponding to the tank specifically in the thermal insulation, which has been replaced by one with a lower coefficient of heat transfer and greater efficiency, the foundation is modified to guarantee a greater structural support, the traps of steam were replaced to take advantage of a greater heat transfer, the tank is reconstructed in its entirety (Base, walls and dome). With the modifications, steam consumption for the operation of the tank was reduced from approximately 14 tons to 11 tons of steam per day. In addition, the sulfur temperature increased from 126°C to 139 °C, this allows complying with export parameters abroad that are 133°C for sale.