A process for oxidizing a sulfur stream includes supplying at least one sulfur stream into a furnace; supplying oxygen-enriched combustion air into the furnace; separately supplying pure oxygen into the furnace; and at least partially oxidizing the at least one sulfur stream in the furnace. A related apparatus is also provided and includes a furnace; an inlet for supplying at least one sulfur stream into the furnace; an inlet for supplying a stream of an oxygen-enriched combustion air into the furnace; and an inlet for supplying a pure oxygen stream into the furnace separately from the supplying of the oxygen-enriched combustion air.

A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream.

An auxiliary burner assembly is provided within the exhaust stack associated with a main burner assembly for combusting vent gases from a petroleum production and processing facility. The auxiliary burner unit is located within the exhaust stack associated with the main burner assembly. The auxiliary burner assembly enables the same exhaust stack as the main burner assembly while effective combusting exhaust gases and providing heating of a medium when required. The auxiliary burner is utilized when the main burner assembly is inactive and can be utilized to improve airflow to initiate the main burner assembly. An auxiliary burner controller system is utilized to control operation of the auxiliary burners.

Described is a device (11) for controlling the combustion of a burner (1), comprising: first means (12) for measuring the fuel flow rate (Vg); second means 13 for measuring the flow rate of the comburent (Va) first operator means (14) for controlling the opening of an inlet valve (5) as a function of the quantity of fuel to be supplied to the burner (1); second operator means (15) for controlling the comburent flow regulator means (8) as a function of the quantity of comburent to be supplied to the burner (1); According to this invention, the device (11) comprises a unit (16) for controlling the first operator means (14) and the second operator means (15) as a function of the values measured by the first measuring means (12) and by the second measuring means (13).

In order to provide a method for the purification of a raw gas stream containing water vapour that is simple and cost-efficient to perform, it is proposed that the method should comprise the following: feeding the raw gas stream to a reforming region in which contaminants in the raw gas stream react chemically with the water vapour in the raw gas stream, as a result of which a reformed raw gas stream is obtained; feeding the reformed raw gas stream and an oxidising agent stream to an oxidation region in which constituent parts of the reformed raw gas stream react chemically with oxidising agent of the oxidising agent stream, as a result of which a clean gas stream is obtained. Moreover, optionally a closed-loop control of the oxygen content is provided. Further, it is optionally provided for the clean gas stream to be fed to a condenser, as a result of which the volumetric flow of the clean gas stream is reduced and/or as a result of which energy can be recovered and used for pre-heating the oxidising agent and for other production processes.

A method and an apparatus for treating comminuted waste material the method comprising: a) heating comminuted waste material in a heating chamber (28) using one or more heating means (40a-f) to generate a combustible gas b) measuring or determining the temperature in the heating chamber; c) comparing the measured or determined temperature in the heating chamber (28) with a predetermined temperature range; and d) adjusting the amount of heat applied by the one or more heating means (40a-f) to the heating chamber (28) to maintain the temperature in the heating chamber within the predetermined temperature range.

A method for controlling a temperature of an incinerator may include determining a flow rate of a gas stream. The gas stream may be being passed from a sulfur recovery system to the incinerator. The method may include adjusting a target temperature of the incinerator. The target temperature of the incinerator is proportional to the flow rate of the gas stream. The method may include determining a temperature of the incinerator and adjusting the flow rate of a fuel gas being passed to the incinerator such that the temperature of the incinerator approaches the target temperature of the incinerator.

A process for oxidizing a sulfur stream includes supplying at least one sulfur stream into a furnace; supplying oxygen-enriched combustion air into the furnace; separately supplying pure oxygen into the furnace; and at least partially oxidizing the at least one sulfur stream in the furnace. A related apparatus is also provided and includes a furnace; an inlet for supplying at least one sulfur stream into the furnace; an inlet for supplying a stream of an oxygen-enriched combustion air into the furnace; and an inlet for supplying a pure oxygen stream into the furnace separately from the supplying of the oxygen-enriched combustion air.