The H2S in refinery fuel gas produced by numerous refining processes, including the fluid I
catalytic cracking unit ( rCCD ), are typically removed by an a mine unit and converted to sulfur in the Tyler refinery Claus sumk recovery unit ( SRD ). The Tyler refinery SRD is permitted to make 19.4
tons of sulfur daily,which is at its production limit.
On July 1, 2005 a lightening strike during a severe storm caused a complete power outage
in the areas surrounding the Tyler refinery for several hours, necessitating a cold shutdown of all units.
One result of the outage as damage to the SRU catalyst bed, increasing pressure drop through the unit
Administrative Compliance order Issued to Delek Refining, Ltd., Tyler Refining
and therefore reducing the amount of H2S-containing gas the unit is able to process. The Tyler refinery
SRU is currently capable of processing only about 16 tons of sulfur per day, consequently also reducing
gasoline production.
To produce approximately 100,000 gallons more gasoline daily, which maximizes the
equipment capability of the Tyler refinery, excess H2S that can not be processed by the currently
constrained SRU must be flared. Delek estimates that approximately 125 pounds per hour of excess
H2S is being flared, proaucing approximately 250 pounds per hour of excess sulfur dioxide ( S02 )
emissions.
Flaring refinery fuel gas with an H2S concentration of greater than 162 ppm is a
violation of the facility's Subpart A and Subpart J requi