Modular pressure vessel unheading and containment system

• US 20020166862A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foster Wheeler USA Corporation (John Wood Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Foster Wheeler USA Corporation (John Wood Group PLC)
• Inventors: Hassert, Mark, Malsbury, Allen S., Myszka, Ronald T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/581
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 33/003 Arrangements for pollution-free discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49723 including reconditioning of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49822 by applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53096 including means to provide a controlled environment

Abstract

An unheading and containment system for unheading and heading a pressure vessel includes an unheading apparatus for removing a cover from a pressure vessel in an unheading operation and a modular enclosure mechanism to substantially enclose the cover during the unheading operation. The unheading apparatus includes a cover removably secured to the pressure vessel, a lock plate cooperating with the cover, and a cover moving mechanism capable of moving the cover vertically and laterally.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel unheading and containment system, comprising:

an unheading apparatus for removing a cover from a pressure vessel in an unheading operation, said apparatus including a cover removably secured to the pressure vessel and a lock plate cooperating with said cover, and a cover moving mechanism capable of moving said cover vertically and laterally; and

a modular enclosure mechanism including a chassis and substantially enclosing said cover during the unheading operation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the unheading apparatus further comprises a flange mounted to a headed end of the pressure vessel, said flange having a plurality of fasteners cooperating with said lock plate to secure said cover to the pressure vessel when said cover is brought into aligned contact with said flange.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said fasteners include a plurality of actuators for extending and retracting bolts therefrom.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said bolts include a head at one end and each being slidably attached to an actuator at the other end, and

wherein said lock plate includes a plurality of holes, the holes having (i) a wider portion through which said bolt head can pass and (ii) a narrower portion through which the bolt head cannot pass, said lock plate being movable between a first position, in which the narrower portions of the holes are aligned with said bolts, and a second position, in which the wider portions of the holes are aligned with said bolts.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a lock plate moving mechanism capable of moving said lock plate laterally.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said lock plate moving mechanism comprises at least one horizontally-oriented actuator adapted to move said lock plate laterally between the first and second positions.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said horizontally-oriented actuator includes a rod, and said lock plate includes slots adapted to removably engage said rod when said cover is lifted into contact with the pressure vessel.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said cover has througholes dimensioned and located to allow said bolts to extend therethrough when said cover is brought into aligned contact with said flange.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cover moving mechanism includes at least one vertically-oriented actuator to move said cover vertically.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cover moving mechanism includes at least one horizontally-oriented actuator to move said cover laterally and guide rails disposed within said enclosure mechanism to slidably support said cover.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said cover includes at least one projection adapted to engage said horizontally-oriented actuator.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said chassis includes a tiltable hood, said hood being tiltable relative to said chassis from a closed position to an open position.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said chassis includes a skirt adapted to extend through an unheading deck to confine discharges from the pressure vessel.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a flange mounted to the pressure vessel at the bottom outlet; and

a lock plate cooperatively connected to said cover, with said flange and said lock plate cooperating to secure said cover to the bottom outlet.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fasteners mounted on said flange and cooperating with said lock plate to secure said cover to the pressure vessel when the cover is brought into aligned contact with said flange.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said fasteners include a plurality of actuators for extending and retracting bolts therefrom.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said bolts include a head at one end and each being slidably attached to an actuator at another other end, and wherein

said lock plate has a plurality of holes, the holes having (i) a wider portion through which said bolt head can pass and (ii) a narrower portion through which said bolt head cannot pass, said lock plate being movable between a first position, in which the narrower portions of the holes are aligned with said bolts, and a second position, in which the wider portions of the holes are aligned with said bolts.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a lock plate moving mechanism capable of moving said lock plate laterally between the first and second positions.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said lock plate moving mechanism comprises at least one horizontally-oriented actuator to move said lock plate laterally.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said actuator includes a rod, and said lock plate includes slots adapted to removably engage said rod when said cover is lifted into contact with the pressure vessel.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein said cover has througholes dimensioned and located to allow said bolts to extend therethrough when said cover is brought into aligned contact with said flange.

23. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a cover moving mechanism capable of moving said cover vertically and laterally.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said cover moving mechanism includes at least one vertically-oriented actuator to move said cover vertically.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said cover moving mechanism includes at least one horizontally-oriented actuator to move said cover laterally and guide rails disposed within said chassis to slidably support said cover.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said cover includes at least one projection adapted to engage said horizontally-oriented actuator.

27. The system according to claim 14, wherein said chassis includes a hood, tiltable relative to said chassis from a closed position to an open position.

28. The system according to claim 14, wherein said chassis includes a skirt adapted to extend through an unheading deck to confine discharges from the pressure vessel during the deheading operation.

30. The system according to claim 29, further comprising cover moving means adapted to move the cover vertically.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said cover moving means comprises at least one vertically-oriented actuator and at least one horizontally oriented actuator.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein said unheading means comprises a removable cover, a lock plate cooperating with said cover, and a cover moving mechanism capable of moving said cover vertically and laterally.

33. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a flange mounted to the pressure vessel at its bottom outlet, said flange having a plurality of fasteners cooperating with said lock plate to secure the cover to the pressure vessel.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein said unheading means includes a lock plate moving mechanism capable of moving said lock plate laterally.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein said enclosure means comprises a chassis, said chassis adapted to be supported by a flange on the pressure vessel and substantially enclosing an area to confine the cover during the unheading operation.

36. The system according to claim 2, further comprising means for supporting said chassis from said flange.

14. A pressure vessel unheading and containment system, comprising

a removable cover closing a pressure vessel bottom outlet;

and

a chassis substantially enclosing an area between the bottom outlet and through an unheading deck, with said cover contained within the enclosed area in an open position and a closed position.

29. A pressure vessel unheading and containment system, comprising:

unheading means for unheading a cover from a bottom outlet of the pressure vessel; and

enclosure means for substantially enclosing the unheading operation performed by said unheading means.