Valve Body and Condensate Holding Tank Flushing Systems and Methods

• US 20070251576A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DeltaValve, LLC (Circor International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Larsen, Gary, Lah, Ruben
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/15.60
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0419 Fluid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/043 Valve or valve seat cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/304 With fluid responsive valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4266 Steam sterilizing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve body and condensate holding tank flushing system and method for use in a delayed coker operation.

Claims

1. A device for collecting condensate which drains from a valve body in a de-coker operation comprising:

a liquid solvent source;

a valve body;

a shut off valve to control the flow of solvent into the valve body; and

a drain valve to control the flow of liquid from the valve body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the solvent is water.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a steam inlet line, coupled to said valve body wherein said line allows high pressure steam to enter the valve body.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said steam inlet line comprises a shutoff valve.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said steam shutoff valve is opened during normal operation to pressurize said valve body.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a condensate holding tank.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the condensate holding tank is fluidly connected to a coke chute and said valve body.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the condensate holding tank further comprises a drain valve to control the flow of fluid between the condensate holding tank and the coke chute.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said condensate holding tank drain valve is open during normal valve operation to allow condensation and debris to flow from the condensate holding tank into said coke chute.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said holding tank exists below the deck.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the condensate holding tank further comprises an inlet valve to control the flow of fluid and debris between the valve body and the condensate holding tank.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein said condensate holding tank further comprising a fluid inlet line, wherein said fluid inlet line allows fluid to flush debris and condensation from the condensate holding tank.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a shut off valve connected to the fluid inlet line for the condensate holding tank.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a coke drum removeably connected to said valve body.

15. A method of flushing debris from a pressurized decoking valve body comprising the steps of:

opening a valve to allow entry of solvent into a valve body to flush debris from the valve body with said fluid; and

allowing said fluid and any accumulated debris to drain from the valve body through an exit control valve.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising an initial step of shutting off the flow of steam into the valve body.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising the step of opening the steam inlet line to allow steam to flow into the valve body, after allowing fluid and accumulated debris to drain from the valve.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of allowing the fluid and accumulated debris to flow through the exit control valve into a condensate holding tank.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of fluidly connecting the condensate holding tank to a coke chute.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the additional step of shutting off the valve connecting the fluid inlet line for the condensate holding tank.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of opening a valve located between the condensate holding tank and a coke pit chute allowing said fluid and debris to flow from the holding tank into said coke pit.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of removeably connecting said valve body to a coke drum.

23. A method of flushing debris from a pressurized de-coking valve body comprising the steps of shutting off a high pressure steam inlet valve;

opening a fluid inlet line shut off valve, allowing fluid to flow from the fluid inlet line into the valve body;

flushing debris and residual materials from the valve body;

allowing fluid flushed into system from fluid inlet line through the valve body to drain through a condensation inlet line;

allowing said fluid to flow from said condensation inlet line to a condensation holding tank;

holding said fluid and debris for a period of time in said condensation holding tank; and

allowing said fluid and debris in said condensation holding tank to flow into a coke pit.