Coke drum bottom de-heading system

• US 6,964,727 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DeltaValve, LLC (Circor International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Lah, Ruben F.
• Primary Examiner(s): NECKEL, ALEXA DOROSHENK
• Application Number:
  US10/442,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20040065537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 202/105, 202/120, 202/217, 202/221, 202/222, 202/239, 202/242, 202/244, 202/245, 202/252, 202/262, 202/270, 494/53, 491/49, 491/52
• US Class Current: 202/244
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/02 with flat sealing faces; Packings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/205 by means of cams

Abstract

The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system comprising (a) at least one coke drum having an orifice therein; (b) a de-header valve removably coupled to the coke drum designed to de-head the coke drum; and (c) an exchange system, including an upper and lower bonnet and other elements and members adapted to integrate the de-heading system, and particularly the de-header valve, into the manufacturing system. The de-header valve itself comprises (1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with and couple to, in a concentric relationship, the orifice of the coke drum; (2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to the main body and comprising a dynamic, live loaded seat, a live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to the main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of the dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to the dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from the live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to the dynamic, live loaded seat; (3) a static seat positioned opposite from and counteracting or counterbalancing the dynamic, live loaded seat; and (4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a linear, bi-directional manner within the de-header valve and between the dynamic, live loaded seat and the static seat, such that upon actuation of the blind from a closed position to an open position, the coke drum is de-headed.

Claims

1. A coke drum de-heading system comprising:

a coke drum having a flanged orifice;

a de-header valve removably coupled to said flanged orifice of said coke drum and comprising;

a first seat;

a second seat aligned in opposition to said first seat; and

a blind actuated by an actuator, said blind capable of moving in a bi-directional manner within said de-header valve between said first seat and said second seat to control the opening and closing of said de-header valve and to shear said coke from said blind when said blind is caked with coke.

2. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring and controlling the pressure existing within said de-heading system.

3. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, further comprising metal to metal seating such that there is a metal to metal contact seal between said first seat, said second seat, and said blind.

4. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said blind is a biased, dual seated blind.

5. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said system is a bottom de-heading system.

6. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said system is a top de-heading system.

7. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said de-header valve further comprises a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with an orifice in said coke drum.

8. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, further comprising an upper and lower bonnet coupled to opposing ends of said de-header valve.

9. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said seats is a dynamic live loaded seat assembly further comprising a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring a force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat.

10. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 9, wherein said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism is comprised of:

a force applicator having a portion thereof outside said de-header valve, such that an individual may adjust the force exerted on said blind by said dynamic, live loaded seat;

a biased plunger coupled to said force applicator and applying a force from said force applicator to said force transfer module;

a spring loaded assembly coupled to said pressure applicator and biasing said biased plunger; and

a plurality of sealing members contained within said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism,

wherein said force applicator applies a force to said force transfer module via said plunger, which subsequently forces said dynamic, live loaded seat against said blind, thus creating a seal between said blind and said seats.

11. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said actuator of said blind is controlled from a remote location to increase safety.

12. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein said actuator of said blind is hydraulically controlled.

13. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 1, wherein at least one seat comprises a dynamic live loaded seat assembly comprising a plurality of dynamic, live loaded seats with corresponding live loaded seat adjustment mechanisms and opposing static seats, such that point to point adjustability and fine tuning of said live loaded seat assembly, as acting on said blind, is achieved.

14. A coke drum bottom de-heading system comprising:

at least one coke drum containing manufactured coke therein, said at least one coke drum having a flanged bottom orifice;

a de-header valve removably coupled to said coke drum to facilitate the removal of said coke from said at least one coke drum by de-heading said at least one coke drum, said de-header valve comprising;

a main body having an flanged orifice therein for removably coupling said de-header valve to said flanged bottom orifice of said coke drum;

an upper and lower bonnet coupled to said main body;

a first seat coupled to said main body;

a second seat coupled to said main body in opposition to said first seat; and

a blind coupled to said main body and actuated by an actuator, said blind capable of moving in a bi-directional manner within said de-header valve between said first seat and said second seat to control the opening and closing of said de-header valve, said blind providing a seal between said first loaded seat and said second seat;

said coke drum is de-headed, thus preparing said coke drum for the removal of said coke, by actuating said blind from a closed, sealed position, to an open position thereby causing said coke that has accumulated on said blind and within said valve to be sheared from said blind.

15. The bottom de-heading system of claim 14, further comprising means for monitoring and controlling the pressure existing within said de-heading system.

16. A coke drum top de-heading system comprising:

means for monitoring and controlling pressure existing within said de-heading system;

at least one coke drum containing manufactured coke therein, said at least one coke drum having a flanged top orifice;

a de-header valve removably coupled to said coke drum to facilitate the removal of said coke from said at least one coke drum by de-heading said at least one coke drum, said de-header valve comprising;

a main body having a flanged orifice therein for removably coupling said de-header valve to said flanged top orifice of said coke drum;

an upper and lower bonnet coupled to said main body;

a first seat coupled to said main body;

a second seat coupled to said main body in opposition to said first seat; and

a blind coupled to said main body and actuated by an actuator, said blind capable of moving in a bi-directional manner within said de-header valve between said first seat and second seat to control the opening and closing of said de-header valve, said blind providing a seal between said first seat and said second seat;

said coke drum is de-headed, thus preparing said coke drum for the removal of said coke, by actuating said blind from a closed, sealed position, to an open position thereby causing said coke that has accumulated on said blind and within said valve to be sheared from said blind.

17. The top de-heading system of claim 16, further comprising means for monitoring and controlling the pressure existing within said de-heading system.

18. A coke drum de-heading system comprising:

at least one coke drum containing manufactured coke therein, said at least one coke drum having a top orifice and a bottom orifice;

a de-header valve removably coupled to said coke drum and designed to facilitate the removal of said coke from said at least one coke drum by de-heading said coke drum and allowing said coke to pass therethrough, said de-header valve comprising;

a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with either of said top and bottom orifices of said coke drum when said de-header valve is coupled thereto;

a seat assembly coupled to said main body and comprising a first seat;

a second seat positioned opposite from and counteracting said first seat; and

a blind capable moving in a bi-directional manner within said de-header valve and between said first seat and said second seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator; and

such that a seal is created between said first seat, said blind, and said second seat;

wherein said de-header valve de-heads said coke drum and facilitates the removal of said coke from said coke drum upon actuation of said blind from a closed to an open position wherein said coke is sheared.

19. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said coke drum de-heading system is a bottom de-heading system.

20. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said coke drum de-heading system is a top de-heading system.

21. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said coke drum has a flanged portion around either of said bottom and top orifices, and wherein said de-header valve has a flanged portion around said orifice of said main body, and wherein said flanged portion of said coke drum may be aligned and fit with said flanged portion of said de-header valve to provide a means for removably coupling said de-header valve to said coke drum.

22. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said seats comprises a dynamic, live loaded seat having a live loaded seat adjustment mechanism coupled to said main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of said dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;

said dynamic, live loaded seat comprises an upper seat of said de-header valve.

23. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 22, wherein said dynamic, live loaded seat comprises an upper seat of said de-header valve.

24. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 22, wherein said live loaded seat assembly further comprises a seat retainer.

25. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 22, wherein said force transfer module is a wedge shaped member, such that an axial force introduced by said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism results in a substantially perpendicular force on said dynamic, live loaded seat.

26. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 22, wherein said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism is comprised of:

a force applicator having a portion thereof outside said main body, such that an individual may adjust the force exerted on said blind by said dynamic, live loaded seat;

a plunger coupled to said force applicator and applying a force from said force applicator to said force transfer module;

a spring loaded assembly coupled to said pressure applicator and biasing said plunger; and

a plurality of sealing members contained within said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism,

wherein said force applicator applies a force to said force transfer module via said plunger, which subsequently forces said dynamic, live loaded seat against said blind, thus creating a seal between said blind and said seats.

27. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said seats is a static seat.

28. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 27, wherein said static seat comprises an upper seat of said de-header valve.

29. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said actuator of said blind is controlled from a remote location to increase safety.

30. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said actuator of said blind is hydraulically controlled.

31. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, wherein said actuator of said blind is pneumatically controlled.

32. The coke drum de-heading system of claim 18, further comprising means for monitoring and controlling the pressure existing within said de-heading system.

33. A method for de-heading a coke drum following the manufacture of coke therein, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining at least one coke drum designed for the manufacture of said coke;

equipping

said coke drum with a de-header valve, said de-header valve removably coupled to said coke drum and comprising;

a main body having means for connecting said de-header valve to said coke drum;

a first seat live loaded seat coupled to said main body;

a second seat static seat coupled to said main body in opposition to said first seat; and

a blind coupled to said main body and actuated by an actuator, said blind capable of moving in a substantially lateral bi-directional manner within said de-header valve between said first and second seats-dynamic, live loaded and static seats to control the opening and closing of said de-header valve, said blend providing a seal between said first seat and said second seat dynamic, live loaded and static seats

closing said blind and sealing said dynamic, live loaded seat against said blind so as to seal said de-header valve;

manufacturing said coke from a refinery process; and

de-heading said coke drum by actuating said blind and causing said blind to slide across said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat into an open position, said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat thus shearing said coke in said coke drum as said blind is displaced.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said de-heading comprises top de-heading of said coke drum.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said de-heading comprises bottom de-heading of said coke drum.

36. A coke drum de-heading valve attachable to a coke drum, said coke drum de-heading valve comprising:

a main body having an orifice dimensioned to fit and align with an orifice on a coke drum;

a live loaded seat assembly comprising a first seat;

a second seat aligned with and positioned opposite said first seat;

a blind controlled by an actuator and slidably contained between said first seat and said second seat, such that a seal is created between said blind and said seats, said blind capable of moving in a substantially lateral bi-directional manner between an open, partially open, and closed position, said blind shearing said coke when said blind is caked with coke as said blind is opened, thus de-heading said coke drum.

37. A coke drum de-heading valve of claim 36, wherever at least one of said seats comprises a dynamic, live loaded seat comprising an adjustment mechanism for controlling the amount of exertable force of said dynamic, live loaded seat.