Valve system and method for unheading a coke drum

• US 6,989,081 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• 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:
  US10/997,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20050194245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 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: 202/245
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/14 with special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/205 by means of cams

Abstract

The present invention features systems and methods for de-heading a coke drum without having to physically remove the head units. This is accomplished using a de-header valves that may be removably coupled to a coke drum. The de-header valve is equipped with, a valve closure and a seat support system capable of forming a continuous contact seal during the coke manufacturing process. Actuation of the valve closure functions to open and close the de-header valve. Once the drum is full, the de-header valve may be actuated (opened), wherein the coke that has accumulated on the blind is sheared by the seat support system, thus effectively de-heading the coke drum and facilitating the decoking process.

Claims

1. A coke drum de-header system comprising:

a main body removably coupled to a coke drum, wherein said main body comprises an orifice dimensioned to align with an opening of said coke drum;

a valve closure comprising a goggle gate-type de-header valve capable oscillating to open and close said de-header valve and for de-heading and re-heading said coke drum;

means for supporting said valve; and

a metal to metal contact seal created between said valve closure and said means for supporting a valve closure, said contact seal shearing any accumulated coke upon actuation of said valve closure.

2. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises a seat support system.

3. The coke drum de-header system of claim 2, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said valve closure, thus applying opposing forces upon said valve closure, and wherein said seats are selected from a static and a dynamic seat.

4. The coke drum de-header system of claim 2, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one live loaded seat and seat assembly.

5. The coke drum de-header system of claim 2, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one static seat and seat assembly.

6. The coke drum de-header system of claim 2, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

7. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises portions of said main body adapted to support said valve closure and provide said contact seal.

8. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising a steam purge system.

9. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.

10. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said valve closure is actuated by a hydraulic apparatus.

11. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said valve closure is actuated by an electric motor.

12. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said valve closure is actuated manually.

13. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said valve closure is actuated remotely by a central processing unit.

14. A coke drum de-header system comprising:

a coke drum having at least one port therein;

a goggle type de-header valve removably coupled to said port of said coke drum, said de-header valve comprising;

a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with said port of said coke drum;

a valve closure operably supported by said main body, said valve closure capable of being actuated to oscillate between an open and closed position with respect to said orifice and said port;

means for supporting said valve closure;

a continuously maintained metal to metal contact seal between said valve closure and said means for supporting said valve closure, said contact seal shearing accumulated coke and effectively de-heading said coke drum upon actuation of said valve closure; and

means for actuating said valve closure.

15. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said means for supporting said blind comprises a seat support system.

16. The coke drum de-header system of claim 15, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent live loaded dynamic seats positioned on opposing sides of said blind.

17. The coke drum de-header system of claim 16, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent static seats positioned on opposing sides of said blind.

18. The coke drum de-header system of claim 15, wherein said seat support system comprises a single seat positioned about said blind, said single seat selected from the group consisting of a dynamic and static seat.

19. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said means for supporting said blind comprises at least a portion of said main body adapted to receive said blind and capable of forming and maintaining said contact seal.

20. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, further comprising a steam purge system.

21. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.

22. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said valve closure is actuated by a hydraulic apparatus.

23. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said valve closure is actuated by an electric motor.

24. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said valve closure is actuated manually.

25. The coke drum de-header system of claim 14, wherein said valve closure is actuated remotely by a central processing unit.

26. A method of deheading a coke drum comprising:

coupling a coke drum to a main body of a goggle gate-type deheader valve capable oscillating to open and close said de-header valve and for de-heading and re-heading said coke drum, wherein said main body comprises an orifice dimensioned to align with an opening of said coke drum;

supporting said valve; and

creating a metal to metal contact seal between said valve closure and said means for supporting a valve closure, said contact seal shearing any accumulated coke upon actuation of said valve closure.

27. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises a seat support system.

28. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 27, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one live loaded seat and seat assembly.

29. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 27, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one static seat and seat assembly.

30. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 27, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

31. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises portions of said main body adapted to support said valve closure and provide said contact seal.

32. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, further comprising a steam purge system.

33. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.

34. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said valve closure is actuated by a hydraulic apparatus.

35. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said valve closure is actuated by an electric motor.

36. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said valve closure is actuated manually.

37. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 26, wherein said valve closure is actuated remotely by a central processing unit.

38. A coke drum de-header system comprising:

a coke drum having at least one port therein;

a de-header valve removably coupled to said port comprising;

a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with said port of said coke drum;

a valve closure operably supported by said main body, said valve closure capable of being actuated to travel between an open and closed position with respect to said orifice and said port;

a seat support system for supporting said valve closure, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said valve closure, thus applying opposing forces upon said valve closure, and wherein said seats are selected from a static and a dynamic seat.

39. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein a seal is formed between the seat and valve closure by moving the valve closure into contact with the seat support system.

40. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein a seal is formed between the seat and valve closure by moving the seat support system into contact with the valve closure.

41. The coke drum de-header system of claim 39, further comprising a means for actuating said valve closure.

42. The coke drum de-header system of claim 40, further comprising a means for actuating said seat support system.

43. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein a continuously maintained metal to metal contact seal between said valve closure and said means for supporting said valve closure is formed, said contact seal shearing accumulated coke and effectively de-heading said coke drum upon actuation of said valve closure.

44. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one live loaded seat and seat assembly.

45. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one static seat and seat assembly.

46. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

47. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein said de-header valve is selected from the group consisting of a plug valve, a ball or globe valve, a flexible wedge gate valve, a parallel slide gate valve, a solid wedge gate valve, and a sliding blind gate valve.

48. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises portions of said main body adapted to support said valve closure and provide said contact seal.

49. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, further comprising a steam purge system.

50. The coke drum de-header system of claim 38, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.