Coke drum bottom unheading system
First Claim
1. A method of clamping a bottom head cover of a coke drum to a bottom flange of said coke drum, comprising:
- determining a minimum number of clamps needed to maintain an effective seal between said bottom head cover and said bottom flange of said coke drum;
mounting at least said minimum number of clamps around a periphery of said bottom flange to secure said clamps to said coke drum;
and actuating said mounted clamps using a control unit from a remote location to clamp said bottom head cover to said bottom flangewherein said multiple individual clamps are spaced apart by no more than a maximum distance determined based on one or more of a diameter and geometry of said bottom flange, a stiffness of said bottom flange, a resiliency and response under varying load of a gasket disposed between said bottom flange and said bottom head cover, and a pressure exerted on said bottom head cover from liquid inside said coke drum.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Clamping system and method for clamping the bottom head cover of a coke drum to the bottom flange thereof are disclosed. The system and method include determining the flange stiffness or resistance to deflection resulting from the spring-like force exerted on the bottom head cover and bottom flange gasket seating surface by the gasket in its compressed state. This deflection information may then be used to estimate the minimum number of clamps needed to ensure sufficient load remains on the gasket at the midpoints between the clamps to effectively keep the gasket sealed. An appropriate number of clamps may then be disposed around the periphery of the bottom flange to clamp it to the bottom head cover. In one practical design, each clamp engages a lug attached to the periphery of the bottom head cover such that the clamp does not extend underneath the bottom head cover when clamped.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of clamping a bottom head cover of a coke drum to a bottom flange of said coke drum, comprising:
-
determining a minimum number of clamps needed to maintain an effective seal between said bottom head cover and said bottom flange of said coke drum; mounting at least said minimum number of clamps around a periphery of said bottom flange to secure said clamps to said coke drum; and actuating said mounted clamps using a control unit from a remote location to clamp said bottom head cover to said bottom flange wherein said multiple individual clamps are spaced apart by no more than a maximum distance determined based on one or more of a diameter and geometry of said bottom flange, a stiffness of said bottom flange, a resiliency and response under varying load of a gasket disposed between said bottom flange and said bottom head cover, and a pressure exerted on said bottom head cover from liquid inside said coke drum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A clamping system for clamping a bottom head cover of a coke drum to a bottom flange of said coke drum, comprising:
-
at least the minimum number of clamps attached to said bottom flange needed to maintain an effective seal between said bottom head cover and said bottom flange of said coke drum; and a control unit for remotely actuating said attached clamps at approximately the same time to apply approximately the same amount of clamping force; wherein said multiple individual clamps are spaced apart by no more than a maximum distance determined based on one or more of a diameter and geometry of said bottom flange, a stiffness of said bottom flange, a resiliency and response under varying load of a gasket disposed between said bottom flange and said bottom head cover, and a pressure exerted on said bottom head cover from liquid inside said coke drum. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for clamping a bottom head cover of a coke drum to a bottom flange of said coke drum, comprising:
-
a minimum number of multiple individual clamps needed to maintain an effective seal between a coke drum and a bottom flange of said coke drum said clamps comprising; a first clamp member having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said first clamp member configured to be anchored to said bottom flange; a second clamp member having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said second clamp member capable of engaging a lug extending from an outer circumference of said bottom head cover, said first and second clamp members pivotably connected at a point between their respective distal ends and proximal ends; and a clamping mechanism configured to apply a force to said distal ends of said first and second clamp members to cause said proximal end of said second clamp member to engage said lugs; and a control unit for remotely actuating said attached multiple individual clamps at approximately the same time to apply approximately the same amount of clamping force. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification