Valve system for unheading a coke drum

• US 7,578,907 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DeltaValve, LLC (Circor International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Lah, Ruben F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US11/396,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20070084714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 202/217, 202/221, 202/222, 202/239, 202/242, 202/244, 202/245
• US Class Current: 202/242
• 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 a coke drum de-heading system that provides unique advantages over prior art de-heading systems, namely the de-heading of a coke drum without having to physically remove the head units. This is essentially accomplished using one of a variety of specially designed de-header valves that may be removably coupled to a coke drum much the same way a conventional head or flange unit would be attached. The de-header valve is equipped with, among other things, a valve closure and means for supporting a valve closure capable of forming a continuous contact seal during the coke manufacturing process. The means for supporting a de-header valve typically comprises a seat support system comprising a variety of configurational designs. Actuation of the valve closure functions to open and close the de-header valve, wherein in a closed position, the de-header valve and coke drum are prepared to receive the petroleum byproduct feed from the refinery process used to manufacture coke. Once the drum is full, the de-header valve is again 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) a de-header valve coupled to a coke drum, said de-header valve comprising;

(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with a port of said coke drum when said de-header valve is coupled thereto;

(2) 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;

(b) a continuously maintained metal to metal contact seal between said valve closure and a means for supporting said valve closure; and

(c) a means for actuating said valve closure.

2. The coke drum dc-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, that are structured to apply opposing forces upon said valve closure, and wherein said seats are selected from one of a static seat and a dynamic seat.

4. The coke drum dc-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 dc-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 dc-header system of claim 1, 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.

8. 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.

9. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising at least one bonnet coupled to said main body, wherein said at least one bonnet comprises a steam purge system for releasing excess pressure from said at least one bonnet.

10. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system, effectively surrounded by at least one bonnet, wherein said bonnet is coupled to said main body.

11. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises portions of the de-header system and the coke drum.

12. The coke drum de-header system of claim 11, wherein the means for supporting said valve closure comprises a first seat and a second seat, wherein said first seat is comprised of a flange of the coke drum, and wherein said second seat is comprised of an element selected from a group consisting of:

a portion of said main body of said de-header system, and a seat support system, wherein said support system comprises a seat selected from a group consisting of a static seat and a dynamic seat.