Systems for providing continuous containment of delayed coker unit operations

• US 7,632,381 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• 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:
  US11/111,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 202/242, 202/245, 202/246, 175/220, 175/75, 422/105, 422/211, 422/239, 48/61, 700/266, 700/274, 429/12, 429/17
• US Class Current: 201/3
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 33/006 Decoking tools, e.g. hydraulic coke removing tools with boring or cutting nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 33/12 Discharge valves

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety system during the entire delayed coker operation. The present invention preferably comprises a coke drum; a first coke drum de-header system coupled to the bottom of the coke drum; a second coke drum de-header system coupled to the top of the coke drum; a containment system coupled to the second coke drum de-header system; and a remote switching system. Hence, the present invention provides system for cutting coke within a coke drum with increased safety, efficiency and convenience.

Claims

1. A system for providing a safe working environment during delayed coker operations, said system comprising:

a coke drum;

a first coke drum de-header system coupled to a bottom of the coke drum;

a second coke drum de-header system coupled to a top of the coke drum; and

a containment system comprising a venting system coupled to the second coke drum de-header system.

2. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 1, wherein the first coke drum de-header system comprises:

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

a valve closure comprising a valve capable of oscillating to open and close said valve closure and for de-heading and re-heading said coke drum;

means for supporting said valve closure; and

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

3. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 2, wherein said means for supporting said valve closure comprises a seat support system.

4. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 3, wherein said seat support system comprises independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said valve closure, wherein said independent seats are structured to apply opposing forces upon said valve closure, and wherein said seats are selected from the group consisting of a static seat and a live loaded seat.

5. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 2, further comprising a steam purge system.

6. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 2, wherein said valve closure is actuated by an element selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic apparatus, an electric motor, a manual actuator, and an actuator remotely controlled by a central processing unit.

7. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 2, wherein the valve closure is selected from the group consisting of a plug type de-header valve, a ball-type de-header valve, an adjusting wedge gate-type de-header valve, a flexible wedge gate-type de-header valve, a parallel slide gate-type de-header valve, a solid wedge gate-type de-header valve, a sliding blind gate-type de-header valve, a globe-type de-header valve, and a goggle type de-header valve.

8. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 1, wherein the containment system comprises:

a drill stem guide, wherein the drill stem guide may move vertically up and down inside of the containment system.

9. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein the containment system is a structural can, rated to tolerate pressure swells.

10. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein the containment system provides continuous containment of pressurized gases and materials during a length of a drill stroke.

11. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein the drill stem guide slidably engages a drill stem.

12. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein a drill may safely operate in a fully raised or lowered position.

13. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein the containment system additionally comprises an access panel.

14. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 13, wherein the access panel comprises at least one locking system.

15. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 8, wherein the containment system comprises a hinged opening system for opening at least one side of the containment system.

16. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 1, wherein the venting system comprises vent tubing, wherein the vent tubing is comprised of a first end of the vent tube, a terminal end of the vent tube and a vent plate, wherein the first end of the vent tubing is affixed to the containment system and the venting system allows excess gas produced during the coker operations to enter the vent tubing through the first end of the vent tubing, move through the vent tubing to the terminal end of the vent tubing and be released at a point distant from the containment system.

17. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 1, further comprising a switching system, wherein the switching system comprises:

a cutting head with at least one boring nozzle and at least one cutting nozzle, wherein the cutting head is removeably connected to a drill stem and wherein the drill stem slidably engages the containment system.

18. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 17, wherein the switching system further comprises multiple cutting heads.

19. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 17, wherein the cutting head is controlled by a central processing unit.

20. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 17, wherein the switching system further comprises a switch valve, wherein said switch valve segregates high-pressure fluid into separate delivery pipes, wherein said delivery pipes comprise at least one boring delivery pipe for boring and at least one cutting delivery pipe for cutting, wherein said delivery pipes deliver fluid to the cutting head.

21. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 20, wherein the switch valve is a three way ball joint.

22. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 20, wherein the switching system further comprises at least one visual marker that indicates whether or not the high pressure fluid is flowing, and into which delivery pipe the fluid is flowing.

23. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 20, wherein said switch valve is controlled by a central processing unit.

24. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 20, wherein said switch valve and said cutting head are controlled remotely from a control room.

25. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 20, wherein the switch valve is manually actuated.

26. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 17, further comprising an integrated boring and cutting water delivery pipe, which begins where a boring water delivery pipe and a cutting water delivery pipe connect and integrate.

27. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 17, further comprising a rotatable integrated boring and cutting drill stem comprising a cutting head and a motor.

28. The system for providing a safe working environment during the delayed coker operations as in claim 27, further comprising a union, wherein said union connects an integrated boring and water delivery pipe to said rotatable integrated boring and cutting drill stem.

29. A method for safely removing coke from a coke vessel, comprising the steps of:

coupling a coke drum to a main body of a deheader valve;

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

pressurizing fluid;

allowing the pressurized fluid to enter a cutting head wherein the cutting head comprises at least one boring nozzle and at least one cutting nozzle;

ejecting the pressurized fluid from said boring nozzle;

ejecting the pressurized fluid from said cutting nozzle to begin cutting said coke within said coke vessel;

utilizing a continuous containment system to contain the pressurized fluid and excess gas produced while removing the coke from the coke drum; and

venting the excess gas produced during the removal of the coke from the coked rum from the continuous containment system through a venting system.