Systems and methods for deheading a coke drum

• US 7,459,063 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DeltaValve, LLC (Circor International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Lah, Ruben F., Larsen, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/983,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 202/217, 202/221, 202/222, 202/239, 202/242, 202/244, 202/245, 202/270, 201/3, 201/41
• US Class Current: 201/3
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 25/10 for ovens with vertical chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/312 Line blinds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0514 Gate valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6014 Faucet type [e.g., domestic water use, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6017 Including removable valve head and seat unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6038 Particular valve seat or interface seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6041 Replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6072 Gate valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6075 Bifaced

Abstract

A coke drum bottom de-heading system having an internal shroud enclosure and a shroud end cap opened by a flange to a coke bottom de-heading valve capable of accepting the end of a gate valve upon actuation. Acting in coordination with the shroud enclosure to prevent the escape of steam is a gate seal assembly having a gate seal slidably engaged against the sliding gate to prevent the passage of steam thereby.

Claims

1. A coke drum de-header system comprising:

a main body removeably coupled to a flange of a coke drum;

a shroud removeably coupled to the main body;

a slide gate valve at least partially enclosed within the shroud; and

at least one live loaded seat, wherein a seal is formed between the gate and seat.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the gate is configured to selectively slide between an opened position and a closed position.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the flange of the system is one of:

(i) a bottom de-heading system;

(ii) a top de-heading system; and

(iii) a side de-heading system.

4. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising a means for supporting said gate and a means for actuating the gate.

5. The coke drum de-header system of claim 4, wherein said means for supporting said gate comprises a seat support system coupled to the main body.

6. The coke drum de-header system of claim 5, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said gate.

7. The coke drum de-header system of claim 5, wherein said seat support system applies opposing forces upon said gate.

8. The coke drum de-header system of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said seats are selected from a static and a dynamic seat.

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

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

11. The coke drum de-header system of claim 5, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

12. The coke drum de-header system of claim 1, further comprising a main body, and a means for supporting said gate, wherein portions of said main body are adapted to support said gate and provide said contact seal.

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

14. A method of deheading a coke drum comprising:

coupling a main body of a coke drum deheader system to a flange on a coke drum;

coupling a shroud to the main body using the a shroud to selectively surround a gate; and

causing a seal between at least one seat and a gate.

15. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, wherein the gate is configured to selectively slide between an opened position and a closed position.

16. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, wherein the system is one of:

(i) a bottom de-heading system;

(ii) a top de-heading system; and

(iii) a side de-heading system.

17. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, further comprising a means for supporting said gate and a means for actuating the gate.

18. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 17, wherein said means for supporting said gate comprises a seat support system.

19. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 18, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said gate.

20. The coke drum de-header system of claim 18, wherein said seat support system applies opposing forces upon said gate.

21. The coke drum de-header system of claim 18, 19, or 20, wherein said seats are selected from a static and a dynamic seat.

22. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 18, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one live loaded seat and seat assembly.

23. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 18, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one static seat and seat assembly.

24. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 18, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

25. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, 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, a blind goggle valve and a sliding blind gate valve.

26. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, further comprising a main body, and a means for supporting said gate, wherein portions of said main body adapted to support said gate and provide said contact seal.

27. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, further comprising a steam purge system.

28. The method of deheading a coke drum of claim 14, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.

29. 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 of said coke drum comprising;

a gate; and

at least one seat, wherein a seal is formed between the gate and seat;

a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with said port of said coke drum, wherein the main body prevents the escape of steam and encloses the gate assembly during the entire deheading process.

30. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, further comprising:

a continuously maintained metal to metal contact seal between said gate and said seat.

31. The coke drum de-header system of claim 30, wherein said contact seal shears accumulated coke effectively de-heading said coke drum upon actuation of said gate.

32. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, further comprising a means for actuating said gate.

33. The coke drum de-header system of claim 32, wherein said actuation means is a hydraulic piston.

34. The coke drum de-header system of claim 32, wherein said actuation means is an electric motor.

35. The coke drum de-header system of claim 32, wherein said de-header system is actuated manually.

36. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the gate is configured to selectively slide between an opened position and a closed position.

37. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the system is one of:

(iv) a bottom de-heading system;

(v) a top de-heading system; and

(vi) a side de-heading system.

38. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seat support system comprises dual, independent seats positioned opposite one another on either side of said gate.

39. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seat support system applies opposing forces upon said gate.

40. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seats are selected from a static and a dynamic seat.

41. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one live loaded seat and seat assembly.

42. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seat support system comprises at least one static seat and seat assembly.

43. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said seat support system comprises a static seat positioned opposite a complimentary live loaded seat.

44. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, 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, a blind goggle valve and a sliding blind gate valve.

45. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, wherein said main body is adapted to support said gate and provide said contact seal.

46. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, further comprising a steam purge system.

47. The coke drum de-header system of claim 29, further comprising an internal material isolation and containment system.