US 10,233,392 B2Granted

Method for optimizing coke plant operation and output

AssigneeSuncoke Technology and Development LLC

InventorsJohn Francis Quanci, Chun Wai Choi, Parthasarathy Kesavan, Katharine E. Russell, Khambath Vichitvongsa, Jeffrey Scott Brombolich, Richard Alan Mrozowicz, Edward A. Glass

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Abstract

The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

A method of increasing a coal processing rate of a coke oven, the method comprising:

positioning a coal charging system, having an elongated charging frame and a charging head operatively coupled with a distal end portion of the elongated charging frame, at least partially within a coke oven having a maximum designed coal charge capacity, defined as a maximum volume of coal that can be charged into the coke oven according to a width and length of the coke oven multiplied by a maximum bed height, defined by a height of downcomer openings, formed in opposing side walls of the coke oven, above a coke oven floor, and a maximum designed coking time associated with the maximum designed coal charge, wherein the maximum designed coking time is defined as the amount of time required to fully coke the maximum designed coal charge;
charging coal into the coke oven with the coal charging system in a manner that defines a first operational coal charge that is less than the maximum designed coal charge capacity;
gradually withdrawing the coal charging system so that a portion of the coal flows through a pair of opposing wing openings that penetrate lower side portions of the charging head, after which the coal engages the pair of opposing wings having free end portions positioned forward from a front face of the charging head, in a spaced-apart relationship with the charging head, such that the portion of the coal is directed by the wings toward side portions of a coal bed being formed by the coal charging system;
compressing portions of the coal bed beneath the opposing wings by engaging the portions of the coal bed with elongated densification bars, which extend along a length of, and downwardly from, each of the opposing wings, as the coal charging system is withdrawn;
coking the first operational coal charge in the coke oven until it is converted into a first coke bed but over a first coking time that is less than the maximum designed coking time;
pushing the first coke bed from the coke oven;
charging coal into the coke oven with the coal charging system in a manner that defines a second operational coal charge that is less than the maximum designed coal charge capacity;
coking the second operational coal charge in the coke oven until it is converted into a second coke bed but over a second coking time that is less than the maximum designed coking time;
and
pushing the second coke bed from the coke oven;
a sum of the first operational coal charge and the second operational coal charge exceeds a weight of the maximum designed coal charge capacity;
a sum of the first coking time and the second coking time being equal to or less than the maximum designed coking time.

9 more elements

Abstract

Claims13