Non-perpendicular connections between coke oven uptakes and a hot common tunnel, and associated systems and methods

A coking system, comprising:

• a plurality of coke ovens;
• a plurality of uptake ducts in fluid communication with the plurality of coke ovens;
• each of the plurality of uptake ducts having an uptake flow vector of exhaust gas from at least one of the plurality of coke ovens;
• and
• a common tunnel having a common flow vector of exhaust gas and configured to transfer the exhaust gas to a venting system;
• the plurality of coke ovens, plurality of uptake ducts, and common tunnel being fluidly coupled with one another to define a negative pressure exhaust system, whereby a draft is induced within the coking system;
• the plurality of uptake ducts and common tunnel being fluidly coupled with one another at a plurality of interfaces;
• at least some of the plurality of Interfaces being non-perpendicular, wherein the uptake ducts are disposed at angles with respect to the common tunnel and bias the uptake flow vectors and common flow vector toward a common flow direction, whereby minimizing a static pressure differential between an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the common tunnel and discouraging a draft loss within the coking system.

A method of reducing draft losses in a common tunnel in a coking system, the method comprising:

• flowing exhaust gas from a coke oven through an uptake duct;
• biasing the exhaust gas exiting the uptake duct toward a common flow in the common tunnel;
• the coke oven, uptake ducts, and common tunnel being fluidly coupled with one another to define a negative pressure exhaust system, whereby a draft is induced within the coking system;
• merging the exhaust gas and common flow at a non-perpendicular interface, wherein the uptake duct is disposed at an angle with respect to the common tunnel, whereby aligning an uptake duct mass flow with a common tunnel mass flow in a manner that increases a draft at the uptake duct and decreases a draft loss in the common tunnel.

A coking system, comprising:

• a common tunnel configured to direct a gas from one or more coke ovens to a common stack, wherein the common tunnel has a common tunnel flow with a common tunnel flow vector, and wherein the common tunnel flow vector has an x-component extending along a long axis of the common tunnel, a y-component extending along a width of the common tunnel, and a z-component extending along a height of the common tunnel;
• a coke oven in fluid connection with the common tunnel via an uptake, wherein:
• the uptake includes an uptake flow having an uptake flow vector with an x-component, a y-component, and a z-component;
• and
• the uptake connects to the common tunnel at an intersection, wherein the uptake is disposed at an angle with respect to the common tunnel:
• wherein the uptake flow vector z-component has a different direction than the z-component of the common tunnel flow vector, whereby encouraging mixing and combustion of unburned volatile material and oxygen inside the common tunnel.