# US 2019/0169503 A1 · Non-perpendicular connections between coke oven uptakes and a hot common tunnel, and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169503 A1 - Document ID: US20190169503A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/026,363 - Filed: 2018-07-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-28 - Assignees: Suncoke Technology and Development LLC - Applicants: Suncoke Technology and Development LLC - Inventors: Ung-Kyung Chun; Chun Wai Choi; Milos Kaplarevic; Rajat Kapoor; John Francis Quanci - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169503A1 ## CPC - C10B 15/02: with floor heating - C10B 45/00: Other details - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) ## Abstract The present technology is generally directed to non-perpendicular connections between coke oven uptakes and a hot common tunnel, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a coking system includes a coke oven and an uptake duct in fluid communication with the coke oven. The uptake duct has an uptake flow vector of exhaust gas from the coke oven. The system also includes a common tunnel in fluid communication with the uptake duct. The common tunnel has a common flow vector and can be configured to transfer the exhaust gas to a venting system. The uptake flow vector and common flow vector can meet at a non-perpendicular interface to improve mixing between the flow vectors and reduce draft loss in the common tunnel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (canceled) ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 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. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The coking system of claim 25 wherein the uptake flow vector of each of the plurality of uptake ducts includes an x-component, a v-component, and a z-component and the common flow vector includes an x-component, a y-component, and a z-component; the v-components of the uptake flow vector and the common flow vector disposed in different directions; the z-components of the uptake flow vector and the common flow vector disposed in different directions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The coking system of claim 25 wherein the common tunnel has a common tunnel height, an upper portion above a midpoint of the common tunnel height, and a lower portion below the midpoint of the common tunnel height, and wherein at least some of the uptake ducts interface with the common tunnel at the upper portion or the lower portion, but not both, simultaneously. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The coking system of claim 25 wherein at least one non-perpendicular interface comprises at least one of a baffle, gunned surface, contoured duct liner, or convex flow modifier coupled with an inner surface of at least one of the uptake duct or common tunnel and configured to alter at least one of the uptake flow vector or common flow vector. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The coking system of claim 28 wherein the baffle, gunned surface, contoured duct liner, or convex flow modifier is integral to at least one of the uptake duct or common tunnel or is retrofitted onto the uptake duct or common tunnel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The coking system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of uptake ducts comprises a first uptake duct in fluid communication with a first coke oven of the plurality of coke ovens and having a first uptake flow vector, and wherein the system further comprises a second uptake duct of the plurality of uptake dusts in fluid communication with the first coke oven or a second coke oven of the plurality of coke ovens and having a second uptake flow vector of exhaust gas. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein the first uptake flow vector and common flow vector meet at a non-perpendicular interface, and the second uptake flow vector and common flow vector meet at a perpendicular interface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein the first uptake flow vector and common flow vector meet at a non-perpendicular interface and the second uptake flow vector and common flow vector meet at a non-perpendicular interface. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein at least a portion of the first uptake duct is non-perpendicular to the common tunnel by a first angle and at least a portion of the second uptake duct is non-perpendicular to the common tunnel by a second angle different from the first angle. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein: the system further comprises a third uptake duct of the plurality of uptake ducts in fluid communication with the first coke oven, the second coke oven, or a third coke oven of the plurality of coke ovens and having a third uptake flow vector of exhaust gas; the first uptake duct, second uptake duct, and third uptake duct are positioned along a lateral side of the common tunnel; and there is a first distance between the first uptake duct and second uptake duct and a second distance different from the first distance between the second uptake duct and the third uptake duct. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein the first uptake duct is positioned on a first lateral side of the common tunnel and the second uptake duct is positioned on a second lateral side of the common tunnel opposite the first lateral side, and wherein the first uptake duct and second uptake duct are laterally offset from one another. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The coking system of claim 30 wherein the first uptake duct and second uptake duct are positioned on a common lateral side of the common tunnel, and wherein there are no uptake ducts on an opposing lateral side of the common tunnel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 25) The coking system of claim 25 wherein the common tunnel has one of a non-circular, oval, elongated oval, asymmetrical oval, or rectangular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 38 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. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, further comprising at least one of converging or diverging the exhaust gas in or upon exiting the uptake duct. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein biasing the exhaust gas comprises biasing the exhaust gas with a baffle in the uptake duct. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein biasing the exhaust gas comprises biasing the exhaust gas within the uptake duct, wherein the uptake duct is at least partially non-perpendicular to the common tunnel. ### Claim 42 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. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The coking system of claim 42 wherein an inner characteristic dimension of the uptake at least one of increases or decreases in the direction of the intersection. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The coking system of claim 42 wherein the uptake further includes an angled baffle at or near the intersection, the baffle configured to redirect the uptake flow. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The coking system of claim 42 wherein the common tunnel has an elliptical cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The coking system of claim 42 wherein the z-component of the uptake is in a downward direction, such that buoyancy of gases exiting the uptake are at least partially countered and combustion of the gases are encouraged to occur toward a lower portion of the common tunnel.