US 6,660,131 B2 · Coke drum bottom de-heading system

Abstract

The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system that provides unique advantages over prior art de-heading systems, namely the de-heading of a coke drum without having to physically remove the head units. This is essentially accomplished using a specially designed dual seated, linear motion goggle blind gate valve, or de-header valve, that is removably coupled to and seals against the flanged portion of a coke drum much the same way a conventional head unit would be attached. The de-header valve is equipped with, among other things, a sliding blind that is contained and capable of moving within an upper and a lower seat, wherein one of such seats is a floating dynamic, live loaded seat that is capable of automatic adjustment through one or more loading zones so as to seal the blind between the upper and lower seats. The movement of the sliding blind serves to open and close the de-header valve, wherein in a closed position, the de-header valve is prepared to receive the resid byproduct feed from the refinery process used to manufacture coke. Once the drum is full, the de-header valve may be actuated (opened), wherein the coke that has accumulated on the blind is sheared by the upper and lower seats, thus de-heading the coke drum and facilitating the removal of coke using methods commonly known in the art.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A coke drum de-heading system comprising:

a coke drum having an opening therein, said coke drum receiving coke therein from a manufacturing system and process;
a de-header valve removably coupled to said opening of said coke drum to facilitate removal of coke from said coke drum, said de-header valve comprising:
(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align with said opening of said coke drum when the de-header valve is coupled thereto;
(2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to said main body and comprising a dynamic, live loaded seat;
at least one live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to said main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of said dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;
(3) a static seat assembly comprising a static seat positioned opposite from and designed to counteract or counterbalance said dynamic, live loaded seat;
and
(4) a sliding blind movable in a manner within said de-header valve and between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator and having a force exerted thereon by said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, such that a seal is created between said dynamic, live loaded seat, said blind, and said static seat, said blind capable of repeated and automatic de-heading and re-heading of said coke drum,
wherein said movement of said sliding blind serves to open and close said de-header valve, and wherein said movement of said sliding blind from a closed to an open position serves to de-head said coke drum.

6 more elements

A de-header valve for use during the manufacture and purging of coke, said de-header valve comprising:

(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with an opening of a coke drum;
(2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to said main body and secured in place by a seat retaining ring, said live loaded seat assembly comprising:
a dynamic, live loaded seat;
at least one live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to said main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load from said dynamic, live loaded seat, said live seat adjustment mechanism comprising a series of biasing load bearing members designed to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;
(3) a static seat assembly secured in place by a seat retaining ring and comprising a static seat positioned opposite from and designed to counteract or counterbalance said dynamic, live loaded seat;
and
(4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a manner within said de-header valve and between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator and having a force exerted thereon by said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, such that a seal is created between said dynamic, live loaded seat, said blind, and said static seat, said blind capable of repeated and automatic de-heading and re-heading of said coke drum without manual activity,
wherein said movement of said sliding blind serves to open and close said de-header valve, and wherein said movement of said sliding blind from a closed to an open position serves to de-head said coke drum.

6 more elements

A de-header valve for use during the manufacture and purging of coke, said de-header valve comprising:

(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with an opening of a coke drum;
(2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to said main body and secured in place by a seat retaining ring, said live loaded seat assembly comprising:
a dynamic, live loaded seat;
at least one live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to said main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load from said dynamic, live loaded seat, said live seat adjustment mechanism comprising a series of biasing load bearing members designed to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;
a full perimeter flexible seal spring placed between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said seat retaining ring that serves to provide process pressure assisted loading, said flexible seal spring working in conjunction with said biasing load bearing members to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
(3) a static seat assembly secured in place by a seat retaining ring and comprising a static seat positioned opposite from and designed to counteract or counterbalance said dynamic, live loaded seat;
and
(4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a manner within said de-header valve and between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator and having a force exerted thereon by said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, such that a seal is created between said dynamic, live loaded seat, said blind, and said static seat, said blind capable of repeated and automatic de-heading and re-heading of said coke drum without manual activity,
wherein said movement of said sliding blind serves to open and close said de-header valve, and wherein said movement of said sliding blind from a closed to an open position serves to de-head said coke drum.

7 more elements

A de-header valve for use during the manufacture and purging of coke, said de-header valve comprising:

(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with an opening of a coke drum;
(2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to said main body and secured in place by a seat retaining ring, said live loaded seat assembly comprising:
a dynamic, live loaded seat;
at least one live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to said main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load from said dynamic, live loaded seat, said live seat adjustment mechanism comprising a series of biasing load bearing members designed to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;
a biasing element arrayed at close center around a perimeter of said seat retaining ring designed to work in conjunction with said biasing load bearing members to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
(3) a static seat assembly secured in place by a seat retaining ring and comprising a static seat positioned opposite from and designed to counteract or counterbalance said dynamic, live loaded seat;
and
(4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a manner within said de-header valve and between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator and having a force exerted thereon by said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, such that a seal is created between said dynamic, live loaded seat, said blind, and said static seat, said blind capable of repeated and automatic de-heading and re-heading of said coke drum without manual activity,
wherein said movement of said sliding blind serves to open and close said de-header valve, and wherein said movement of said sliding blind from a closed to an open position serves to de-head said coke drum.

7 more elements

A de-header valve for use during the manufacture and purging of coke, said de-header valve comprising:

(1) a main body having an orifice dimensioned to align, in a concentric relationship, with an opening of a coke drum;
(2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to said main body and secured in place by a seat retaining ring, said live loaded seat assembly comprising:
a floating dynamic, live loaded seat;
a plurality of live seat adjustment mechanisms coupled to said main body and spaced at equidistance around a perimeter of said floating dynamic, live loaded seat, each of said plurality of live seat adjustment mechanisms providing independent loading zones for precise point to point adjustability of said floating dynamic, live loaded seat, said plurality of live seat adjustment mechanisms comprising a series of biasing load bearing members designed to allow said dynamic, live loaded seat to float;
and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to said dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from said live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to said dynamic, live loaded seat;
(3) a static seat assembly secured in place by a seat retaining ring and comprising a static seat positioned opposite from and designed to counteract or counterbalance said dynamic, live loaded seat;
and
(4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a manner within said de-header valve and between said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, said blind physically controlled by an actuator and having a force exerted thereon by said dynamic, live loaded seat and said static seat, such that a seal is created between said dynamic, live loaded seat, said blind, and said static seat, said blind capable of repeated and automatic de-heading and re-heading of said coke drum without manual activity,
wherein said movement of said sliding blind serves to open and close said de-header valve, and wherein said movement of said sliding blind from a closed to an open position serves to de-head said coke drum.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coke drum bottom de-heading system

Life of this patent

Coke drum bottom de-heading system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23