Abstract: The flow of gases given off by a coke mass during the production of coke in a coke oven having a coke side collector main and a pusher side collector main is controlled by measuring temperature, pressure, carbon equivalent thickness and rate of carbon formation at selected locations. Electrical signals indicative of the temperature, pressure and carbon measurements are fed to an instrument system and into a computer where the measurements are compared to target values, processed and the resultant information used to control the flow of gases by regulating the gooseneck damper, standpipe control valve and/or the control valves which control collector main pressures.

Abstract: In the operation of a by-product coke oven, in order to provide a coking cycle that meets an aim push time and also includes a coke soaking period of pre-selected length, the method of obtaining a plurality of liquid catch specimens having condensed therein volatiles from samples of gas withdrawn from the oven; determining a light-transmitting value for such liquid catch specimens for the coke devolatilizing period and for the coke soaking period; determining the end of the devolatilizing period based upon the light-transmitting values so determined; and, if necessary, adjusting the heating rate of the coke oven on subsequent coking cycles. Apparatus for obtaining such liquid catch specimens, and for determining such light-transmitting values is disclosed.

Abstract: The endpoint of devolatilization of a coal mass in a coke oven during a coking cycle is determined by providing a probe which is capable of supplying an electrical signal which indicates the effective thickness of a layer of carbon deposited on the probe by gas released from the coal mass and in addition indicates the rate of devolatilization of the coal mass which is a measure of the heat input to the coal mass and can be used to control heat input to the coke oven.

Abstract: The amount of solid carbon deposited on a surface by a gas during the coking cycle in a coke oven is determined by measuring the thickness by electrical resistance readings, as a function of time, of carbon deposited on a probe passing through the roof of the oven and into the path of the gases flowing out of the oven.