Abstract: An improved quality premium (needle) coke is produced from an aromatic concentrate as the feed and a non-coking feed supplement in lieu of recycle. The premium coker feed bypasses a fractionator, is combined with a non-coking feed supplement, heated in a furnace and charged to a coke drum. Vapors from the premium coking process are returned to a fractionator which is concurrently utilized in a regular grade coking operation. The premium coke thus formed is of a higher quality than coke made from conventional fractionator bottoms, and system costs are reduced by utilizing a single fractionator with concurrent production of regular and premium coke. A preferred embodiment shows additional benefits produced by a higher ratio of recycle to fresh feed to the coke drum during the last stage consisting of about 15 to 25 percent of the total fill cycle.

Abstract: Cooling water for cooling coke in a coking drum is charged into the interior of the coking drum from a plurality of orifices located on the lateral surfaces of the coking drum so as to uniformly distribute the cooling effect provided by the cooling water.