Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for cooling flue gases emitted from an industrial facility, such as a coke oven in a coke manufacturing plant. A representative system includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) having a steam generation system that converts liquid feedwater into steam by absorbing heat from the flue gases. The steam generation system includes a plurality of tubes that carry the liquid water feedwater and the steam. Some or all of the tubes include steel and a non-corrosive material cladded to the steel that helps to reduce corrosion caused by the high temperature flue gases and extremely corrosive contaminants within the flue gas that can corrode steel.

Abstract: A coke oven can include an oven body, a foundation, and a plurality of beams separating the oven body from the foundation. A buckstay applies force to the oven body to maintain compression on the oven body during thermal cycling of the coke oven. The coke oven further comprises a spring-loaded compression device, which can include a restraining device, an anchor coupled to the restraining device, and a spring coupled to the restraining device. The anchor can be attached to one or more of the beams, the foundation of the oven, or to a similar compression device on an opposite side of the oven. The spring applies force between the restraining device and the one or more beams or foundation to compress the buckstay against the oven. The force applied by the spring can maintain structural stability of the coke oven over a plurality of thermal cycles.

Abstract: The present technology provides systems and methods for detecting leaks in a coke plant. In some embodiments, the present technology includes discharging a gaseous tracer adjacent to a surface that at least partially divides a high-pressure system and a low-pressure system. The gaseous tracer can be measured at a location within and/or downstream from the low-pressure system to identify leaks in the structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing carbonaceous clinker material from a coke oven are described. A coke oven can be provided including an oven floor, coke, and clinker material deposited on the oven floor. After a temperature of the coke oven has reached a first temperature (e.g., after heating coal in the oven to produce coke), the method includes increasing the temperature of the coke oven to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature for a predetermined amount of time. After the predetermined amount of time, the temperature is reduced to a third temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

Abstract: A coke oven includes an oven chamber configured to support and heat a coal bed, a castable slab below the oven chamber, and a foundation supporting the heat recovery oven. One or more beams are positioned between the castable slab and the foundation. The beams extend from a first end of the oven chamber to a second end of the oven chamber, forming a plurality of air gaps between the castable slab and the foundation. Heat from the oven chamber is dissipated by the one or more beams.

Abstract: A coke plant includes multiple coke ovens where each coke oven is adapted to produce exhaust gases, a common tunnel fluidly connected to the plurality of coke ovens and configured to receive the exhaust gases from each of the coke ovens, multiple standard heat recovery steam generators fluidly connected to the common tunnel where the ratio of coke ovens to standard heat recovery steam generators is at least 20:1, and a redundant heat recovery steam generator fluidly connected to the common tunnel where any one of the plurality of standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator is adapted to receive the exhaust gases from the plurality of ovens and extract heat from the exhaust gases and where the standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator are all connected in parallel with each other.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for optimizing the burn profiles for coke ovens, such as horizontal heat recovery ovens. In various embodiments the burn profile is at least partially optimized by controlling air distribution in the coke oven. In some embodiments, the air distribution is controlled according to temperature readings in the coke oven. In particular embodiments, the system monitors the crown temperature of the coke oven. After the crown reaches a particular temperature range the flow of volatile matter is transferred to the sole flue to increase sole flue temperatures throughout the coking cycle. Embodiments of the present technology include an air distribution system having a plurality of crown air inlets positioned above the oven floor.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of decarbonizing coking ovens, and associated systems and devices. In some embodiments, a method of operating and decarbonizing a coking oven can include inserting a charge of coal into the coking oven and heating the coal. The method can further include removing at least a portion of the charge, leaving behind coking deposits in the coking oven. At least a portion of the deposits can be continuously removed from the coking oven. For example, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the deposits can be removed each time a new charge of coal is inserted in the coking oven.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to horizontal heat recovery and non-heat recovery coke ovens having monolith crowns. In some embodiments, an HHR coke oven includes a monolith crown that spans the width of the oven between opposing oven sidewalls. The monolith expands upon heating and contracts upon cooling as a single structure. In further embodiments, the crown comprises a thermally-volume-stable material. The crown may be an oven crown, an upcommer arch, a downcommer arch, a J-piece, a single sole flue arch or multiple sole flue arches, a downcommer cleanout, curvilinear corner sections, and/or combined portions of any of the above sections. In some embodiments, the crown is formed at least in part with a thermally-volume-stable material. In further embodiments, the crown is formed as a monolith (or several monolith segments) spanning between supports such as oven sidewalls. In various embodiments, the monolith and thermally-volume-stable features can be used in combination or alone.

Abstract: Systems and methods of dynamically charging coal in coke ovens related to the operation and output of coke plants including methods of automatically charging a coke oven using a charging ram in communication with a control system to increase the coke output and coke quality from coke plants. In some embodiments, the control system is capable of moving the charging ram in a horizontal first direction, a horizontal second direction and a vertical third direction while charging coal into the oven. In some embodiments, the coal charging system also includes a scanning system configured to scan an oven floor to generate an oven floor profile and/or oven capacity. The scanning system used in combination with the control system allows for dynamic leveling of the charging ram throughout the charging process. In some embodiments, the charging ram includes stiffener plates and support members to increase the mechanical strength of the charging ram and decrease the sag of the charging ram at a distal end.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for improving quenched coke recovery. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to systems and methods utilizing one or more of a screen, barrier, or reflector panel to contain or redirect coke during or after quenching. In a particular embodiment, a quench car system for containing coke includes a quench car having a base, a plurality of sidewalls, and a top portion. The system can further include a permeable barrier covering at least a portion of the top of the quench car, wherein the permeable barrier has a plurality of apertures therethrough.

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.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for optimizing the burn profiles for coke ovens, such as horizontal heat recovery ovens. In various embodiments the burn profile is at least partially optimized by controlling air distribution in the coke oven. In some embodiments, the air distribution is controlled according to temperature readings in the coke oven. In particular embodiments, the system monitors the crown temperature of the coke oven. After the crown reaches a particular temperature range the flow of volatile matter is transferred to the sole flue to increase sole flue temperatures throughout the coking cycle. Embodiments of the present technology include an air distribution system having a plurality of crown air inlets positioned above the oven floor.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for removing mercury from emissions. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to systems and methods for removing mercury from exhaust gas in a flue gas desulfurization system. In one embodiment, a method of removing mercury from exhaust gas in a flue gas desulfurization system includes inletting the gas into a housing and conditioning an additive. In some embodiments, conditioning the additive comprises hydrating powder-activated carbon. The method further includes introducing the conditioned additive into the housing and capturing mercury from the gas.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

Abstract: A system and method for repairing a coke oven having an oven chamber formed from ceramic bricks. A representative system includes a insulated enclosure insertable into the oven chamber and includes removable insulated panels that define an interior area for workers to work in. The insulated enclosure is movable between an expanded configuration and a compact configuration and moving the enclosure to the expanded configuration will decrease the distance between the insulated enclosure and the walls of the oven chamber. Removing the panels exposes the ceramic bricks and allows workers within the interior area to access and the bricks and repair the oven chamber while the oven chamber is still hot. A loading apparatus lifts and inserts the insulated enclosure into the oven chamber. The insulated enclosure can be coupled to additional insulated enclosures to form an elongated interior area.

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.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for removing mercury from emissions. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to systems and methods for removing mercury from exhaust gas in a flue gas desulfurization system. In one embodiment, a method of removing mercury from exhaust gas in a flue gas desulfurization system includes inletting the gas into a housing and conditioning an additive. In some embodiments, conditioning the additive comprises hydrating powder-activated carbon. The method further includes introducing the conditioned additive into the housing and capturing mercury from the gas.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for improving quenched coke recovery. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to systems and methods utilizing one or more of a screen, barrier, or reflector panel to contain or redirect coke during or after quenching. In a particular embodiment, a quench car system for containing coke includes a quench car having a base, a plurality of sidewalls, and a top portion. The system can further include a permeable barrier covering at least a portion of the top of the quench car, wherein the permeable barrier has a plurality of apertures therethrough.