Abstract: Foundry coke products, and associated methods and systems for melting iron in a cupola furnace with the coke products are disclosed herein. A representative method can include receiving a population of coke products and iron in a cupola furnace, and melting the iron in the cupola furnace to form molten iron having a carbon content higher than a carbon content of the received iron. The coke products can comprise (i) an elongate shape including a length:width dimension of at least 1.5:1, (ii) an ash fusion temperature of no more than 2400° F., and/or (iii) a coke reactivity index (CRI) of at least 30%.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to vent stack lids and associated systems and methods. In particular, several embodiments are directed to vent stack lids having improved sealing properties in a coke processing system. In a particular embodiment, a vent stack lid comprises a first lid portion proximate to and at least partially spaced apart from a second lid portion. The vent stack lid further comprises a first sealing portion coupled to the first lid portion and a second sealing portion coupled to the second lid portion. In several embodiments, the second sealing portion at least partially overlaps the first sealing portion over the space between the first and second lid portions. In further embodiments, at least one of the first or second sealing portions includes layers of tadpole seals, spring seals, rigid refractory material, and/or flexible refractory blanket.

Abstract: A coke product configured to be used in foundry cupolas to melt iron and produce cast iron products is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the coke product has a Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) of at least 30% and an ash fusion temperature (AFT) less than 1316° C. Additionally or alternatively, the coke product can comprise (i) an ash content of at least 8.0%, (ii) a volatile matter content of no more than 1.0%, (iii) a Coke Strength After Reaction (CSR) of no more than 40%, (iv) a 2-inch drop shatter of at least 90%, and//or (v) a fixed carbon content of at least 85%.

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: 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: 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: Systems and apparatuses for neutralizing acidic compounds in flue gases emitted from a heat recovery coke oven. A representative system includes a spray dry absorber having a barrel that includes a plurality of wall plates that form sidewalls of the barrel. The wall plates include a steel plate and a corrosion resistant alloy cladded to the steel plate and the wall plates are oriented such that the corrosion resistant alloy faces toward and is in fluid communication with an interior area of the barrel. The alloy is resistant to corrosion caused by the acidic compounds in the flue gas and can prevent the steel plate from being corroded by these acidic compounds.

Abstract: The present technology describes various embodiments of methods and systems for improved coke quenching. More specifically, some embodiments are directed to methods and systems for improving the coke quenching process by partially cracking coke before it is quenched. In one embodiment, coke is partially cracked when placed in horizontal communication with one or more uneven surfaces. In another embodiment, a coke loaf is partially broken when dropped a vertical distance that is less than the height of the coke loaf. In another embodiment, a mass of coke is partially broken when first placed in vertical communication with one or more uneven surfaces and then placed in horizontal communication with the same or different one or more uneven surfaces. In some embodiments, the one or more uneven surfaces may be mounted to a coke oven, train car, hot car, quench car, or combined hot car/quench car.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to horizontal heat recovery and non-heat recovery coke ovens having monolith components. In some embodiments, an HHR coke oven includes a monolith component 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 monolith component comprises a thermally-volume-stable material. The monolith component may be a crown, a wall, a floor, a sole flue or combination of some or all of the oven components to create a monolith structure. In further embodiments, the component is formed as several monolith segments spanning between supports such as oven sidewalls. The monolith component and thermally-volume-stable features can be used in combination or alone. These designs can allow the oven to be turned down below traditionally feasible temperatures while maintaining the structural integrity of the oven.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to integrated control of coke ovens in a coke plant in order to optimize coking rate, product recovery, byproducts and/or unit lime consumption Optimization objectives are achieved through controlling certain variables (called control variables) by manipulating available handles (called manipulated variables) subject to constraints and system disturbances that affect the controlled variables.

Abstract: High quality coke products made in horizontal ovens such as heat recovery, non-recovery or Thompson ovens from an optimized coal blend. The coke products have unique properties such as an oblong shape and improved Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) and Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) properties.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for controlling oven draft within a coke oven. A representative system includes an uptake damper coupled to an uptake duct that receives exhaust gases from the coke oven and provides the exhaust gases to a common tunnel for further processing. The uptake damper includes a damper plate pivotably coupled to a refractory surface of the uptake duct and an actuator assembly coupled to the damper plate. The damper plate is positioned completely within the uptake duct and the actuator assembly moves the damper plate between a plurality of different configurations by causing the damper plate to rotate relative to the uptake duct. Moving the uptake damper between the different configurations changes the flow rate and pressure of the exhaust gases through the uptake duct, which affects an oven draft within the coke oven.

Abstract: The present technology describes methods and systems for an improved quench tower. Some embodiments improve the quench towers ability to recover particulate matter, steam, and emissions that escape from the base of the quench tower. Some embodiments improve the draft and draft distribution of the quench tower. Some embodiments include one or more sheds to enlarge the physical or effective perimeter of the quench tower to reduce the amount of particulate matter, emissions, and steam loss during the quenching process. Some embodiments include an improved quench baffle formed of a plurality of single-turn or multi-turn chevrons adapted to prevent particulate matter from escaping the quench tower. Some embodiments include an improved quench baffle spray nozzle used to wet the baffles, suppress dust, and/or clean baffles. Some embodiments include a quench nozzle that can fire in discrete stages during the quenching process.

Abstract: A coke oven includes an oven chamber, an uptake duct in fluid communication with the oven chamber, the uptake duct being configured to receive exhaust gases from the oven chamber, an uptake damper in fluid communication with the uptake duct, the uptake damper being positioned at any one of multiple positions, the uptake damper configured to control an oven draft, an actuator configured to alter the position of the uptake damper between the positions in response to a position instruction, a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the coke oven, wherein the sensor includes one of a draft sensor, a temperature sensor configured to detect an uptake duct temperature or a sole flue temperature, and an oxygen sensor, and a controller being configured to provide the position instruction to the actuator in response to the operating condition detected by the sensor.

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: 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 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: Systems and methods of preventing an event occurrence or mitigating effects of an event occurrence in an industrial facility are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a first input is received from a first sensor and, based at least in part on the first input, an initial action is automatically generated. In response to the initial action, a second input is received from a second sensor and, based at least in part of the received first and second inputs, a likelihood of an event occurrence is determined. Based at least in part of the determined likelihood, a remedial action configured to prevent the occurrence of the event occurrence is automatically generated. In some embodiments, the remedial action is generated in real-time and can be directed to a process condition, environmental condition, or secondary source.

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: 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.