Abstract: A coke drum includes a coke drum vessel having a substantially cylindrical wall and a conical bottom portion; a skirt downwardly depending from a transition of the cylindrical wall into the conical bottom portion, an inner annular space being defined between the skirt and the conical bottom portion; and a fluid injection system communicated with the inner annular space for injecting fluid at a desired temperature to heat or cool the inner annular space. The fluid injection system allows the inner annular space and junction of the skirt with the coke drum vessel to be heated or cooled to minimize temperature difference between these areas and a batch of coke to be introduced into the drum.

Abstract: A system for controlling thermal changes using air injection including a coke drum having a cylindrical outer surface, a material surrounding the cylinder defining an annular space between the material and the cylindrical outer surface, and an air injection system communicated with the annular space for introducing air into the annular space. A method of operating the system is also included.