Abstract: A tube coil for a double fired coker heater wherein the tube coil has at least two independent flow passes in an intertwined serpentine pattern. The tubes are located in a common plane and plumbed in parallel with one another. These tube coils can be used in a number of configurations within the radiant section of a coker heater.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of combustion air, fuel and products of combustion in a heater and equalizing radiant heat flux by providing a structure on one or more of the heater walls that attaches the boundary layer and main flow to the heater wall and increases wall surface area and view angles.

Abstract: A system and method whereby on-line cleaning of black oil heater tubes and delayed coker heater tubes may be effectuated by injecting a high pressure water charge through the tubes during normal process operations so as to prevent tube fouling and heater downtime. The high pressure water charge begins the on-line cleaning process once it enters the heater tube by undergoing intense boiling and evaporation. The cleaning occurs by two methods—a scrubbing action and a shocking action. The scrubbing action occurs because of the complete turbulence caused by the water charge's intense boiling within the heater tubes. The shocking action is caused by the expansion and contraction of the heater tubes resulting from the colder water charge flowing through the heater tubes which is then followed by the hotter process fluid flowing through the heater tubes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus whereby flameless combustion may be precipitated and sustained within the essentially oval combustion chamber of an integrated heater/burner apparatus. The invention provides for an air inlet and fuel source in combination with recirculating flue gas within the apparatus combustion chamber to precipitate and maintain flameless combustion of the combined gases along, and within, a narrowly defined boundary. Air is introduced to the oval combustion chamber via an air inlet. Fuel gas is combined with recirculating flue gases with continued heating of the recirculating flue gas, introduced air or both flue gas and air, until the temperature at the boundary interface between the air and inerted fuel gas exceeds an auto ignition temperature of the boundary interface components.

Abstract: A system and method to improve the efficiency of delayed coker charge heating by effecting and controlling the temperature of a coker process fluid, prior to its introduction to a coker charge heater. In its preferred embodiment, the instant invention strategically positions and controls a pre-heater to automatically stabilize and minimize delayed coker charge heater firing rates. Said pre-heater's set point is derived by a feed forward control system that allows for the detection of process fluid temperature within a combination tower bottom, and communicates that temperature value to a pre-heater. Based upon the temperature value communicated to the pre-heater, the pre-heater intensifies, maintains, or decreases its firing to effect an operationally consistent combination tower bottoms temperature. By maintaining nearly constant combination tower bottoms temperature, a delayed coker charge heater derives enhanced operational efficiency and increases its life expectancy.

Abstract: A probe for determining the heat flux in a direct-fired heater. The direct-fired heater is under a vacuum pressure. This vacuum pressure induces a small quantity of ambient air through a ceramic insulating tube and eventually into the heater. The induced air cools an absorber head and receptacle, causing heat to flow from a target to a base. The target is an outer surface of the absorber head exposed to radiant heat inside the direct-fired heater. The base is that portion of the absorber head and receptacle which has a surface exposed to cooling air within the ceramic tube. The vacuum pressure inside the heater causes ambient air to be induced into a second end of the ceramic tube. Air passages at a first end of the ceramic tube cause the induced air to flow past the base and into the heater. A thermocouple is fitted into a cylindrical slot inside the receptacle.

Abstract: In a delayed coking process, furnace tube fouling is minimized by including a measured amount of full boiling range heavy gas oil as an additive in the furnace feed, preferably by forced recycle from a heavy gas oil stream. An additive is preferably supplied directly to individual furnace tubes by multiple circumferential injection upstream of each tube receiving the additive.

Abstract: An improved process and article of manufacture to advance heater performance and reduce the cost of delayed coker charge heaters. Such improved performance is realized by routing delayed coker feedstock through a double row, double fired, heating conduit thus creating a channel to contain previously heated flue gas and resulting in the introduction of downflow, backside convective heat transfer to the interior portion of the heating conduit. When replacing the present art's single row coker tubes with the double row heating conduit afforded by the instant invention, the backside convective heat transfer introduced to the interior portion of the heating conduit eliminates the necessity of double firing the present art's single row coker heater tubes to achieve similar results.

Abstract: A system and method to improve the efficiency of delayed coker charge heating by effecting and controlling the temperature of a coker process fluid, prior to its introduction to a coker charge heater. In its preferred embodiment, the instant invention strategically positions and controls a pre-heater to automatically stabilize and minimize delayed coker charge heater firing rates. Said pre-heater's set point is derived by a feed forward control system that allows for the detection of process fluid temperature within a combination tower bottom, and communicates that temperature value to a pre-heater. Based upon the temperature value communicated to the pre-heater, the pre-heater intensifies, maintains, or decreases its firing to effect an operationally consistent combination tower bottoms temperature. By maintaining nearly constant combination tower bottoms temperature, a delayed coker charge heater derives enhanced operational efficiency and increases its life expectancy.

Abstract: An improved process and article of manufacture to effectuate pressure reduction in a delayed coker charge heater's radiant heat section outlet and feedstock process coil, by upflowing coker feedstock through a single or double row, single or double fired, feedstock process coil. The innovative upflowing of coker feedstock as disclosed by the present invention allows BFW/Steam injection and vaporizing hydrocarbons to rise in the same flow direction as the coker feedstock, resulting in an enhanced mixing of fluid film and coker feedstock. Such enhanced mixing, in turn, increases heat transfer rates to the feedstock. As coker charge heater burners are commonly located in the bottom of the heater, the lower portion of the heater is typically the location of highest processing temperatures and tube side fouling.

Abstract: A trail marking device for marking a trail and guide an individual who is retracing his steps in a wooded area during daylight or darkness. The trail marking device includes an elongate sheet of light reflecting material which can be easily seen in the daylight and an abutting strip of luminescent material which can be more easily viewed in darkness. A plurality of longitudinally spaced, longitudinally aligned wire sections are sandwiched between the strips for securing individual sheet sections to a tree limb. The sheet sections are detachably coupled to adjacent sheet sections along perforated break lines. The strips are wound on a spool which include a plurality of tacks which can be used for alternately tacking the strips to a tree.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling a fishing line to a fishing lure. The apparatus includes a pin having a laterally inner portion coupled to the lure, for receiving a lure coupling loop and a laterally outer large portion for inhibiting lateral displacement of the lure coupling loop from the laterally inner portion. The apparatus further includes an adjustable lure coupling loop which is expansible and contractable to provide an eyelet having a reduced size for coupling to the laterally inner portion of the pin and a expanded size to be removed from the laterally inner portion of the pin.

Abstract: Double drain apparatus for concurrently draining vertically spaced portions of a bathtub or the like containing liquid, such as water, comprising an upstanding drainpipe having upper and lower drain openings therein, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid through the upper and lower openings including upper and lower hollow stopper cylinders mounted in the drainpipe for sliding movement between positions blocking the upper and lower openings and vertically spaced drain positions. Mechanism is provided for concurrently moving the upper and lower stopper cylinders between the blocking and drain positions.

Abstract: A wire holder having an attaching base of molded flexible material to define a suction cup for secure mounting to a surface and a wire mount formed integrally with the attaching base and having a pair of perpendicular slits for each releasably retaining a length of wire. The slits extend to different depths whereby two wire lengths mounted in the slits do not interfere with each other. The slits are of a width less than the wire and each have a generally circular recess at the base thereof whereby a wire is inserted by slight deformation of the wire mount and, thereafter, with the wire length in the generally circular recess the wire is retained in position by the closed slit. The wire holder facilitates mounting of wires, such as Christmas light wiring, to nonporous, slippery surfaces, such as a window, whereby the desired ornamental appearance may be achieved.