Abstract: Rotary valves are adapted to replace traditional slide valves in fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) such as regenerated catalyst valves, spent catalyst valves, cooled catalyst valves, and recirculation catalyst valves. The rotary valves as discussed herein are significantly more compact than a slide valve having a similar flow capacity. The rotary valve is better adapted to provide flow control or throttling than slide valves are. Flow control or throttling occurs with greater response and precision in response to control inputs and rotation. In addition to the size reduction achieved with the rotary valve, the required controls and/or hydraulic fluid necessary to achieve flow changes are significantly reduced, further saving costs for the valve, as hydraulic power units are not required. The omission of a hydraulic power unit also reduces the size of the valve and/or its accompanying structures within the FCCU.

Abstract: A valve having improved resistance to black powder wear and damage includes a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, an upper bonnet assembly defining a stem opening, and a stem passing through the stem opening. The valve also includes an elongate gate having a proximal end operatively attached to the stem, a distal end, an orifice sized and adapted to permit essentially unopposed passage of material through the gate when the orifice is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the orifice being located proximate the proximate end of the gate, and a solid portion sized and adapted to substantially completely block the flow of material through the gate when the solid portion is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the solid portion being located distally of the orifice such that the orifice is located between the proximal end and the solid portion.

Abstract: A valve having improved resistance to black powder wear and damage includes a valve body defining a flow passage therethrough, an upper bonnet assembly defining a stem opening, and a stem passing through the stem opening. The valve also includes an elongate gate having a proximal end operatively attached to the stem, a distal end, an orifice sized and adapted to permit essentially unopposed passage of material through the gate when the orifice is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the orifice being located proximate the proximate end of the gate, and a solid portion sized and adapted to substantially completely block the flow of material through the gate when the solid portion is aligned with the flow passage of the valve body, the solid portion being located distally of the orifice such that the orifice is located between the proximal end and the solid portion.

Abstract: A retractable center feed injection device can be employed to feed residual oil into a coke drum as part of a delayed coking process. The retractable center feed injection device can include a housing within which the injection nozzle slides between an extended and a retracted position. A feed inlet is positioned on an opposite side of the coke drum from the retractable center feed injection device. When in the extended position, the injection nozzle can couple with the feed inlet and thereby form an extension of the feed inlet into the center of the coke drum. In this way, the residual oil never flows through the housing.

Abstract: Rotary valves are adapted to replace traditional slide valves in fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) such as regenerated catalyst valves, spent catalyst valves, cooled catalyst valves, and recirculation catalyst valves. The rotary valves as discussed herein are significantly more compact than a slide valve having a similar flow capacity. The rotary valve is better adapted to provide flow control or throttling than slide valves are. Flow control or throttling occurs with greater response and precision in response to control inputs and rotation. In addition to the size reduction achieved with the rotary valve, the required controls and/or hydraulic fluid necessary to achieve flow changes are significantly reduced, further saving costs for the valve, as hydraulic power units are not required. The omission of a hydraulic power unit also reduces the size of the valve and/or its accompanying structures within the FCCU.

Abstract: A retractable center feed injection device can be employed to feed residual oil into a coke drum as part of a delayed coking process. The retractable center feed injection device can include a housing within which the injection nozzle slides between an extended and a retracted position. A feed inlet is positioned on an opposite side of the coke drum from the retractable center feed injection device. When in the extended position, the injection nozzle can couple with the feed inlet and thereby form an extension of the feed inlet into the center of the coke drum. In this way, the residual oil never flows through the housing.

Abstract: A seat system for a coke drum deheading valve can include a groove in the surface of the seat for supplying a lubricant to the surface of the seat. Various channels can be formed in the body of the seat that connect to the groove. In this way, lubricant can be flowed through the channels and into the groove to provide lubrication between the surface of the seat and the blind. The seat system can also include a split ring packing gland to facilitate the formation of a seal within the deheading valve. The split ring packing gland can be used to retain and compress packing positioned between a retaining ring and a dynamic seat such that when the packing is compressed, an improved seal is formed. By improving the seal, less steam can be required during the delayed coking process thereby increasing the efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A center feed system allows residual byproduct to be injected into a vessel from within the center of the vessel. The center feed system can include an inlet sleeve that is attached to the vessel and a retractable injection nozzle that extends into the vessel to inject residual byproduct into the vessel and that retracts into the inlet sleeve after injecting the residual byproduct. A retractable injection nozzle may include one or more openings that each includes an insert that can be removed from the opening. The inserts can therefore be replaced to customize the functionality of the nozzle or to replace the inserts when they have become worn.

Abstract: A cycle valve can include a valve body and a dynamic sealing spool assembly contained within the interior of the valve body. The dynamic sealing spool assembly includes a sleeve and a gate cartridge assembly which slides within the sleeve between an open and a closed position. The sleeve can include a sleeve opening while the gate cartridge assembly can include two openings, each of which includes a dynamic seat assembly. The dynamic seat assembly in one opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as solid blocks which seal the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the closed position. The dynamic seat assembly in the other opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as cylinders which form the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the open position.

Abstract: An electric actuator is provided for operating an unheading valve of a coke drum. The electric actuator includes a driving element comprising a planetary roller screw for actuating the unheading valve. By using a planetary roller screw, rather than hydraulics for the driving element, the electric actuator of the present invention can be used in place of hydraulic actuators while still providing sufficient power and reliability for use with an unheading valves of a coke drum.

Abstract: A cycle valve can include a valve body and a dynamic sealing spool assembly contained within the interior of the valve body. The dynamic sealing spool assembly includes a sleeve and a gate cartridge assembly which slides within the sleeve between an open and a closed position. The sleeve can include a sleeve opening while the gate cartridge assembly can include two openings, each of which includes a dynamic seat assembly. The dynamic seat assembly in one opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as solid blocks which seal the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the closed position. The dynamic seat assembly in the other opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as cylinders which form the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the open position.

Abstract: A de-header valve can include a flushing system for flushing undesirable material from the upper and lower bonnets while the de-header valve is opened. The flushing system can include three valves. A first valve controls the flow of steam to the de-header valve. A second valve controls the flow of water for flushing the bonnets. A third valve controls how the bonnets are drained. The third valve can be a three way valve that allows the bonnets to be drained to a pit during flushing, and also allows steam condensate to drain into a steam trap.

Abstract: The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system that includes a de-header valve. The de-header valve includes: (1) a main body; (2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to the main body and comprising a dynamic, live loaded seat, a live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to the main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of the dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to the dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from the live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to the dynamic, live loaded seat; (3) a static seat positioned opposite from and counteracting or counterbalancing the dynamic, live loaded seat; and (4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a linear, bi-directional manner within the de-header valve and between the dynamic, live loaded seat and the static seat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a de-header valve with a flushing system for flushing undesirable material from the upper and lower bonnets while the de-header valve is opened. The flushing system can include three valves. A first valve controls the flow of steam to the de-header valve. A second valve controls the flow of water for flushing the bonnets. A third valve controls how the bonnets are drained. The third valve can be a three way valve that allows the bonnets to be drained to a pit during flushing, and also allows steam condensate to drain into a steam trap.

Abstract: The present invention features a center feed system in combination with a coking vessel of a delayed coking system, or any other similar system. The center feed system features an inlet sleeve which slidably engages a retractable nozzle, with inlet and outlet, in fluid connection with a feed source of residual byproduct, allowing residual byproduct to flow from the feed source into the interior of the vessel, thus effectuating or inducing even thermal distribution throughout the vessel. The retractable nozzle is structured to extend through an opening in the coking vessel while introducing the residual byproduct into the coking vessel and retract out of the coking vessel and cover the opening for at least a portion of a coking cycle.

Abstract: The present invention extends to a center feed system that allows residual byproduct to be injected into a vessel from within the center of the vessel. The center feed system can include an inlet sleeve that is attached to the vessel and a retractable injection nozzle that extends into the vessel to inject residual byproduct into the vessel and that retracts into the inlet sleeve after injecting the residual byproduct. A retractable injection nozzle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention may include one or more openings that each includes an insert that can be removed from the opening. The inserts can therefore be replaced to customize the functionality of the nozzle or to replace the inserts when they have become worn.

Abstract: The present a system structured to allows an operator to remotely switch between cutting and boring while removing solid carbonaceous residue from large cylindrical vessels called coke drums utilizing—a cutting head for ejecting high pressure fluids into the coke bed; a flow diversion apparatus; and a shifting apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system comprising (a) at least one coke drum having an orifice therein; (b) a de-header valve removably coupled to the coke drum designed to de-head the coke drum; and (c) an exchange system, including an upper and lower bonnet and other elements and members adapted to integrate the de-heading system, and particularly the de-header valve, into the manufacturing system.

Abstract: The present invention extends to an electric actuator for operating an unheading valve of a coke drum. The electric actuator includes a driving element comprising a planetary roller screw for actuating the unheading valve. By using a planetary roller screw, rather than hydraulics for the driving element, the electric actuator of the present invention can be used in place of prior art hydraulic actuators while still providing sufficient power and reliability for use on unheading valves of a coke drum.

Abstract: A center feed system for use within a delayed coking system, or any other similar system is described. The center feed system features an inlet sleeve which slidably engages a retractable nozzle, with inlet and outlet, in fluid connection with a feed source of residual byproduct, allowing residual byproduct to flow from the feed source into the interior of a vessel, thus effectuating or inducing even thermal distribution throughout the vessel.