Abstract: A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing solid petroleum coke. The solid petroleum coke product is formed in a coking drum which has a rotatable coke breaking structure installed therein. Quench water or other quench fluid is delivered into the coking drum to quench the coke product and the coke breaking structure is rotated to break up the coke product such that the coke will empty out of the lower end of the coking drum.

Abstract: So-called decoking, in other words, the emptying of a container in which coke arising from the operation of a refinery is deposited and carried out using a decoking tool with a free mounting on the end of a drilling bar. The mounting is achieved using a sliding guide on a guide plate, coupled to the container. Distortions in the container and the guide plate therewith as a result of temperature variations during operation of the refinery which could lead to function disturbance of the drilling rod are avoided, wherein the sliding guide and the guide plate are arranged with a spring relative deflection by at least one spring element in the manner of a spring damper.

Abstract: A control system for performing a global-decoke of a tube furnace comprising a plurality of passes.

Abstract: A furnace and method for the cracking of hydrocarbons. The furnace includes a radiant firebox, the radiant firebox comprising a furnace floor having a centerline, a plurality of decoke effluent injection nozzles mounted along or adjacent to the centerline for injecting decoke effluent upward into the radiant firebox, a plurality of burners arranged to form a first line of burners and a second line of burners, each line of burners positioned on opposing sides of the plurality of decoke effluent injection nozzles, a first plane of radiant coils spaced at a distance greater than the distance that the first line of burners is spaced from the centerline of the furnace floor and on the same side of the centerline as the first row of burners, and a second plane of radiant coils spaced at a distance greater than the distance that the second line of burners is spaced from the centerline of the furnace floor and on the same side of the centerline as the second row of burners.

Abstract: The invention involves the optimization of the input and output systems for a high-performance chamber mixer, in which the actual decomposition of the residual substances in middle distillate and inorganic residues is effected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoking and suppressing coke formation during pyrolysis has been discovered that does not require complete shut down of the pyrolysis furnace. For the decoking step, the hydrocarbon feed is cut off to one or more coils for usually less than about three hours during which a decoking additive is added to the steam flow in that coil. This additive is comprised of an aqueous solution of a group IA metal salt and a group IIA metal salt and catalyzes the coke removal. The hydrocarbon feed continues in the other coils during this procedure. After decoking, a suppression additive also comprising group IA and IIA metals is added to the steam and hydrocarbon feed. This suppression additive will melt onto the inner surfaces of the pyrolysis furnace coils, coating the coils with a glass layer which inhibits coke formation.

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting antifoulant solution into a hot gaseous process stream in a thermal cracking furnace tube to inhibit coke deposition includes an inner antifoulant supply tube having one end connected to a pressurized supply of antifoulant solution and an access port along the furnace tube and the other end connected to an inlet of a centrifugal, atomizing nozzle having an outlet for discharging the antifoulant solution as a spray of small drops. An outer tube extends in concentric, insulating relation along the antifoulant supply tube between the access port and the nozzle, A flow deflector has an apertured peripheral wall with a portion defining a tubular mixing and vaporizing chamber extends coaxially along the furnace tube and an axial inlet end mounted in registration with the nozzle outlet to receive all spray therefrom. An axial outlet end is radially enlarged so as to deflect the gaseous process stream through wall apertures into the chamber.

Abstract: A device for drilling a layer of coke within a reactor to effect the decoking of the reactor includes a decoking tool arranged at one end of a hose for conveying a decoking fluid to the tool. The decoking tool has a first part and a second part coaxial with the first part. The second part has means for ejecting the decoking fluid against the coke layer, including a first ejection means for ejecting the fluid in a substantially axial direction downwardly to penetrate the coke layer, a second ejection means ejecting the fluid in a substantially lateral direction and a third ejection means for ejecting the fluid in a substantially upward direction to remove any coke accumulated above the tool.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of in-service cleaning an operating column by inserting into the column a lance through which a compatible liquid is dispensed at a pressure of at least about 5000 psig. Also disclosed is apparatus which comprises a column through which a fluid can pass, nozzles mounted on the outside of the column, where each nozzle comprises a flange welded to the column and a valve bolted to the flange, a lance which can be inserted through the nozzles into the column and means for dispensing a liquid through the lance at a pressure of at least about 5000 psig.

Abstract: A closure device adapted for attachment onto the upper head of a coking drum to prevent hot vapors escaping during drum decoking operations. The closure device includes a cylindrical-shaped housing having a rotatable ball valve and horizontal elongated stem provided in its lower portion, and a cover unit including a packing gland provided at the housing upper end. A rotatable cutting tool provided within the housing above the ball valve has a drive rod extending upwardly through the cover unit packing gland. During operations, the ball valve is opened and the drive rod and its attached cutting tool can be extended downwardly through the ball valve cylindrical-shaped opening into the coking drum and rotated, so as to cut and dislodge coke deposited in the drum.

Abstract: Sludge is removed from a reboiler while the reboiler is supplying heat to a fractionator, by using sludge removal apparatus added to the reboiler. The reboiler to which the sludge removal apparatus is added comprises an evaporative type shell and tube heat exchanger in which sludge can accumulate as a residue from evaporated liquid, and further in which unevaporated liquid is withdrawn from the reboiler as a product. Sludge removal is accomplished by drawing a relatively small liquid flush stream from the reboiler liquid product stream, pressuring the flush stream through a pump, and then recycling the flush stream to a sparger appropriately disposed in the heat exchanger shell. Sludge dislodged by the sparger is removed along with the reboiler liquid product in a flow path along the bottom surface of the shell through cut-outs provided in the lower edge of the weir and baffle plates in the reboiler which without the cut-outs would block the flow path for the sludge.

Abstract: A center transfer unit positioned between a solids collection chamber and a cleaning particle vessel contains vibrating inclined screens to separate chunks of waste solids from cleaning particles recycled to the cleaning particle vessel.

Abstract: An installation for steam cracking hydrocarbons comprises at least one hydrocarbon cracking furnace, an indirect quench heat exchanger for the effluents leaving the furnace, direct quench means for said effluent, and means (36, 38) for injecting erosive solid particles into the installation for decoking purposes. The installation also includes a cyclone (10) placed at the outlet from the indirect quench heat exchanger to separate the solid particles from the gaseous effluent, with the solid particle outlet (14) from said cyclone being connected to storage tanks (20, 30) connected in series with isolating valves (16, 28, 34), a source (38) of gas under pressure being provided to raise the pressure in one of the tanks and to inject the solid particles into the installation.

Abstract: An automated top head cover and stem guide assembly adapted for covering a top opening in vertical vessels such as coking drums, and a method for remotely operating the assembly. The top head assembly includes a flanged connector unit attached pressure-tightly to a top flange opening of a coking drum, and a top cover device including a cover unit pivotally attached to the flanged connector unit, so that the top cover unit can be pivotally lifted and moved aside. A stem guide device is also pivotally attached to the flanged connector unit, so that a stem guide unit can be pivotally moved downwardly into place over the top flange unit opening, after a stem member is inserted into the vessel. Following coke removal from the drum, the stem member is withdrawn, the stem guide unit is pivotally moved upwardly, and the head cover unit is moved downwardly to cover the coking drum flanged connector unit. The invention also discloses method steps for operating the head cover and stem guide devices of the assembly.

Abstract: A specially constructed decoking apparatus is provided to effectively and efficiently bore a pilot hole and ream the remainder of a bed of coke with a high pressure stream of water or other cutting fluid without first changing nozzle heads or using different cutting instruments. The novel decoking apparatus has a vertical pilot nozzle and pilot pipe and a separate reamer and reaming pipe which are secured adjacent to each other and work in tandem.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a reaction chamber provided with a charging hole, a branch pipe for discharging a suspension, and a branch pipe for withdrawing a vapor-gas phase which branch pipe is communicated with a condenser. The apparatus further includes a heater provided with a heat-exchanger for preheating a solvent, said heat-exchanger being introduced into said heater and communicated with said reaction chamber through nozzles adapted for jet feeding of the solvent into the reaction mass.At the outlet of the reaction chamber there is mounted a distillation column communicated with the branch pipe for discharging the suspension and provided in the upper portion thereof with a branch pipe for withdrawal of the vapor-gas phase, while in the lower portion thereof there is provided a branch pipe for discharging a distillation residue.

Abstract: A solvent reclaiming unit has a still for distillation of contaminated solvents to recover clean solvent from the solvent vapor. The still has a tapered or conical bottom heat exchange surface surrounded by a heat source. The still has scrapers which wipe the heat exchange surface to prevent scaling of the heat exchange surface. The scrapers are driven during the distillation process by an external motor and reducer. The contact of the scrapers with the heat exchange surface is adjustable from outside of the still to maintain wiping contact. The wiping portion or blades of the scrapers may be formed of brass or other soft material attached to a harder material, such as a spring stainless steel. A safety stop is provided in the interior of the vessel so that the blades may not be adjusted to the point that the harder steel comes in contact with the heat exchange surface.

Abstract: Combustion gases containing free oxygen and feed hydrocarbon are introduced into a carbon black reactor, with the combustion gases being at a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the feed hydrocarbon to produce particulate carbon black. The combustion products are cooled by quenching to form a gaseous effluent containing particulate carbon black. The quenched effluent is discharged from the reactor to an indirect heat exchange means for further cooling the effluent. Control means is provided for producing a signal representative of the rate of heat transfer in the indirect heat exchange means. When the heat transfer rate falls below a predetermined level, the control means closes a valve in the feed hydrocarbon input line to terminate flow of the feed hydrocarbon to the reactor. In the absence of feed hydrocarbon, hot combustion gases flowing through the reactor and the indirect heat exchange means contain sufficient free oxygen to burn out carbon black deposits in the indirect heat exchange means.

Abstract: A coker blow down recovery system for recovering additional useful fuel components such as C.sub.1 --C.sub.7 hydrocarbons from a coker vessel is disclosed. A significant reduction in sulfur components contained in coker blow down gases, e.g. flare gases, is also achieved.

Abstract: A process for removing an agglomerate of accumulated materials including ash concentrate which collects within the first heavy phase withdrawal conduit of a coal deashing system employing solvent at elevated temperatures and pressures near the critical temperature of the solvent. A carrier fluid is introduced into the first heavy phase withdrawal conduit simultaneously with or after pressure reduction of the heavy phase under conditions such that a turbulent flow profile is developed within the withdrawal conduit which results in the removal of at least a substantial portion of any accumulated materials within the withdrawal conduit.

Abstract: A closed reactor for the thermal cracking of heavy oils, having an internally mounted, rotatable injection pipe. The injection pipe is adapted to spurt preheated raw material under pressure against the inner wall surfaces of the reactor while rotating to remove coke which has deposited on the reactor walls during the previous cracking operation.

Abstract: A decoking apparatus suitable for use on a reaction vessel for the thermal cracking of heavy petroleum oils the apparatus essentially including a rotatable main injection pipe to be disposed in the reaction vessel and having a multitude of jet nozzles along its length, and a second or auxiliary injection pipe positioned in the proximity of the main injection pipe to inject a scrubbing liquid over the outer peripheral walls of the main injection pipe to prevent deposition of coke. The main and auxiliary injection pipes are both supplied with heavy petroleum oil to remove the coke deposition from the reactor wall by the heavy petroleum oil jets from the main injection pipe while wetting the exterior of the main pipe with the heavy petroleum oil injected by the auxiliary injection pipe.

Abstract: A decoking device suitable for use on a reaction vessel for the thermal cracking of heavy petroleum oils, including an assembly mounted on top of the reaction vessel and having a cylinder and a piston slidably and rotatably received in the cylinder, the cylinder and piston defining a scrubbing liquid chamber which is sealed from the outside. A scrubbing liquid is fed through the scrubbing liquid chamber to a main injection pipe to inject the liquid through a multitude of jet nozzles in the main injection pipe against the inner wall surfaces of the reaction vessel, the main injection pipe being connected to the piston for movement therewith.

Abstract: Water jet apparatus comprising essentially a movable support platform swingable into alignment with such standpipe, water pipe means mounted on such platform, and slideable thereon into and out of said standpipe, power operated means for moving said water pipe, water jet means mounted at the end of said water pipe for directing one or more high pressure water jets substantially normal to the axis of said water pipe for breaking up deposits within said standpipe, coupling means in said water pipe whereby a front portion, carrying said jets may be rotated relative to a rear portion, power operated means coupled with said front portion of said water pipe for rotating the same, water supply means coupled to said water pipe, a high pressure pump for pumping water to said water supply means, water tank means for supplying said pump, recycle duct means extending between said water supply means and said tank for recycling water from said pipe back to said tank, when water is not required for said water jets, and valv

Abstract: A method for treatment of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous fraction resulting from thermal cracking of high molecular-weight hydrocarbonaceous materials, which method comprises removing light hydrocarbons contained in said fraction by bringing it into contact with a bed packed with refractory inorganic particles at an elevated temperature so as to evaporate said light hydrocarbons and regenerating said refractory inorganic particles-packed bed by incinerating heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials remaining on and/or among said particles in the bed by supplying oxygen to the bed.