GB1426512A - Coke plant and method of operating same - Google Patents

Abstract

1426512 Drying coal feeds WAAGNERBIRO AG 5 Feb 1973 [7 Feb 1972] 5679/73 Heading C5E [Also in Division F4] Coal is periodically charged into a coke oven and the hot coke discharged from the oven is dry quenched with an inert gas stream, e.g. mainly nitrogen, the heat extracted being used to generate steam and to dry with a drying gas at least part of the coal to be charged to the oven. Some of the quenching gas may be used for drying or heat may be transferred from the quenching gas to the drying gas, e.g. after the steam generation or other heat extraction. The quenching gas when used as drying gas may be directed through the coal, or the drying gas may be directed upwardly to provide a fluidized bed of coal during drying. Part of the coal drying gas may be subsequently cleaned and desulphurized before being discharged to the atmosphere. The discharged coke may be maintained closed off from the atmosphere at least from the time it leaves the coke oven until after dryquenching to retard pollution of the atmosphere. A coke plant comprises an oven for distilling coal into coke, means for charging the oven with coal, means for discharging hot coke from the oven, a bunker for receiving the discharged hot coke, means for transporting the hot coke from the oven to the bunker, fans for circulating a quenching gas along a path part of which is formed by the interior of the bunker and a steam generator, a dryer for gas-drying coal to be charged into the oven, and conduits between the coal dryer and the quenching gas path for heating the gas used for coal drying with heat extracted from the coke. A heat exchanger may be situated along the quenching gas path for this purpose. The conduits may also communicate with the bunker for receiving part of the hot gas therefrom to provide at least part of the drying gas from the quenching gas. The conduits may be located along and form part of the path for directing quenching gas circulated by the fans through the dryer after the gas has been heated during quenching, and the steam generator may be located along the path between the bunker and dryer for cooling the quenching gas before reaching the dryer. The conduits may direct the drying gas upwardly into the coal dryer to form a fluidized bed in which the coal is dried. The transporting means may include a skip hoist including closed containers for the hot coke to prevent pollution of the atmosphere. The bunker may be located at an elevation lower than the oven and the transporting means which may be completely enclosed to prevent release of smoke to the atmosphere, includes a guide for directing the coke by gravity into the bunker. A gas-cleaning system may be located between the transporting means and the atmosphere for cleaning and desulphurizing the gas which is then discharged to the atmosphere.