US2732289A

US2732289A - Goeke

Info

Publication number: US2732289A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1973-01-24

Description

Jan. 24, 1956 E. GOE'KE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS PRODUCERS COMBINED WITH REGENERATIVE OVENS Filed June 16, 1951 (7!? ran m r:

2,732,289 K Patented Jan, 24, 1956 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS PRODUCERS COMBINED WITH REGENERATIVE OVENS Application June 16, 1951, Serial No. 231,966

11 Claims. (Cl. 48-76) The present invention is concerned with control apparatus for gas producers that are combined with regenerative ovens for underfiring the ovens by means'of lean gas produced in the gas producer and in which the supply of gasification air to the producer for producing the lean gas is regulated by a throttle member in response to the gas pressure in the line leading from the producer to the regenerators of the oven. In such a system it is advantageous, and an object of this invention, to arrange that, after lean gas cocks for the regenerators are opened (these all being closed for a short period during the reversal of the heating gas flow) through the regenerative oven, the throttle member shall be acted on by an electromagnet which is arranged on a regulator controlling this throttle member. The electromagnet is energised immediately prior to the opening of the lean gas cocks and independently of the gas pressure, so that the throttle member is, temporarily, fully opened irrespective of the gas pressure, and subsequently the electromagnet returns to its dead condition and releases its control of the throttle member. The result is to prevent a reduced pressure occurring in the gas conduit leading from the producer. to the gas cocks and to make the full gas pressure immediately available along the line.

This principle may be carried into elfect starting from the hitherto usual operating method in which, during the interruption of the withdrawal of gas into the ovens from the gas producers, further gas is produced in the gas producer so that, on opening the corresponding gas cocks at the ovens by a conventional reversing mechanism (e. g. a pulley means), the delivery of gas can start again immediately. Although the evolution of gas in the gas producer during the period of the changeover of the regenerative oven, is kept within reduced limits by appropriate restriction of the quantity of air admitted to the gas producer for gasification during that period, nevertheless the gas actually produced in this period, and which has to be blown ofl at 12 into the atmosphere, does represent a considerable loss due to the lag in time of closing the throttle valve by the gas pressure in the line leading from the producer to the oven.

An object of this invention is to also prevent such a gas loss due to such time lag, or to reduce it to a minimum. This is accomplished in the present invention by connecting the throttle member, or an equivalent shut-off valve, located in the conduit conveying the gasification medium (air and steam) to the gas producer, in such manner with the reversing mechanism for the gas cocks of the regenerative oven that, during the period of reversal of the heating gas flow of the regenerative oven, the throttle member, or an equivalent shut-off valve is closed on, or immediately before, closure of the lean gas cocks of the regenerative ovens by the oven regenerative reversal mechanism (the reversing pulley),

and is re-opened prior to the opening of these cocks by said mechanism.

Preferably the reversing pulley or mechanism controls a switch means which is adapted to open or close the electrical circuit of, for example, electromagnetic means controlling the governor of fluid-actuated devices for operating a shut-off valve in the gasification medium (air and steam) supply conduit to the gas producer.

Where air and steam are used as the gasification medium and are blown through a common conduit to the grate of the gas producer, only one shut-off valve is required to close this conduit, but where these gases are supplied through separate conduits and a throttle member is used in the air main, a shut-01f valve as above set forth is also incorporated in the steam admission conduit.

The shut-off valves can, moreover, be operated mechanically, rather than electrically, by the reversing mechanism by a pull on a cable or chain, or through a rod system, directly from the reversing pulley, for instance when the gas producer is situated in the close vicinity of the regenerative oven plant to be heated.

The arrangement set forth above produces the result that the gas production of the gas producer is positively interrupted simultaneously with, or immediately before the closure of the gas cocks of the regenerative oven by the reversing apparatus therefor and, at the termination of the pause in the gas supply to the regenerative ovens, is re-started by this reversal apparatus prior to its opening of the gas cocks. Thereby, when the corresponding gas cocks to the ovens are closed gas production to any substantial extent in the gas producer ceases, and when the gas cocks begin to open, possibly withsimultaneous or immediately preceding full'opening of the member regulating the air or steam admission to the gas producer as set out above, it is ensured that the full gas pressure is available at the gas cocks.

Any residual gas evolved after closure of the conduit .through which the gasification medium is supplied to the gas producer is blown off into the atmosphere by means vof a blowotf device which is adapted to open at the approved pressure. To prevent a suction effect being set up in the space beneath the gas producer grate, after the supply of gasification air and steam are cut oif, as a result of the condensation of steam previously blown in, and gas consequently flowing back, the invention further makes provision for the incomplete closure of the steam shut-01f valve or of the air cut-off, or both,

or the furnishing of the shut-off regulator or valve with an opening of such size that, even after the cut-off takes place, a small quantity of steam or air, or both, can still reach the gas producer. In another arrangement this small amount of gasification medium may be conveyed to the producer through a by-pass conduit.

Yet another feature of this invention lies in the arrangement of a safety device responsive to the gas pressure in the lean gas conduit between the gas producer and the gas cocks of the ovens, this safety device being adapted, in the event'that the switch means controlled by the reversing apparatus does not open to cause the opening of the shut-oft valves for the air and steam supply, to function under the influence of the suction set up when the gas cocks are opened, to open a protective device incorporated in the electrical circuit of theswitch means, in such manner that the member for shutting-off the supply of gasification medium to the gas producer is opened.

A diagrammatic layout of a producer plant combined with a regenerative oven in accordance with this inven .tion is given in the accompanying drawing.

Air for gasification is supplied beneath the grate of a gas producer 1 througha main 2 by means of a blower 3. Steam passes to the underside of 'the producer grate through a conduit 4.

Arranged in the air main 2 is a regulating member consisting of a throttle valve 5 and this is adapted to control the quantity of gasification air supplied to the producer during feed of gas to the oven by pressure in line 10. It is to be appreciated that said regulating throttle valve member 5 can take forms other than that indicated, and, for example, can consist of a slide valve, damper, or the like. The throttle valve 5, or equivalent, is controlled by a regulator 6 having a diaphragm or 'adjustable mechanism 7 which is controlled by pressure in line and also by the reversing apparatus, through a magnetic core of solenoid coil 8, so that, upon opening of the corresponding gas cocks of the ovens by the reversing apparatus, the latter also operates the coil 8, which operates regulator 6, which operates valve 5 whereby the full air supply from 2 is immediately made available by pressure in line 10 to the producer 1. The regulation of the throttle valve 5 via regulator 6 is also effected by the gas pressure existing in the gas conduit 9 leading off from the producer to the regenerative oven 49. For this purpose the regulator 6 is connected to gas conduit 9 through a control line 10 as conventional.

Gas evolved in the producer 1 passes through a conduit 11 to the lower part of a wash tower 12, from the top of which it is withdrawn through the conduit 9 and passes through

gas cocks

14 and 15, which are diagrammatically indicated, to regenerative (coke) ovens diagrammatically indicated at 49, although the ovens also may be open hearths or other regenerative ovens.

Provided in the air main 2 between the throttle valve 5 and the producer 1 is a shut-off valve 13, and another such valve 16 is provided in the steam line 4. The shut-off valves 13 and 16 are each adapted to be opened and closed by pressure through the agency of actuating means in the form of hydraulic mechanisms 17 and 18 each having a piston connected to the valve concerned. The pressure fluid is supplied to the upper cylinderspaces of the mechanisms 17 and 18 through a pipe 19, and to their bottom cylinder spaces through a pipe 20.

Control is exercised on the pipes 19 and 20 by a governor 21 which is supplied with pressure fluid through a connection 22. The control valve member 23 of the governor 21 as shown is in neutral position and is connected to regulating means for operating the actuating means in the form of a magnetic core 24 actuated by a'solenoid winding 25 which is excited by current through leads 26 and 27. Incorporated in lead 26 is an operative connection with the reversing machine having movable contact means in the form of a switch comprising two fixed

wiping contacts

28 and 29 connected with a barrel switch or the like of the reversing machine pulley drum 30. Contact is made between

contacts

28 and 29 by a movable switch plate or bridge 31 in synchronism with drum 30.

The reversing apparatus 30, which -is conventional in the art of regenerators and so has only been diagrammatically indicated in the form of a pulley, is connected to the operating levers 35 of an aligned row of-gas cocks 15 in conduit means 9 for one set of regenerators'43 of the oven 49 (one located behind another) by means of a draw element 45 of cable 47, and is connected to the operating levers 33 of a similar series of gas cocks 14in conduit means 9, located-on the other side of the coke oven battery for the other set of regenerators 44 of the oven 49, by a draw element 46 of cable 48.

If now it be assumed that, in the plant depicted, the pulley drum of the reversing apparatus commences to rotate in the direction of the arrow 32, the cable or equivalent 47 pulls over the levers 35 from their open full line position at the right in the drawing into the closed dotted line position indicated in broken lines -(i. e. to the left in the drawing) and thus closes the previously-open cocks 15, the gas cocks 14 at that time being alreadyin their closed position, with levers 33 in full line to the left in the drawing.

grammatically shown.

During this closure of the gas cocks 15, the contact plate 31 of the barrel switch rotating in synchronism with the pulley drum 30 bridges contacts 28 and 29, whereby the circuit through solenoid coil 25 is closed. The magnetic core 24 of the solenoid coil 25 is accordingly retracted and the sliding valve body 23 connected thereto is moved upwards so as to allow pressure fluid to pass from connection 22 into pipes 19, and thence into the upper cylinder spaces of hydraulic mechanisms 17 and 18 above the piston therein as conventional in the hydraulic sequence control art.

As a result the shut-01f valves 13 and 16 in the air main 2 and steam main 4, respectively, are closed. Each valve is arranged so as to pass a small quantity of air and steam, respectively, when closed, to keep a small flow through the producer. Any gas which may perhaps be subsequently evolved, but in small amount, by residual operation of the producer 1 is discharged into the atmosphere through the blow-off device 12, which then opens for this purpose.

During the short pause in the gas supply to the ovens during the reversal period, the reversing apparatus pulley drum 30 rotates further and opens the gas cocks 14 by pulley levers 33 to the left in the drawing from their full line closed position at the right in the drawing, the levers 33 then assuming the broken-line open position to the left in the drawing. While this further rotation is in progress the

contacts

31, 28, 29, are still closed. Just before the end of this further rotary movement the pulley drum 30 which evokes opening of the gas cocks 14, a pair of

fixed contacts

37 and 38 are bridged by a plate 36 movable in synchronism with drum 30, and the resultant energisation of a circuit 39 of the solenoid coil 8 of the air regulator 6 causes the throttle valve 5 to be fully opened irrespective of the closing of valve 5 by the action of the gas pressure in line 10, at which time the pressure is high due to closing of cocks 15, and acts to close valve 5.

At the same time, however, that plate 36 first makes contact with

contacts

37, 38, the bridge plate or piece 31 has passed out of engagement with contact 28 and the current circuit 26, 27 of the solenoid coil 25 of the magnetic core 24 is interrupted, so that the valve member 23 of governor -21 is moved downwards by a compression spring 40. Consequently pressure fluid flows from 22 into the pipe 20 and to the undersides of the pistons in the piston-cylinder assemblies 17 and 18, and the shutoifvalves 13 and 16 in the air and steam mains are thereshort pause, the corresponding procedure occurs.

A safety device 41 is connected to the gas conduit 9 to ensure opening of the shut-01f valves 13 and 16 in the air and steam conduits in the event of possible damage to the barrel switch of the reversing apparatus 30. This safety device 41 has a diaphragm 42 to which is connected a protective member 43 closing, under normal lean gas pressure conditions in conduit 9, a pair of contacts 44 incorporated in the lead 26. If now the appropriate gas cocks have been opened but the shut-off valves 13 and 16 remain closed, the suction of the draft of the regenerative oven 49 on main 9 produces a reduced pressure in conduit 9. As a result the diaphragm 42 of the safety device 41 is operated to withdraw the member 43 from contacts 44, so breaking the current circuit of solenoid coil 25 and opening the shut-01f valves 13 and 16.

The governor 21 and the piston mechanisms 17 and 18 are preferably combined into one unit and are only dia- It is also possible to provide a control device, such as has been described, separately for each gas producer or in common for a group of adj'acent producers servedcollectively by such control de vice through appropriate conduits. Y

Having now described my invention and in whatmanner the same is to be performed I declare that all modifications not departing from the spirit of my invention should be included in the following claims.

What I claim is: i

1. Gas flow control apparatus fora gas producer combined with regenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to the regenerators of the oven to underfire the ovens with lean gas from the producer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producer for controllingthe flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer; pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure in the line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, for regulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressure in said gas line; separate throttle means located beyond said throttle valve in said conduit means to the producer, for controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer separately from and independently of said throttle valve; actuating means for said throttle means and regulating means associated with said actuating means, for operating the same to actuate said throttle means independently of said throttle valve and its actuating apparatus as well as independently of the pressure of gas passing from the producer to the regenerators of the oven; two sets of gas cocks for controlling the flow of lean gas from the gas line into the regenerators of a said regenerative oven; reversal apparatus for operating the two sets of gas cocks to first close one set and then later open the other set after a time pause in timed sequence and in alternation; means operatively connecting said regulating means for the actuating means for said separate throttle means with said reversal apparatus for operation in synchronism therewith to operate the actuating mechanism to actuate said separate throttle means to close said conduit means to flow of gas making medium at least as soon as the reversal apparatus operates to first close one set of said lean gas cocks, and to open the conduit means to flow of gas making gaseous medium to the producer after the time pause but at least as soon as the reversal apparatus operates to open the other set of said lean gas cocks; and actuating means including regulating means associated with the reversal apparatus, to open said throttle valve, irrespective of the pressure responsive regulating apparatus on said throttle valve, just before the reversal mechanism operates to open the other set of said lean gas cocks.

2. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which the means operatively connecting the regulating means for the separate throttle means with the reversal mechanism is connected to close the conduit means to the producer simultaneously with the closure of the one set of lean gas cocks, and to open the conduit means simultaneously with the opening of the other set of lean gas cocks by the reversal apparatus.

3. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which the means operatively connecting the regulating means for the separate throttle means with the reversal mechanism is connected to close the conduit means to the producer immediately before the closure of the one set of lean gas cocks, and to open the conduit means immediately before the opening of the other set of lean gas cocks by the reversal apparatus.

4. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and in which the conduit means for flow of a gaseous medium into the producer comprises separate conduits for conveyance of air and steam, and in which the separate throttle means for said conduit means comprises a separate shut-off valve for each of the separate conduits for the conveyance of air and steam.

5. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and in which each of the air and steam shut-01f valves areadap'tedto pass a small quantity of air 'andsteam,

respectively, when closed to shut-off position.

6. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and in which the regulating means comprises an electrical circuit, and the operative connection with the reversal apparatus comprises movable contact means on the reversal apparatus and movable in synchronism therewith, and fixed contacts in the electrical circuit in position to be opened and closed by the movable contact means during its movement in synchronism with the reversal apparatus.

7. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and in which the actuating means for the separate throttle means comprises an hydraulically operated mechanism for commanding the opening and closing movements of the separate throttle means, a valve controlled governor for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the hydraulic mechanism, and in which the electrical circuit comprises an electromagnetic means having a movable element movable under energization and de-energization of the electromagnetic means by the circuit and operatively connected with the valve of the governor for effecting the operation of the throttle means.

8. Gas flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and which includes a safety device responsive to the pressure in the lean gas line leading from the producer to the regenerators of the oven and adapted to operate, in the event of reduced pressure occurring in this line when the gas cocks for the regenerators are open, a protective member in the electrical circuit to thereby cause the operation of the actuating means for opening the separate throttle means in the conduit means for supply of gaseous medium to the gas producer, in event of failure of the operative connection of the reversal mechanism with the electrical circuit to operate said circuit to open the throttle means.

9. Gas flow control apparatus for a gas producer combined with regenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to the regenerators of the oven to underfire the ovens with lean gas from the producer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producer for controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer; pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure in the line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, for regulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressure in said gas line; two sets of gas cocks for controlling the flow of lean gas from the gas line into the regenerators of a said regenerative oven; reversal apparatus for operating the two sets of gas cocks to first close one set and then later open the other set after a time pause in timed sequence and actuating means, including regulating means associated with the reversal apparatus, to open said throttle valve, irrespective of the pressure responsive regulating apparatus on said throttle valve by reason of the gas pressure in the gas line, just before the reversal mechanism operates to open the other set of said lean gas cocks.

10. Gas flow control appparatus as claimed in claim 9 and which includes a safety device responsive to the pressure in the lean gas line leading from the producer to the regenerators of the oven and adapted to operate, in the event of reduced pressure occurring in this line when the gas cocks for the regenerators are open, a protective member in the electrical circuit to thereby cause the operation of the actuating means for opening the separate throttle means in the conduit means for supply of gaseous medium to the gas producer, in event of failure of the operative connection of the reversal mechanism with the electrical circuit to operate said circuit to open the throttle means.

11. Gas flow control apparatus for a gas producer combined with regenerative ovens by a gas line leading from the gas producer to the regenerators of the oven 7 to underfire the ovens with lean gas from the producer, comprising: a throttle valve in conduit means to the producer for controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer; pressure responsive regulating apparatus responsive to gas pressure in the line leading from the gas producer to the regenerative oven, for regulating the throttle valve by and in accordance with the gas pressure in said gas line; separate throttle means located beyond said throttle valve in said conduit means to the producer, for controlling the flow of gas making gaseous medium into the producer separately from and independently of said throttle valve; actuating means for said throttle means and regulating means associated with said actuating means, for operating the same to actuate said throttle means independently of said throttle valve and its actuating apparatus as well as independently of the pressure of gas passing from the producer to the regenerators of the oven.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,820 Hambleton Apr. 26, 1887 1,246,114 Koppers Nov. 13, 1917 1,597,365 Keigley et a1. Aug. 24, 1926 1,611,887 Chowning Dec. 28, 1926 1,635,679 Kus July 12, 1927 1,850,945 Delattre-Seguy Mar. 22, 1932 1,865,929 Leahy July 5, 1932 1,964,546 Van Ackeren June 26, 1934 2,554,818 Davis May 29, 1951

Claims

1. GAS FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A GAS PRODUCER COMBINED WITH REGENERATIVE OVENS BY A GAS LINE LEADING FROM THE GAS PRODUCER TO THE REGENERATORS OF THE OVEN TO UNDERFIRE THE OVENS WITH LEAN GAS FROM THE PRODUCER, COMPRISING: A THROTTLE VALVE IN CONDUIT MEANS TO THE PRODUCER FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS MAKING GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE PRODUCER; PRESSURE RESPONSIVE REGULATING APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO GAS PRESSURE IN THE LINE LEADING FROM THE GAS PRODUCER TO THE REGENERATIVE OVEN, FOR REGULATING THE THROTTLE VALVE BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GAS PRESSURE IN SAID GAS LINE; SEPARATE THROTTLE MEANS LOCATED BEYOND SAID THROTTLE VALVE IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS TO THE PRODUCER, FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS MAKING GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE PRODUCER SEPARATELY FROM AND INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID THROTTLE VALVE; ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID THROTTLE MEANS AND REGULATING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS, FOR OPERATING THE SAME TO ACTUATE SAID THROTTLE MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID THROTTLE VALVE AND ITS ACTUATING APPARATUS AS WELL AS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PRESSURE OF GAS PASSING FROM THE PRODUCER TO THE REGENEATORS OF THE OVEN; TWO SETS OF GAS COCKS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LEAN GAS FROM THE GAS LINE INTO THE REGENERATORS OF A SAID REGENERATIVE OVEN; REVERSAL APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE TWO SETS OF GAS COCKS TO FIRST CLOSE ONE SET AND THEN LATER OPEN THE OTHER AFTER A TIME PAUSE IN