US3007850A

US3007850A - Dry quenching of coke with increased generation of steam

Info

Publication number: US3007850A
Application number: US780A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence D Schmidt
Original assignee: Allied Chemical Corp
Current assignee: Allied Corp
Priority date: 1960-01-06
Filing date: 1960-01-06
Publication date: 1961-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-07

Description

Nlw. 7, 1961 L. D- SCHMIDT DRY QUENCHING OF COKE WITH INCREASED GENERATION 0F STEAM Filed Jan. 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LAWRENCE D. SCHMIDT ATTORNEY INVENTOR LAWRENCE D. SCHM l DT ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1961 DRY QUENCHING OF COKE WITH INCREASED GENERATION OF STEAM Filed Jan. 6, 1960 Nov. 7, 1961 1.. D. SCHMIDT 3,007,850

DRY QUENCHING 0F COKE WITH INCREASED GENERATION 0F STEAM Filed Jan. 6, 1960 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I/Il VII '1 III) (I4 INVENTOR LAWRENCE D. SCHMIDT ATTOR N EY 3,007,850 DRY QUENCHENG F CUKE WHH INCREASED GENERATIQN 0F STEAW Lawrence D. Schmidt, New York, N.Y., assignor to Allied Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 780 11 Claims. (Cl. 202-37) This invention relates to dry quenching coke and more particularly to the dry quenching of coke wherein sensible heat recovered therefrom is utilized to generate steam, and the steam generation is increased when coke is being cooled in the dry quencher and maintained uninterrupted during periods when coke is not being cooled therein.

Dry quenching processes heretofore proposed were disadvantageous because when the quenching apparatus was empty of hot coke from the ovens, cessation of heat supply occurred and no heat was available for generation of desired steam. Further, even during normal pushing and supply of coke from the ovens to the quenching apparatus, the quantity of steam generated by the sensible heat of the coke was at times considerably less than the demand for the same.

Moreover, dry quenching processes of the prior art required forced circulation of cooling gas or continuous movement of coke with the result that the throughput of such plants was low and the plants were expensive. The time required for cooling the coke employing the forced circulation is typically about 7 hours because most of the heat must await transfer by convection. Prior art wet quenching of coke has been disadvantageous for the reasons that the generated steam entrains or carries the fine coke particles as well as corrosive gases and causes air pollution, and the fine coke particles in the sump of the wet quenching station are a source of water pollution. Further, wet quenching frequently results in large coke particles containing as much as water and small coke containing more than 15% water, with attendant higher freight charges for transporting the Water. The high water content of the small coke pieces also makes screening the pieces into the desired sizes virtually impossible, unless the wet coke is subjected to prior drying in costly heat-drying plants.

One object of the invention is to provide dry quenching of coke with simultaneous generation of additional quantities of steam when steam demand is greater than that satisfied by the amount of steam normally generated by the sensible heat of the hot coke.

Another object is to provide dry quenching of coke which achieves continuous uninterrupted generation and supply of steam to satisfy requirements even when the quenching apparatus is empty of hot coke.

Another object is to provide cooling of coke in a much shorter time than that required by prior art coke cooling.

Another object is to provide cooling of coke while maintaining substantially even supply of heat to the cooling compartment for steam generation during the time the coke is cooling in the compartment.

A further object is to provide dry quenching of coke in an economical and eificient manner.

A further object is to provide a dry quencher for coke characterized by flexibility in its operation.

A further object is to provide cooling of coke without causing air or water pollution.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is hereafter described in more detail.

In accordance with the present invention the dry quenching apparatus comprises an inclined compartment comprising a thermally conductive platform forming the compartment floor for supporting pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes spaced above the coke P we pieces, a plurality of spaced water tubes beneath and contacting the lower surface of the conductive platform, and steam otftake means connected to the water tubes. l hot coke inlet and a cooled coke discharge outlet are located at the upper and lower end portions respectively of the compartment, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products is provided in the compartment, and an outlet for gaseous combustion products is provided in the compartment spaced from the hot gaseous combustion products inlet. A combustion chamber is provided for generation of hot gaseous combustion products, and a discharge outlet for the hot gaseous products is provided in the combustion chamber, fuel supply means sup plying fuel to the combustion chamber. An enclosed passageway connects the combustion chamber discharge outlet and the gaseous combustion product inlet of the compartment for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the compartment. The hot gaseous combustion products rise along the water tubes of the compartment to generate additional steam when the coke is cooling in the compartment and to maintain continuous uninerrupted generation of steam when the compartment is empty of coke. Further, by virtue of the combustion chamber, a substantially even supply of heat is maintained to the water tubes of the compartments for steam generation during the time the coke is cooling in the compartment, the coke supplying relatively large amounts of heat to the tubes during the early stages of the cooling and only relatively small amounts of heat to the tubes during the later stages of its cooling.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of the inclined quenching compartments are provided in superposed relation to one another, and the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contact the lower surface of the thermally conductive platform of the next higher compartment, a heat barrier layer being provided over the water tubes of the uppermost compartment. The combustion chamber has a burner for the preferred fuel, which is a fluid fuel such as coke oven gas mounted for generation of the hot gaseous combustion within the chamber. The combustion chamber has one or more discharge outlets, and enclosed passageways which are preferably valved connect the combustion chamber discharge outlets and the gaseous combustion product inlets of the compartments for supply of hot gaseous products thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of the apparatus of the present invention comprising the quenching apparatus in combination with the auxiliary heat supplying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational detail view partially in section of a modification of the auxiliary heat supplying apparatus for supplying additional heat to the quencher cooling cornpartments when the coke is cooling therein, and for supplying the sole heat to the compartments when they are empty of coke.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings showing a specific embodiment of the invention, dry quencher ill for coke has superposed inclined compartments ll, 12, 13 and 14. Each compartment has wear plate 15 of cast iron forming its floor for supporting layer 16 of pieces of hot coke, the wear plate having typical thickness of one inch. Wear plates 15 could be formed of other metal of good strength and heat conductivity such as steel or wrought iron. Water tubes 17 form the ceiling of bottom compartment 11, water tubes 18 form the ceiling of next higher compartment 12, water tubes H the ceiling of next higher compartment 13, and Water tubes 20 the ceiling of top compartment 14. The water tubes of each compartment are spaced above the Wear plate and the coke layer thereon, the tubes being spaced above the wear plate typical distance of about 4-8 inches and above the coke layer typical distance of about 12-36 inches. The water tubes are fabricated of steel and have typical inner diameters of about 4 inches and typical length of about 30 feet.

The water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment 14- contact the lower surface of the wear plate of the next higher compartment along their approximate entire lengths and support this wear plate. A plurality of spaced water tubes 22 also contact the lower surface of the wear plate of lowermost compartment 11 along their approximate entire lengths. Steam drums 23 and water distributing drums 24 are connected to the upper and lower end portions respectively of the water tubes.

A plurality of spaced guide members 25 for distributing the hot coke in the layers hang downwardly in each compartment on wires or, if desired, rods afiixed to the guide members at their ends by chains or eyes and affixed at their opposite ends to the compartment as hereafter described. Guide members 25 are typically iron castings of 20 pounds weight and cylindrical in shape although they could be of different weight, square or polygonal in shape and of other metal, e.g. steel. Guide members 245 are preferably arranged in each compartment in inverted V-formation, as shown in FIG. 2 to insure uniform distribution of the coke pieces on each compartment wear plate. As shown in FIG. 3, all guide members except the central guide member, which forms the apex of the V (as shown in FIG. 2), in bottom compartment if and the next two

higher compartments

12 and 13 are suspended by their wires or rods from the lower surface of the wear plate floor of the next higher compartment, the wires being secured to the wear plate floors by flexible connections. If desired, these guide members can be suspended from the water tubes. The central guide members in these compartments as well as in top compartment 14 are suspended by their wires or rods from narrow annular ferrous metal members 26 fitted about the pipes, the wires or rods being secured to the annular members by chains or eyes. The other guide members in top compartment 14 exclusive of the apex-forming guide member are suspended by their wires or rods from two narrow ferrous metal hanger members 27 each positioned about the four water pipes on either side of the central member. However, guide members can be suspended in the compartments by any suitable means and, if desired, all guide members can be suspended from the wear plate floor of the next higher compartment or less preferably from the water tubes. Further, if the heat barrier layer hereafter described, which is located over the ceiling tubes of top compartment 14, is provided with an inner metallic plate lining, guide members 25 in top compartment 14- can be suspended from such plate by anchoring their wires or rods thereto.

Inlet 28 for hot coke pieces is provided at the upper end of uppermost compartment 14-, and aligned inlets 29, 30 and 31 for hot coke pieces are provided at the top portions of

compartments

13, 12 and 11 respectively adjacent their upper ends,

inlets

29, 39 and 31 being located outwardly of steam drums 2.3. Cooled

coke outlets

33, 34, 35 and 36 are provided at the lower ends of the compartments. Door 3'7 is hinged to steam drum 23 by hinge 33 for closing and opening the opening of hot coke inlet 28, door 3 7 swinging upwardly and inwardly of the compartmcnt from its disclosed closed position for opening the inlet 28. Doors 39 are hinged to ferrous metal end plate 40 of the quencher by hinges 41 for closing and opening the openings of aligned hot coke inlets 29-31, these doors each swinging upwardly and outwardly of the compartments from their disclosed closed positions for opening the corresponding compartment inlets. Doors 42 are hinged to the Water drums by hinges 43 for closing and opening the openings of cooled coke outlets 3346. Inlet

doors

37 and 39 and outlet doors 42 are operated by suitable mechanical linkages (not shown) well known in the art.

Upper end 44 of uppermost compartment 14 is located more inwardly of the quenching apparatus than the uppermost end portion of the compartment immediately therebelow to provide access to the uppermost compartment for passage of hot coke thereto and, when desired, to provide access for passage of the coke to the compartment or compartments beneath the upper most compartment when their respective inlet door or doors are opened. Inlet 45 is provided in the lower end portion of each compartment for introduction of hot gaseous combustion products from the combustion chamber, and outlet 46 is provided in the upper end portion of each compartment for discharge of gaseous combustion products from the compartment through conduits 51 to chimney 47. The compartments each have greater width at their lower ends than at their upper ends, preferably a ratio of width at its lower end to width at its upper end of from about 1.25:1 to 1.4: 1, which enables improved distribution of the coke in the layers over the wear plate floors of the compartments. Each compartment has typical dimensions of height of about 2 /2 feet, length of about 50 feet, width at its upper end of about 40 feet, and width at its lower end of about 50 feet. The number of compartments may be more or less than the four as desired.

Top covering layer 48 of heat insulating material, e.g. asbestos or insulating refractory material extends continuously over and in contact with the plurality of water tubes and their steam drums forming the ceiling of top compartment 14-, and bottom covering layer 49 of similar heat insulating material preferably extends continuously over lower surfaces of water tubes 22 and their steam drums beneath the wear plate of bottom compartment 11.

In accordance with the invention, combustion chamber 5% (FIGS. 1 and 2) of ferrous metal, for instance iron or steel, having an inner lining of refractory and heat insulating material, e.g. fire and insulating brick has burner 52 for fluid fuel, preferably fuel gas, for instance coke oven gas, partially mounted therein for generation of hot gaseous combustion products within the chamber. Fuel oil can be usedinstead of the fuel gas, if desired. \Although less preferred, solid fuel, e.g. coke or coal can be burned within chamber 50 instead of the fluid fuel for generation of the hot gaseous products, in which event burner 52 would not be employed. Conduit 53 communicates with a source of fluid fuel for supplying the same to burner 52 and

conduits

54 and 55 are connected to a supply of oxygen-containing gas, for instance air or oxygen-enriched air for supplying the same to respectively the burner and combustion chamber for the combustion. Combustion chamber 5i) has spaced outlets 56 for discharge of hot gaseous combustion products. The number of such outlets can be more or less than the four shown depending on the number of compartments in the quencher. Separate enclosed passageways or conduits 57 connect discharge outlets 56 of the combustion chamber and inlets 45 in the lower portion of the quencher compartments for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the lower portion of the compartments. The ferrous metal side plate of the quencher is shown at 61. Enclosed passageways 57 are each provided with manually operated valves 58 which are individually regulatable to control the supply of hot gaseous combustion products to each compartment as desired. Valves 58 can be automatically operated valves, if desired.

Referring to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the auxiliary heat generating and supplying apparatus, combustion chamber 59 has ferrous metal casing 60 having inner lining 62 of the refractory insulating material. Burner 63 for the fluid fuel is partially mounted in the combustion chamber, conduit 64 communicating with a supply of the fluid fuel for supplying the same thereto. Blower 65 forces air for secondary combustion purposes through conduit 66 to spaced inlets 67 in the chamber refractory material, by-pass conduit 68 interconnecting conduit 66 and burner 63 for conducting a portion of the air to the burner as primary combustion air. By-pass conduit 68 and. conduit 66 have manually or automatically operated

valves

69 and 76 respectively therein for individually controlling the supply of combustion air to the burner and combustion chamber as desired. Discharge outlet 72 for hot gaseous combustion products is located in the upper portion of combustion chamber 59. Manifold 73 having a casing 74- of ferrous metal and an inner lining of the refractory heat insulating material is connected to discharge outlet 72 of the combustion chamber, spaced ducts '75 of construction similar to that of the manifold leading from the manifold discharge outlets 76 to the gaseous combustion product inlets 45 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the lower portion of the quencher compartments.

The process involves introducing hot pieces onto the thermally conductive platform in the cooling compartment, cooling the hot coke pieces in the cooling zone by radiation of heat upwardly to water coolant in water tubes spaced above the coke and by conduction of heat downwardly through the platform to Water coolant in water tubes immediately below and contacting the lower surface of the platform thereby generating steam in the tubes, discharging the cooled coke pieces from the cooling zone, and passing hot gaseous combustion products having temperature higher than the discharge temperature of the coke into the cooling zone. The hot gaseous products are passed within the cooling zone in contact with the water tubes therein to generate additional steam as required in the tubes when the coke is cooling therein, and to maintain continuous uninterrupted steam generation in the tubes when the zone is empty of coke. The gaseous combustion products are subsequently discharged from the cooling zone. llt was surprising to find that the presence of a layer of the hot gaseous combustion products between the hot coke and the water tubes and having the higher temperature stated did not seriously interfere with the cooling of the coke, and that the cooling still occurred at a high rate considerably higher than that of the prior art convective cooling, with the discharged cooled coke only a few degrees hotter than coke cooled in the absence of the hot gaseous products.

More specifically, the hot coke pieces are fed from conventional hot car 77 into one or more of the in clined compartments or cooling

zones

11, 12, 13 and 14, door 78 of the car being moved in a direction outwardly thereof to an open position for this purpose. The hot coke pieces have previously been pushed from the coke ovens into hot car 77 and are at temperature of typically about 1600-2200" F., the pieces having typical size of from about 28 inches. The sliding coke pieces are guided into an empty compartment by means of the swinging inlet doors. For instance, if desired to introduce the hot coke pieces into top cooling compartment 14, inlet door 37 is swung to an open position While inlet door 39 is maintained in its closed position. if desired to introduce the hot coke pieces into the next lower cooling compartment 13, door 37 and door 39 closing inlet 29 for compartment 13 are swung open while door 39 closing inlet 30 for next lower compartment 12 is kept closed. Further, if desired to feed the hot coke into lower compartment 12, door 37, door 39 closing inlet 29 for compartment 13 and door 39 closing inlet 39 for compartment 12 are swung open and door 39 closing inlet 31 for compartment 11 is kept closed. If desired to feed the hot coke into bottom cooling compartment 11, all inlet doors, viz. door 37 and all doors 39 are swung open and the coke pieces gravitate downwardly through the inclined passageway formed at the upper end of the quencher outwardly of the steam drums (by reason of the open doors) and pass into bottom compartment 11.

The hot coke pieces are distributed on the wear plates 15 of the compartments by guide members 25 in thin layers each having typical thckness of about 4-8 inches. The coke layers rest against compartment outlet doors 42. The quencher is characterized by flexibility in its operation. increased demand for steam can be met either by burning more fuel or in some cases by cutting the residence time of the coke in the quencher. If the coke resideuce time becomes very small the coke may require subsequent water spray to cool it for handling on rubber belts. The compartments may be used for steam raising when empty of coke if desired.

The hot coke is cooled in the cooling zone during a residence time of typically from about 50 to minutes from a temperature of about 16002200 F. to a temperature of about 300800 F. by radiation of heat to water coolant in the water tubes spaced above the coke layer, and by conduction of heat downwardly through the metallic wear plate supporting the coke pieces to Water coolant in the Water tubes immediately below and contacting the wear plate. Steam is thereby generated in the water tubes, and the valuable steam is withdrawn from the tubes through steam drums 23 for use as desired. Feed water at typically normal temperature is supplied to the water tubes either continuously or intermittently, preferably the former, through water distributing drums 24. A water return leg (not shown) recycles water from the steam drum to the water distributing drum. The cooled coke pieces are withdrawn from the cooling zones by opening outlet doors 42 by swinging the doors outwardly of the cooling zones, the cooled coke then sliding onto a conveyor or coke wharf where it may be sprayed lightly with water.

Fluid fuel, preferably fuel gas, eg. coke oven gas, natural gas or methane is continuously supplied through conduit 53 to burner 52 mounted partially within combustion chamber 50 and burned therein, oxygen-containing gas, e.g., air or oxygen-enriched air being supplied to the burner and combustion chamber for primary and secondary combustion purposes respectively through

conduits

54 and 55 respectively. Coke oven gas is the preferred fuel gas, If desired, fuel oil can be used instead of the fuel gas. Solid carbonaceous fuel such as coke or coal can be burned for generation of the hot gaseous combustion products instead of the fluid fuel, if desired. However, the solid fuel is less preferred than the fluid fuel for the reason that fine solid particles, typically of unburned fuel, ash, and carbon or soot become entrained in the hot gaseous combustion products supplied to the cooling zones for the coke when such solid fuel is used. These fine particles tend to interfere with the cooling of the coke in the cooling zones by blocking the radiation of heat to the water pipes, and also by themselves radiating heat back to coke.

The hot gaseous combustion products are continuously withdrawn from combustion zone 5% due to the pressure obtaining therein and passed into a lower portion of one or more of the cooling zones 1144 through valved conduit or conduits 57. As shown in FIG. 1, valves 58 in conduits 57' are in fully open position but these valves, which have shape and cross-sectional area approximately that of the shape and cross-sectional area of the conduits, can be turned to a partially or fully closed position when desired to reduce or shut off entirely the supply of hot gaseous products to the corresponding cooling zones. Reduction or shutting off of supply of the hot gaseous combustion products to one or more zones through one or more of the valved conduits results in increased supply of the hot gaseous products through the other open valve conduits to the corresponding cooling zones. The eXit conduits 51 are also valved (not shown) to help control gas pressures and flow patterns.

The hot gaseous combustion products have typical temperature of about l600-2400 F. when introduced into the lower portion of the cooling zones, which is considerably higher than the discharge temperature of the cooled coke, and the hot gaseous products rise upwardly therewithin in the region of and in contact with the water tubes. The considerable sensible heat of the hot gaseous products is transferred to the water in the water tubes to generate, when needed, additional valuable steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling therein, and to maintain uninterrupted generation of steam in the tubes When the zones are empty of coke. Gaseous combustion products are continuously withdrawn from the upper portion of the cooling zones through outlets 46 and conduits 51 for discharge to the atmosphere through chimney 4'7.

Operation of the modified apparatus of FIG. 4 is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the secondary combustion air is supplied to the combustion chamber 59 at a number of points through spaced inlets 67 to aid the combustion. Manually and individually

operable valves

70 and 69 in air supply conduit 66 and by-pass conduit 63 respectively are in fully open position as shown for enabling passage of air through these conduits for introduction into the combustion chamber as secondary combustion air as described, and for mixing as primary combustion air with fuel gas in the burner.

Cooling of hot coke from the ovens by radiation and conduction in accordance with the present invention was found to take place at the high rate of 2960 B.t.u.s per hour per pound of coke when the introduction temperature of the coke was 2000 F. and the temperature of the introduced hot gaseous combustion products (from the combustion chamber) was 2000" F., and to require less than one hour to cool the coke from 2000" F. to 500 F. However, the conventional convective coolers of the prior art required 7 hours to cool the coke from 2000 F. to 506' F.

The invention is characterized by offering the following advantages: (1) generation of additional quantities of valuable steam when steam demand is greater than that satisfied by the quantity of steam normally generated by the sensible heat of the hot coke in the cooling compartments, simultaneously with the cooling of the coke in the compartments; (2) continuous uninterrupted generation and supply of the valuable steam in quantities sufficient to satisfy requirements even when the dry quenching compartments are empty of hot coke; (3) cooling of the hot coke in about one-seventh of the time required by the prior art convective coolers; (4) avoidance of costly pumping and recirculation of cooling gases; (5) maintenance of a substantially even supply of heat to the cooling compartment for steam generation during the time the coke is cooling in the compartment; (6) economy and efficiency in operation; (7) a dry quencher characterized by flexibility in operation; and, (8) absence of air or water pollution,

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it

will be evident that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising an inclined compartment including a thermally conductive platform forming the compartment floor for supporting pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke pieces, a plurality of spaced water tubes beneath and contacting the lower surface of the conductive platform, steam offtake means connected to the water tubes, a hot coke inlet and a cooled coke discharge outlet at the upper and lower end portions respectively of the compartment, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the compartment, and an outlet for gaseous combustion products in the compartment spaced from the hot gaseous combustion product inlet, a combustion chamber for generation of hot gaseous combustion products, a discharge outlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber, fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber, and an enclosed passageway connecting the combustion chamber discharge outlet and the hot gaseous combustion product inlet of the compartment for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the compartment.

2. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and'increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive platform forming the compartment floor for supporting pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke pieces, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface the thermally conductive platform of the next higher compartment, steam oiftake means connected to the water tubes, a hot coke inlet and a. cooled coke discharge outlet at the upper and lower end portions respectively of the compartment, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the compartment, and an outlet for gaseous combustion products in the compartment spaced from the hot gaseous combustion product inlet, a combustion chamber for generation of hot gaseous combustion products, a discharge outlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber, fuel supply means for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber, and an enclosed passageway connecting the combustion chamber discharge outlet and the hot gaseous combustion product inlet of the compartment for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the compartment.

3. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive metallic wear plate forming the compartment floor for supporting a layer of pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke layer, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface of the thermally conductive wear plate of the next higher compartment, a plurality of spaced water tubes beneath and contacting the lower surface of the conductive wear plate of the lowermost compartment, a heat barrier "layer over the water tubes of the uppermost compartment, steam ofitake means connected to upper end portions of the water tubes, means for supplying water to the lower end portions of the water tubes, a hot coke inlet and a cooled coke discharge outlet at the upper and lower end portions respectively of the compartment, and inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the lower end portion of the compartment, and an outlet for gaseous combustion products in the upper end portion of the compartment, a combustion chamber having a burner for fluid fuel mounted for generation of hot gaseous combustion products within said chamber, a discharge outlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber spaced from its burner, fluid fuel supply means for supplying fluid fuel to the burner, and an enclosed valved passageway connecting the combustion chamber discharge outlet and the hot gaseous combustion product inlet of the compartment for supply of hot gaseout combustion products to the lower end portion of the compartment, whereby the hot gaseous combustion products rise along the water tuba of the compartment to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke pieces are cooling in the compartment and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the compartment is empty of coke pieces.

4. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive metallic wear plate forming the compartment floor for supporting a layer of pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke layer, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface of the metallic wear plate of the next higher compartment, a plurality of spaced water tubes beneath and contacting the lower surface of the wear plate of the lowermost compartment, a continuous heat banier layer over the Water tubes of the uppermost compartment, steam drums connected to upper end portions of the water tubes in the compartment, means for supplying water to the lower end portions of the water tubes, a plurality of spaced guide members in each compartment for distributing the hot coke pieces in the layer on the wear plate, an inlet for hot coke pieces at the upper end of the uppermost compartment, aligned inlets for hot coke pieces in the top of the upper end portions of the remaining compartments adjacent the upper ends thereof and beneath the firstmentioned coke inlet, the last-mentioned aligned coke inlets being located outwardly of the steam drums in the compartments, and discharge outlets for the cooled coke pieces at the lower ends of all compartments, the steam drums connected to upper end portions of the water tubes, separate hinged doors for closing the first-mentioned hot coke inlet opening and the aligned hot coke inlet openings, separate hinged doors for closing the cooled coke discharge outlet openings, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the lower end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke discharge outlet, and a discharge outlet for gaseous combustion products in the upper end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke inlet, a combustion chamber having a burner for fuel gas mounted partially therein for generation of hot gaseous combustion products Within said chamber, spaced discharge outlets for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber remote from said burner, a fuel gas supply conduit for supplying fuel gas to the burner, and separate enclosed passageways connecting the combustion chamber discharge outlets and the gaseous combustion product inlets of the compartments for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the lower end portion of the compartments, whereby the hot gaseous combustion products rise along the Water tubes of the compartment to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke pieces are cooling in the compartment and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the compartment is empty of coke pieces,

5. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive metallic wear plate forming the compartment floor for sup portin a layer of pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke layer, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface of the metallic wear plate of the next higher compartment, a plurality of spaced water tubes beneath and contacting the lower surface of the wear plate of the lowermost compartment, a continuous heat barrier layer covering the upper surfaces of the water tubes of the uppermost compartment, another continuous heat barrier layer covering the lower surfaces of the water tubes beneath the lowermost compartment wear plate, steam drums connected to the upper end portions of the Water tubes, water distributing drums connected to the lower end portions of the water tubes, a plurality of spaced guide members in each compartment for distributing the hot coke pieces in the layer on the wear plate, the guide members being arranged in inverted V formation in each compartment, an inlet for hot coke pieces at the upper end of the uppermost compartment, aligned inlets for hot coke pieces at the top of the upper end portions of the remaining compartments adjacent the upper ends thereof and beneath the first-mentioned coke inlet, the last-mentioned aligned inlets being located outwardly of the steam drums in the compartments, discharge outlets for the cooled coke pieces at the lower end of all compartments, separate hinged doors for closing the firstmentioned hot coke inlet opening and the aligned hot coke inlet openings, separate hinged doors for closing the cooled coke discharge outlet openings, the upper end of the uppermost compartment being located more inwardly of the quenching apparatus than the uppermost end portion of the compartment immediately therebelow to provide access for introduction of hot coke pieces into the inlet of the uppermost compartment and the inlets of the compartments therebeneath, the compartments each having a ratio of lower end width to upper end width of from about 1.25:1 to 1.4:1 respectively, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the lower end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke discharge outlet, and a discharge outlet for gaseous combustion products in the upper end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke inlet, a combustion chamber having a. burner for fuel gas mounted partially therein for generation of hot gaseous combustion products within said chamber, spaced discharge outlets for hot gaseous combustion products remote from said burner, a fuel gas supply conduit for supplying tuel gas to the burner, means for supplying oxygencontainiug gas to the burner for the combustion, and separate valved conduits connecting the combustion chamber discharge outlets and the gaseous combustion product inlets of the compartments for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the lower end portion of the compartments, whereby the hot gaseous combustion products rise along the water tubes of the compartment to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke pieces are cooling in the compantment and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the compartment is empty of coke pieces.

6. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive metallic wear plate forming the compantment floor for supporting a layer of pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke layer, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface of the metallic wear plate of the next higher compartment, a plurality of spaced water tubes contacting the lower surface of the wear plate of the lowermost compartment, a heat barrier layer over the water tubes of the uppermost compartment, steam drums connected to the upper end portions of the water tubes, means for supplying water to the lower end portions of the water tubes, a plurality of spaced guide members in each compartment for distributing the hot coke pieces in the layer on the wear plate, an inlet for hot coke pieces at the upper end of the uppermost compartment, aligned inlets for hot coke pieces in the top of the upper end portions of the remaining compartments adjacent the upper end thereof and beneath the first-mentioned coke inlet, the last-mentioned aligned coke inlets being located outwardly of the steam drums in the compartments, discharge outlets for the cooled coke pieces at the lower end of all compartments, separate hinged doors for closing the firstmentioned hot coke inlet opening and the aligned hot coke inlet openings, separate hinged doors for closing the cooled coke discharge outlet openings, the compartments having greater width at their lower ends than at their upper ends, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the lower end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke discharge outlet, and a discharge outlet for gaseous combustion products in the upper end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke inlet, a combustion chamber having a burner for fuel gas mounted partially therein for generation of hot gaseous combustion products within said chamber, a discharge outlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber spaced from said burner, a fuel gas supply conduit for supplying fuel gas to the burner, means for supplying oxygen-containing gas to the burner and combustion chamber for the combustion, a manifold connected to the combustion chamber discharge outlet, and spaced ducts leading from the manifold discharge outlets to the gaseous combustion product inlets of the compartments for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the lower end portion of the compartments, whereby the hot gaseous combustion products rise along the water tubes of the 11 compartments to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in the compartments and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the compartments are empty of coke.

7. Apparatus for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam comprising superposed inclined compartments each comprising a thermally conductive metallic wear plate forming the compartment floor for supporting a layer of pieces of hot coke, a plurality of spaced water tubes above the coke layer, the water tubes of each compartment except the uppermost compartment contacting the lower surface of the metallic wear plate of the next higher compartment, a continuous heat barrier layer covering the upper surfaces of the water tubes of the uppermost compartment, another continuous heat barrier layer covering the lower surfaces of the water tubes beneath the lowermost compartment wear plate, steam drums connected to the upper end portions of the water tubes, water distributing drums connected to the lower end portions of the water tubes, a plurality of spaced guide members in each compartment for distributing the hot coke pieces in the layer on the Wear plate, the guide members being arranged in inverted V formation in each compaitment, an inlet for hot coke pieces at the upper end of the uppermost compartment, aligned inlets for hot coke pieces in the top of the upper end portions of the remaining compartments adjacent the upper ends thereof and beneath the first-mentioned coke inlet, the last-mentioned aligned inlets being located outwardly of the steam drums in the compartments, discharge outlets for the cooled coke pieces at the lower end of all compartments, separate hinged doors for closing the first-mentioned hot coke inlet opening and the aligned hot coke inlet openings, separate hinged doors for closing the cooled coke discharge outlet openings, the upper end of the uppermost compartment being located more inwardly of the quenching apparatus than the uppermost end portion of the compartment immediately therebelow to provide access for introduction of hot coke pieces into the inlet of the uppermost compartment and the inlets of the compartments therebeneath, the compartments each having a ratio of lower end width to upper end width of from about 125:1 to 1.4:1 respectively, an inlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the lower end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke discharge outlet, and a discharge outlet for gaseous combustion products in the upper end portion of the compartment spaced from the coke inlet, a combustion chamber having a burner for fuel gas mounted partially therein for generation of hot gaseous combustion products within said chamber, a discharge outlet for hot gaseous combustion products in the combustion chamber remote from said burner, a fuel gas supply conduit for supplying fuel gas to the burner, spaced inlets for secondary combustion air in the lower portion of the combustion chamber adjacent the burner, a blower, a valved conduit connecting the blower discharge outlet and said air inlets for supplying secondary combustion air to the combustion chamber in the region of the burner, a valved bypass conduit connecting the burner and the last-mentioned valved conduit at a point therein intermediate the blower and the spaced air inlets for supplying primary combustion air to the burner, 21 manifold connected to the combustion chamber discharge outlet, and spaced ducts leading from the manifold discharge outlets to the gaseous combustion product inlets of the compartments for supply of hot gaseous combustion products to the lower end portion of the compartments, whereby the hot gaseous combustion products rise along the water tubes of the compartments to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in the compartments and to maintain continuous uninterupted generation of steam therein when the compartments are empty of coke.

8. Process for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam which comprises introducing hot coke pieces onto a thermally conductive platform in a cooling zone, cooling the hot coke pieces on the platform in said cooling zone by radiation of heat upwardly to water coolant in water tubes spaced above the coke and by conduction of heat downwardly through the platform to water coolant in water tubes immediately below and contacting the lower surface of the platform thereby generating steam in the tubes, discharging the cooled coke pieces from the cooling zone, passing hot gaseous combustion products having temperature higher than the discharge temperature of the coke into the cooling zone, passing the hot gaseous combustion products within said cooling zone in contact with water tubes therein to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in said zone, and discharging the gaseous cornbustion products from the cooling zone.

9. Process for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam which comprises introducing hot coke pieces onto a thermally conductive platform in a cooling zone, cooling the hot coke pieces on the platform in said cooling zone by radiation of heat upwardly to water coolant in water tubes spaced above the coke and by conduction of heat downwardly through the platform to water coolant in water tubes immediately below and contacting the lower surface of the platform thereby generating steam in the tubes, supplying water coolant into said water tubes, withdrawing the generated steam from the tubes at points spaced from the points of in troducing the water therein, discharging the cooled coke pieces from the cooling zone, supplying fuel to a combustion zone and burning the same therein to obtain hot gaseous combustion products, discharging the hot gaseous combustion products from the combustion zone and passing the hot gaseous products having temperature higher than the discharge temperature of the coke into the cooling zone, passing the hot gaseous combustion products within said cooling zone in contact with the water tubes therein to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in said zone and to maintain continuous uninterrupted steam generation therein when the zone is empty of coke, and discharging the gaseous combustion products from the coo-ling zone at a point spaced from the point of its introduction therein.

10. Process for dry quenching of coke and increased generation of steam which comprises introducing hot coke pieces into an upper portion of at least one of a plurality of inclined superposed separate indirect cooling zones, distributing the hot coke pieces in a layer on a thermally conductive metallic Wear plate in the cooling zone, cooling the hot coke pieces in the cooling zone by radiation of heat upwardly to water coolant in water tubes spaced above the coke and by conduction of heat downwardly through the wear plate to water coolant in water tubes immediately below and contacting the wear plate thereby generating steam in the tubes, supplying water coolant into said water tubes, withdrawing the generated steam from the tubes at points remote from the points of introducing the water therein, discharging the cooled coke pieces from the cooling zone, supplying fluid fuel to a combustion zone and burning the fluid fuel therein to obtain hot gaseous combustion products, supplying oXygen-containing gas to the combustion zone for the combustion, discharging the hot gaseous combustion products from the combustion zone and passing the hot gaseous products having temperature higher than the discharge tempcrature of the coke into a lower end portion of the cooling zone, passing the hot gaseous combustion products upwardly within the cooling zone in contact with the water tubes therein to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in said zone and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the zone is empty of coke, and discharging 13 the gaseous combustion products from portion of said cooling zone.

11. Process for dry quenching of coke and constant generation of steam which comprises introducing hot coke pieces into an upper portion of at least one of a plurality of inclined superposed indirect cooling zones, distributing the hot coke pieces in a layer on a thermally conductive metallic Wear plate in the cooling zone, cooling the hot coke in the cooling zone from a temperature of about l600-2200 F. to about 300-800 F. by radiation of heat upwardly to water coolant in water tubes spaced above the coke layer and by conduction of heat downwardly through the wear plate to Water coolant in water tubes immediately below and contacting the wear plates thereby generating steam in the tubes, holding the coke in the cooling zone for the cooling for a residence time of from about 50 to 90 minutes, supplying water coolant into said water tubes, continuously Withdrawing the generated steam from the tubes at points remote from the points of introducing the Water therein, discharging the cooled coke pieces from the cooling zone, continuously supplying fuel gas to a combustion zone and burning the fuel gas therein to obtain hot gaseous combustion the upper end products, continuously supplying air to the combustion zone for the combustion, continuously discharging the hot gaseous combustion products from the combustion zone and passing the hot gaseous products having temper-ature higher than the discharge temperature of the coke into a lower end portion of the cooling zone, passing the hot gaseous combustion products upwardly Within the cooling zone in contact with the Water tubes therein to generate additional steam in the tubes when the coke is cooling in said zone and to maintain continuous uninterrupted generation of steam therein when the zone is empty of coke, and continuously discharging the gaseous combustion products from the upper end portion of said cooling zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,453 Merrill Mar. 20, 1906 1,893,468 Bosler Jan. 3, 1933 2,581,409 Harlow Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,769 Switzerland July 16, 1927