Retractable Injection Nozzle With Removable Inserts For Coke Drum Center Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
The delayed coking process in the hydrocarbon processing industry faces challenges with uneven heat distribution, thermal variance, and uneven flow channeling due to the lack of control over the injection of residual byproducts into coke drums, leading to increased wear and reduced vessel lifespan, as well as unsafe quench characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A center feed system is introduced, featuring a retractable injection nozzle that allows for controlled injection of residual byproducts from the center of the vessel, equipped with removable inserts and a scraper to manage build-up, and configured to minimize space requirements, enabling precise control over flow patterns and reducing thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single inlet feed is used to inject residual byproduct into the coke drum, then the system structure is simple, but uneven heat distribution and thermal variance occur within the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The single inlet feed is segmented into multiple inlet feeds (first inlet feed and second inlet feed) positioned at different locations around the coke drum. This segmentation allows the residual byproduct to be distributed through multiple entry points, creating more uniform heat distribution and reducing thermal variance within the vessel while maintaining relatively simple system structure.
2Temperature
If multiple inlet feeds are added to improve heat distribution, then temperature uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple inlet feeds are merged into a coordinated system where the first and second inlet feeds work together in conjunction with the center feed system. The inlet feeds are integrated with the retractable injection nozzle and removable inserts to create a unified structure that achieves temperature uniformity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If high velocity injection is used to increase productivity, then the injection speed increases, but uneven flow channeling and vessel wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The injection system incorporates removable inserts with specific geometries at the inlet feeds to modify the local flow characteristics. These inserts create controlled flow patterns that maintain high injection speeds for productivity while ensuring uniform flow channeling throughout the coke drum, preventing localized erosion and vessel wear.
4Ease of operation
If the injection nozzle is fixed, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to different flow patterns and quench characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The injection nozzle is made retractable, allowing it to move between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements: extended position for injection operations requiring specific flow patterns, and retracted position for maintenance or different quench characteristics, while maintaining ease of operation through automated or manual retraction mechanisms.
5Manufacturing precision
If removable inserts are added to the injection nozzle, then flow pattern control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inserts are designed as removable and replaceable components that can be easily swapped out. This approach allows for precise flow pattern control using relatively simple, cost-effective insert geometries that can be replaced when worn or when different flow patterns are needed, avoiding the complexity of permanently complex nozzle designs while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention extends to a center feed system that allows residual byproduct to be injected into a vessel from within the center of the vessel. The center feed system can include an inlet sleeve that is attached to the vessel and a retractable injection nozzle that extends into the vessel to inject residual byproduct into the vessel and that retracts into the inlet sleeve after injecting the residual byproduct. A retractable injection nozzle in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention may include one or more openings that each includes an insert that can be removed from the opening. The inserts can therefore be replaced to customize the functionality of the nozzle or to replace the inserts when they have become worn.