Christopher I Fitzgerald

US Patent:

7037408, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Dec 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/323160

Inventors:

Dale W. Wilborn - Rolling Hill Estates CA, US
Christopher I. Fitzgerald - Long Beach CA, US
Ronald R. DiPadua - Torrance CA, US
Gary D. Stewart - Lucedale MS, US

Assignee:

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Ramon CA

International Classification:

C10B 43/00
C10B 1/00

US Classification:

201 2, 202241, 202242, 202270

Abstract:

A safe, efficient and repetitively operable coke vessel decoking system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the closed system comprises a coker vessel pressure-tightly sealed to a top head system, which includes a closure housing with a laterally moveable horizontal closure member therein and a cutting head enclosure, which further comprises a drill stem guide, an access door, and a cutting assembly mounted therein. A novel feature of the invention is a steam purge/blocking system whereby steam pressure is maintained in the closure housing during the coking cycle to maintain seal integrity. Personnel safety during decoking operations is greatly enhanced by eliminating dangerous manual tasks associated with the prior art such as unbolting and removing top head devices. The system can be remotely and repetitively operated through numerous coking/decoking cycles without removal of any system element.