Multiple drum coking system

Abstract

A multi-drum coking system wherein at least one drum, and preferably all drums, are fluidly coupled to at least two other drums. The system allows a vapor of one drum to be directed to multiple drums to prevent unnecessary non-productivity of coke drums.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multiple drum coking system, comprising:
 a first valve fluidly coupled with a first drum, a second drum, and a third drum; and   a piping subsystem configured to allow the first drum to receive (a) a first vapor directly from the second drum and (b) a second vapor directly from a third drum.   
     
     
         2 . The coking system of  claim 1 , wherein the piping subsystem maintains separation of the first and second vapors at least until they reach the first drum. 
     
     
         3 . The coking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve is configured to direct a feed stream to any of the first, second, and third drums. 
     
     
         4 . The coking system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second valve configured to simultaneously direct a first vapor to the first drum and the third drum. 
     
     
         5 . The coking system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth drum that is fluidly coupled with the first valve. 
     
     
         6 . The coking system of  claim 5 , wherein the fourth drum is configured to receive the first vapor. 
     
     
         7 . The coking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vapor has a temperature of at least 400 degrees F. 
     
     
         8 . The coking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vapor has a temperature of at least 500 degrees F. 
     
     
         9 . A coking system, comprising:
 a first drum functionally paired with a second drum such that the second drum is warmed by a vapor emitted from quenching the first drum, and the first drum is warmed by a vapor emitted from quenching the second drum;   a third drum functionally paired with a fourth drum such that the fourth drum is warmed by a vapor emitted from quenching the third drum, and the third drum is warmed by a vapor emitted from quenching the fourth drum; and   a piping subsystem configurable to direct the vapor emitted from quenching the first drum into at least one of the third drum and the fourth drum.   
     
     
         10 . The coking system of  claim 9 , wherein the piping subsystem is configurable to direct the vapor emitted from quenching the first drum to the third drum and the fourth drums simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . The coking system of  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor that provides feedback to an operator during a filling step with respect to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth drums. 
     
     
         12 . The coking system of  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor that provides feedback to an operator during a heating step with respect to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth drums. 
     
     
         13 . The coking system of  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor that provides feedback to an operator during a quenching step with respect to at least one of the first, second, third and fourth drums.