The present technology is generally directed to non-perpendicular connections between coke oven uptakes and a hot common tunnel, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a coking system includes a coke oven and an uptake duct in fluid communication with the coke oven. The uptake duct has an uptake flow vector of exhaust gas from the coke oven. The system also includes a common tunnel in fluid communication with the uptake duct. The common tunnel has a common flow vector and can be configured to transfer the exhaust gas to a venting system. The uptake flow vector and common flow vector can meet at a non-perpendicular interface to improve mixing between the flow vectors and reduce draft loss in the common tunnel.

The present technology is generally directed to non-perpendicular connections between coke oven uptakes and a hot common tunnel, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, a coking system includes a coke oven and an uptake duct in fluid communication with the coke oven. The uptake duct has an uptake flow vector of exhaust gas from the coke oven. The system also includes a common tunnel in fluid communication with the uptake duct. The common tunnel has a common flow vector and can be configured to transfer the exhaust gas to a venting system. The uptake flow vector and common flow vector can meet at a non-perpendicular interface to improve mixing between the flow vectors and reduce draft loss in the common tunnel.

A coke plant includes multiple coke ovens where each coke oven is adapted to produce exhaust gases, a common tunnel fluidly connected to the plurality of coke ovens and configured to receive the exhaust gases from each of the coke ovens, multiple standard heat recovery steam generators fluidly connected to the common tunnel where the ratio of coke ovens to standard heat recovery steam generators is at least 20:1, and a redundant heat recovery steam generator fluidly connected to the common tunnel where any one of the plurality of standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator is adapted to receive the exhaust gases from the plurality of ovens and extract heat from the exhaust gases and where the standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator are all connected in parallel with each other.

A coke plant includes multiple coke ovens where each coke oven is adapted to produce exhaust gases, a common tunnel fluidly connected to the plurality of coke ovens and configured to receive the exhaust gases from each of the coke ovens, multiple standard heat recovery steam generators fluidly connected to the common tunnel where the ratio of coke ovens to standard heat recovery steam generators is at least 20:1, and a redundant heat recovery steam generator fluidly connected to the common tunnel where any one of the plurality of standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator is adapted to receive the exhaust gases from the plurality of ovens and extract heat from the exhaust gases and where the standard heat recovery steam generators and the redundant heat recovery steam generator are all connected in parallel with each other.

A coke oven includes an oven chamber configured to support and heat a coal bed, a castable slab below the oven chamber, and a foundation supporting the heat recovery oven. One or more beams are positioned between the castable slab and the foundation. The beams extend from a first end of the oven chamber to a second end of the oven chamber, forming a plurality of air gaps between the castable slab and the foundation. Heat from the oven chamber is dissipated by the one or more beams.

A coke oven includes an oven chamber configured to support and heat a coal bed, a castable slab below the oven chamber, and a foundation supporting the heat recovery oven. One or more beams are positioned between the castable slab and the foundation. The beams extend from a first end of the oven chamber to a second end of the oven chamber, forming a plurality of air gaps between the castable slab and the foundation. Heat from the oven chamber is dissipated by the one or more beams.

The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

The present technology is generally directed to methods of increasing coal processing rates for coke ovens. In various embodiments, the present technology is applied to methods of coking relatively small coal charges over relatively short time periods, resulting in an increase in coal processing rate. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly and forwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, a false door system includes a false door that is vertically oriented to maximize an amount of coal being charged into the oven.

A coke oven includes an oven chamber, an uptake duct in fluid communication with the oven chamber, the uptake duct being configured to receive exhaust gases from the oven chamber, an uptake damper in fluid communication with the uptake duct, the uptake damper being positioned at any one of multiple positions, the uptake damper configured to control an oven draft, an actuator configured to alter the position of the uptake damper between the positions in response to a position instruction, a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the coke oven, wherein the sensor includes one of a draft sensor, a temperature sensor configured to detect an uptake duct temperature or a sole flue temperature, and an oxygen sensor, and a controller being configured to provide the position instruction to the actuator in response to the operating condition detected by the sensor.

A coke oven includes an oven chamber, an uptake duct in fluid communication with the oven chamber, the uptake duct being configured to receive exhaust gases from the oven chamber, an uptake damper in fluid communication with the uptake duct, the uptake damper being positioned at any one of multiple positions, the uptake damper configured to control an oven draft, an actuator configured to alter the position of the uptake damper between the positions in response to a position instruction, a sensor configured to detect an operating condition of the coke oven, wherein the sensor includes one of a draft sensor, a temperature sensor configured to detect an uptake duct temperature or a sole flue temperature, and an oxygen sensor, and a controller being configured to provide the position instruction to the actuator in response to the operating condition detected by the sensor.