Abstract:
A method and apparatus for quenching metallurgical coke made in a coking oven. The method includes pushing a unitary slab of incandescent coke onto a substantially planar receiving surface of an enclosed quenching car so that substantially all of the coke from the coking oven is pushed as a unitary slab onto the receiving surface of the quenching car. The slab of incandescent coke is quenched in an enclosed environment within the quenching car with a plurality of water quench nozzles while submerging at least a portion of the slab of incandescent coke by raising a water level in the quenching car. Subsequent to quenching the coke, the planar receiving surface is tilted to an angle sufficient to slide the quenched coke off of the planar receiving surface and onto a product collection conveyer and sufficient to drain water from the quenched coke.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing coke from coal and in particular to an apparatus and method for wet quenching of a flat pushed incandescent slab of metallurgical coke in a single, multipurpose apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Metallurgical coke is a solid carbon fuel and carbon source used to melt and reduce iron ore in the production of steel. During an iron-making process, iron ore, coke, heated air and limestone or other fluxes are fed into a blast furnace. The heated air causes combustion of the coke which provides heat and a source of carbon for reducing iron oxides to iron. Limestone or other fluxes may be added to react with and remove the acidic impurities, called slag, from the molten iron. The limestone-impurities float to the top of the molten iron and are skimmed off. 
         [0003]    In one process, known as the “Thompson Coking Process,” coke used for refining metal ores is produced by batch feeding pulverized coal to an oven which is sealed and heated to very high temperatures for 24 to 48 hours under closely controlled atmospheric conditions. Coking ovens have been used for many years to covert coal into metallurgical coke. During the coking process, finely crushed coal is heated under controlled temperature conditions to devolatilize the coal and form a fused incandescent mass or slab of coke having a predetermined porosity and strength. Because the production of coke is a batch process, multiple coke ovens are operated simultaneously, hereinafter referred to as a “coke oven battery”. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “incandescent coke” means the normal state of coke when it is discharged from a coke oven. Incandescent coke is typically discharged from a coke oven at a temperature ranging from about 980° to about 1320° C. 
         [0004]    In a conventional coke oven process, once the coal is “coked out”, the coke slab is pushed from the coke oven so that it breaks up and drops into a hot car wherein the coke is quenched with water to cool the coke below its ignition temperature. The quenching operation must be carefully controlled so that the coke does not absorb too much moisture. Once it is quenched, the coke is screened and loaded into rail cars or trucks for shipment. 
         [0005]    One of the problems associated with the coke making process is dusting problems associated with removing the hot coke from the oven and dropping the coke into a quenching car as the coke is discharged from the coke ovens. As the coke drops into the quenching car, a significant amount of coke dust is created. Likewise, the quenching step produces steam and particulate matter as the coke is quenched. In fact, the largest single source of particulate matter emissions in a coke making process occurs during the coke discharge and quenching operations. Accordingly, elaborate dust collection systems have been devised to capture dust particles generated as the coke is pushed into the quench cars. However, many of these systems rely on pressure drop through a device, such as baffles or multi-cyclones to obtain efficient particulate removal. However, conventional quench systems have very little available pressure drop available for high efficiency removal of particulate matter. In order to reduce the dusting problems associated with coal coking without significantly increasing coke oven cycle times, improved apparatus and methods for quenching coke are needed. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the foregoing need, the disclosure provides a method and apparatus for quenching metallurgical coke made in a coking oven. The method includes pushing a unitary slab of incandescent coke onto a substantially planar receiving surface of an enclosed quenching car so that substantially all of the coke from the coking oven is pushed as a unitary slab onto the receiving surface of the quenching car. The slab of incandescent coke is quenched in an enclosed environment within the quenching car with a plurality of water quench nozzles while submerging at least a portion of the slab of incandescent coke by raising a water level in the quenching car. Subsequent to quenching the coke, the planar receiving surface is tilted to an angle sufficient to slide the quenched coke off of the planar receiving surface and onto a product collection conveyer and sufficient to drain water from the quenched coke. 
         [0007]    Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a movable apparatus for reducing dusting during a coke quenching step of a metallurgical coke making process. The apparatus includes a substantially fully enclosable quenching car adapted to receive a unitary slab of incandescent coke. The quenching car has an enclosable structure having a tiltable water quenching table disposed between a coke inlet end having an inlet door and a coke discharge end opposite the inlet end, the discharge end having a coke discharge door. Water spray nozzles are disposed between the inlet end and the discharge end above the quenching table. A water quenching sump is provided below the water quenching table for submerging a portion of the slab of incandescent coke in quench water. A dust collection system is attached to the enclosable structure for collecting water droplets and particulates from the coke quenching step. 
         [0008]    The method and apparatus described above provide unique advantages for coking operations. In particular, flat pushing of the coke onto a quench car as a unitary slab of incandescent coke may significantly reduce an amount of particulate matter generated during a coke oven discharge operation. Accordingly, dust collection equipment for collecting particulate matter during the coke discharge operation may be substantially smaller and may provide higher dust collection efficiencies. Another advantage of the method and apparatus disclosed herein may be the simplicity of operation and the elimination of structures and equipment necessary to quench the coke and handle the quenched coke product. For example, the dust collection system has no moving parts and may rely only on pressure generated in a substantially enclosed chamber as a motive force for gas flow through the dust collection system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings, which are not to scale, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several drawings as follows: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an overall plan view, not to scale, of a coke oven battery and associated equipment showing a quenching car in a first position for receiving coke from a coke oven; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view, not to scale, a quenching device for receiving and quenching a coke slab from a coke oven; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an end elevational view, not to scale, a quenching device for receiving and quenching a coke slab from a coke oven; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial elevational view, not to scale, of a quenching device according to the disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a coke discharge end view, not to scale, of a portion of a coke oven battery; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is partial elevational side view, not to scale, of a quenching device in a raised position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an elevational side view, not to scale, of details of an elevation and translation mechanism in a first position according to the disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an elevational side view, not to scale, of details of the elevation and translation mechanism of  FIG. 7  in a second position according to the disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is partial elevational side view, not to scale, of a quenching device in a raised position and translated position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an elevation side view, not to scale, of a lintel sealing device attached to an enclosed chamber of a quenching device according to the disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of an oven sill sweeping device attached to a quenching device according to the disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a schematic elevational view, not to scale, of a solids separation apron and sump according to the disclosure; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a plan view, not to scale, of the solids separation apron and sump of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    For purposes of this disclosure, a “unitary slab of coke” is intended to include fused incandescent coke structures as made in a coking oven. The unitary slabs of coke may have sizes ranging from about a meter wide to tens of meters long and up to about 1.5 meters deep and may weigh between about 20 and about 40 metric tons. With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a plan schematic view of a coke oven battery  10  and associated equipment for charging a coke oven battery and for removing and quenching coke produced in the coke oven battery  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The typical coke oven battery  10  contains a plurality of side by side coke ovens  12 . Each of the coke ovens  12  has a coal inlet end  14  and a coke outlet end  16  opposite the inlet end  14 . 
         [0024]    A typical coal coking cycle may range from 24 to 48 hours or more depending on the size of the coal charge to the coke ovens  12 . At the end of the coking cycle, the coke is pushed out of the oven  12  with a discharge ram  18  positioned adjacent the inlet end  14  of the ovens  12 . The discharge ram  18  may include a device for removing an inlet end  14  oven door prior to pushing the coke out of the ovens  12 . The discharge ram  18  may move along rails  20  adjacent the inlet end  14  of the ovens  12 . 
         [0025]    A coke quenching device  22  may be positioned adjacent the outlet end  16  of the ovens  12  to remove exit doors from the ovens  12  and to quench the incandescent coke pushed from the ovens  12 . In an alternative embodiment, a separate exit door removing device may be used to remove the exit doors from the outlet end  16  of the ovens  12  prior to pushing the coke into a quenching car. 
         [0026]    The coke quenching device  22  may be adapted to collect a unitary slab  24  of incandescent coke pushed from the ovens by the discharge ram  18 . The coke quenching device  22  moves along rails  26  adjacent the coke outlet end  16  of the ovens  12 . A detailed description of the quenching device  22 , including alternative mechanisms for positioning the quenching device adjacent the outlet end  16  of the ovens  12  is described in more detail below. During a coke pushing operation, the coke is pushed out of the ovens  12  as a substantially unitary slab  24  into an essentially enclosed structure  28  of the quenching device  22 . 
         [0027]    Once the incandescent coke is loaded onto the quenching device  22 , a quenching operation is begun. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the quenching device  22  includes an essentially enclosed, gas tight structure  28  having an inlet door  30  and an outlet door  32 . The inlet door  30  may be a slidable door that provides an opening in the structure  28  that is sufficient to enable the unitary slob of incandescent coke  24  to be pushed onto a tiltable receiving table  34  within the structure  28 . As the coke  24  is pushed from the oven  12  into the structure  28 , water sprays  36  are activated to initiate a quench of the upper side of the coke  24  and to partially suppress at least a portion of fugitive dust emissions that may be generated as the incandescent coke  24  is pushed onto the tiltable receiving table  34 . Once the entire slab of coke  24  is in the structure  28 , the inlet door  30  is closed thereby providing a substantially gas tight structure  28 . 
         [0028]    The structure  28  also includes a sump portion  38  containing a volume of quench water  40 . The quench water  40  in the sump portion  38  may provide substantially more quench water than the water spray nozzles  36 . In one embodiment, the ratio of the volume of water from the water spray nozzles  36  to the quench water  40  in the sump portion  38  may range from about 1:10 to about 1.1 by volume. Make up water to the spray nozzles  36  and sump portion  38  may be provided by a water channel running along the coke oven battery  10  that supplies a pump aboard the quench device  22 . 
         [0029]    In order to quench the coke using the quench water  40  in the sump portion  38 , a plunger  42  ( FIG. 3 ) may be lowered into the sump portion  38  to raise the quench water  40  from a first level  44  to a second level  46  that at least partially submerges the slab  24  of incandescent coke. The water level is raised by displacing quench water  40  in the sump portion  38  with the plunger  42 . The portion of the slab  24  that is submerged in the quench water  40  may vary depending on a thickness T of the slab  24 . Typically the portion of the slab that is submerged may range from about 5 to about 50 percent of the thickness T of the slab  24 . For example, a slab  24  having a thickness T of about 80 centimeters may be submerged from about 4 to about 40 centimeters by the quench water  40 . As the slab  24  is submerged and cooled by direct contact with the quench water  40 , upper portions of the slab  24  are quenched by steam generated by the quench water  40  as fissures open up in the coke slab  24  during quenching and by the water sprays  36 . The rate of submergence of the slab  24  is relatively slow in order to prevent steam explosions that may be caused by rapid quenching. However, there is a delicate balance between the rate of quenching and a moisture content of the product coke. Accordingly, in order to aid the quenching step and prevent steam explosions, the slab  24  may be split into sections ranging from about three 1 meter wide to about 2 meters wide. 
         [0030]    A typical total amount of quenching fluid suitable for quenching the coke slab  24  may range from about 1.5 to about 2.5 parts by weight water per part by weight coke. The quenching step is typically conducted as rapidly as possible and may range from about 1.5 to about 2.5 minutes total to provide coke having a moisture content of less than about 3.0 percent by weight, typically from about 1.5 to about 3.0 percent by weight. 
         [0031]    After quenching of the coke slab  24  is complete, the plunger  42  may be raised to lower the water level below the outlet door  32  level of the structure  28 . Once the water level is lowered, the outlet door  32  may be opened and a metering conveyer  48  ( FIG. 2 ) may be started to break and convey coke to a product collection area. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the outlet door  32  may be hingedly attached to the structure  28 , wherein in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 4 , a gasket  33  provides a gas tight seal between the door  32  and the structure  28 . The gasket  33  may circumscribe the door opening so that when closed, the door  32  is sealed on all sides with the gasket  33 . As the door  32  is opened, as shown in outline in  FIG. 4 , the tiltable receiving table  34  may be raised by crane hoist  50  and cable  52  assemblies attached to opposing sides of the tiltable receiving table  34  as shown in  FIG. 3  or any other suitable mechanism such as a hydraulic lifting device. The tiltable table  34  may be raised to an angle ranging from about 15 to about 40 degrees relative to a substantially horizontal position. As the table  34  is raised, quench water is drained from the quenched slab  24  back into the sump portion  38  and the slab slides onto the metering conveyer  48  which may be a high temperature metering conveyor structure. 
         [0032]    The metering conveyor  48  may discharge the coke onto a belt conveyor  58  for transport to a product receiving area. In the event the belt conveyor  58  is not operating, a by-pass chute may be provided to dump the product coke onto the ground adjacent the metering conveyor  48 . 
         [0033]    When the quenched coke  24  has been completely discharged from the device  22  and drained, the metering conveyor  48  may be stopped, the door  32  may be closed, and the table  34  may be lowered for receiving another slab of incandescent coke  24 . During this process, water may be added to the sump portion  38  from the water channel. Also the device may be moved to reposition the device  22  adjacent another oven  12  for receiving another incandescent slab  24  for quenching. 
         [0034]    Due to the fact that the structure  28  is substantially gas tight, steam and water vapor generated during the quenching step may pressurize the structure  28  sufficient to cause gas and vapor flow through attached particulate matter collection devices  54  ( FIG. 3 ). The collection devices  54  may be multi-cyclone dust collector devices or any other suitable particular matter collection device that is effective to trap dust and water vapor droplets that may contain coke particulate matter entrained therein. For multi-cyclone dust collectors, the pressure in the structure  28  may range from about 5 to about 25 centimeters of water or more. Since the structure  28  is pressurized by steam and vapor from the quenching step, no forced draft or induced draft fans are required to provide flow through the collection devices  54 . In an alternative, an induced draft fan may be used to cause flow through the collection devices  54 . Clean gas may be discharged to the atmosphere through exit ducts  56  in the collection devices  56 . Accordingly, no moving parts are required to provide suitable collection of dust and particulate matter from the quenching process. 
         [0035]    Without desiring to be bound by theoretical considerations, it is believed that the gas tight quench structure  28  describe above may significantly improve the removal efficiency of particulate matter compared to the removal efficiency of conventional induced draft quenching systems. For example, assuming a vapor flow rate ranging from about 416 actual cubic meters per second (m 3 /sec) to about 250 actual m 3 /sec in a quenching step, a conventional induced draft quenching system may only provide at most about 0.6 cm of water pressure. Since the available pressure is only about 0.6 cm of water, the pressure drop through any particulate removal device must be less than 0.6 cm of water or about 0.5 cm of water. Accordingly, devices, such as baffles are typically used in an induced draft quench system to create a pressure drop so that particulate matter can be removed from the gas and vapor streams. Accordingly, the pressure generated in a conventional quench system is insufficient for use with high efficiency particulate removal devices such as bag dust collectors and multi-cyclone devices. 
         [0036]    By comparison, the same flow rates of gas and vapor in the quenching device  22  described herein may provide a pressure ranging from about 11 cm of water at 416 actual m 3 /sec to about 4.3 cm of water pressure at 250 actual m 3 /sec. In view of the higher pressure drop provided by the quenching device  22 , a multi-cyclone or other higher pressure drop particulate removal systems may be used. Accordingly, removal efficiency of particulate matter from the gas and vapor streams generated during quenching may be significantly greater than with conventional quenching systems. 
         [0037]    Another component of the quenching device  22  may be an integral coke exit door removal device  60 . The exit door removing device  60  includes mechanisms to correctly position the device  60  at the outlet end  16  of the oven  12  to be discharged of finished coke, and to remove a coke discharge door  62  ( FIG. 5 ) from the coke outlet end  16  of the oven  12 . The door removal device  60  may include a mechanism to rotate rotary wedge locks  63  to unlatch the door  62  and to move the door  62  straight back from the oven  12 . The quenching device  22  then moves along the rails  26  to position the inlet door  30  in front of the oven  12  from which the coke discharge door  62  was removed. 
         [0038]    The exit door removal device  60  may be manually operated and thus may be controlled from a control booth  64  ( FIG. 3 ) on the quenching device  22 . The control booth  64  may include all control devices and motor control center cabinets, as well as an emergency stop button for the quenching device  22 . Typically, all operations performed by the door removal device  60  may be hydraulically powered. For example, hydraulic cylinders may be used to unlock rotary locks on the door  62  and to engage and retract the door  62  from oven  12 . 
         [0039]    Prior to removing the door  62 , a laser targeting device may be used by the operator to accurately position the quenching device  22  so that the door removal device  60  is adjacent the coke outlet end  16  of the oven  12 . Mechanical interlocks may also be used to assure that the door removal device  60  is in the correct position to unlock and remove the door  62  from the oven  12 . A diesel engine may be used to move the quenching device  22  along the rails  26 . 
         [0040]    With reference now to  FIGS. 6-11  various detailed aspects of the quenching device  22  may be illustrated and described. The quenching device  22  is a unique device that enables collection and quenching of a substantially unitary slab  24  of incandescent coke from the coke ovens  12  without the need to further transport or transfer the coke to a separate quenching car in a separate quenching area. The quenching device  22  is designed to traverse parallel to the coke oven battery  10  along the rails  26  adjacent to the ovens  12 . In an alternative embodiment, the quenching device  22  may also contain an elevation and translation mechanism  72  ( FIGS. 6-9 ), a lintel sealing device  110  ( FIG. 10 ), and an oven skirt sweeping mechanism  120  ( FIG. 11 ). Each of these mechanisms will be described in more detail below. 
         [0041]    After the door removal device  60  has removed the coke exit door  62  from an oven  12 , the quenching device  22  may be re-positioned in line with the oven  12  to receive the coke being pushed out of the oven  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A laser spotting device may be provided to assist an operator in visually aligning the quenching device  22  for proper interface with the oven  12 . Once the quenching device  22  has been properly spotted, one or more mechanical interlocks are activated to assure that the quenching device  22  is in the proper position for receiving the coke slab  24 . 
         [0042]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , a portion of the coke oven battery  10  viewed from the coke outlet end  16  of the ovens  12  is illustrated. As will be appreciated, each of the ovens  12  may be at slightly different heights above a ground elevation  66  as indicated by reference line  68 . Accordingly, the quenching device  22  must be adjusted to the height of each oven  12  during the coke pushing operation in order to push a substantially unitary slab  24  of hot coke onto the tiltable receiving table  34  of the quenching device  22  without substantially fracturing the slab  24 . In other words, the slab  24  of coke is not dropped into the quenching device  22  as in conventional quench cars where the coke is dropped so that the slab breaks up into smaller chunks of coke for quenching. Accordingly, a mechanism is provided on the quenching device  22  to position the enclosed structure  28  adjacent the outlet end  16  of the oven  12  and for providing a relatively smooth transition for the slab  24  of coke to move from an oven floor  70  into the enclosed structure  28 . 
         [0043]    With reference again to  FIGS. 2-3 , a side elevational view of the quenching device  22  and an end elevational view of the quenching device  22  are illustrated. The quenching device  22  includes the enclosed structure  28  that is movably disposed on the elevation and translation mechanism  72  ( FIGS. 6-9 ) described in more detail below. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the enclosed structure  28  is mounted on a frame  74  that contains wheels  76  for movement of the quenching device on the rails  26 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first elevational position of the enclosed structure  28  relative to the frame  74 . The first elevational position is used for moving the quenching device  22  along the rails  26 . In the first elevational position, the enclosed structure  28  is closely adjacent the frame  74 . Upon positioning the quenching device  22 , adjacent the oven  12 , the enclosed structure  28  is raised to a second elevational position as shown in  FIG. 6 . In the second elevational position, the tiltable receiving table  34  of the quenching device  22  is substantially at the same height as the oven floor  70  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0045]    A portion of the elevational and translation mechanism  72  is illustrated in more detail in  FIGS. 7-8 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the mechanism  72  has pivoting rollers  76  an actuator roller  78 . Each pivoting roller  76  and actuator roller  78  is attached to the frame  74 . The actuator roller  78  is attached to the frame  74  about a pivot pin  80  and the pivoting rollers  76  are attached to the frame  74  about a pivot pin  82 . Each of the rollers  76  and  78  is pivotally linked to an actuator arm  84  for rotating the pivoting rollers  76  and actuator roller  78  from the first position illustrated in  FIG. 7  to the second position illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The actuator arm  84  is pivotally connected on a distal end  86  to the actuator roller  78  so that movement of the actuator roller  78  causes movement of the pivoting rollers  76  as shown. An actuator mechanism  88  is attached to the frame  74  and to the actuator roller  78  to cause movement of the actuator roller  78  and the pivoting rollers  76  in order to raise and lower the enclosed chamber  28 . The actuator mechanism  88  may be selected from a wide variety of mechanisms such as worm gears, chain drives, hydraulic cylinders, and the like. A hydraulic cylinder actuator mechanism  88  is particularly suitable for use in the elevation and translation mechanism  72  described herein. 
         [0046]    As set forth above, due to oven height disparities between ovens  12 , the alternative elevation and translation mechanism  72  may be used to provide the enclosed chamber  28  at a desired elevation for pushing the substantially unitary slab  24  of coke onto the quenching device  22 . Variations in oven height typically range from about 2.5 to about 15 cm. Accordingly, the elevation and translation mechanism  72  should be capable of moving the enclosed chamber  28  up or down from 2.5 to about 15 cm and holding the enclosed chamber  28  at a desired elevation between 2.5 and 15 cm. It will be appreciated that height elevations that may be needed for a particular oven battery may range more than from about 2.5 to about 15 cm. 
         [0047]    Once enclosed structure  28  is at an elevation, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , that is suitable for transfer of the substantially unitary slab  24  of coke from the oven  12 , the operator traverses the enclosed structure forward so that the inlet door  30  of the enclosed structure  28  is closely adjacent to the oven  12 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , to provide a substantially continuous surface for pushing the coke from the oven into the enclosed structure  28 . A transition section  90  may be pivotally attached adjacent the inlet door  30  end of the enclosed structure  28  to prevent the enclosed structure  28  from damaging the oven floor  70  upon mating the enclosed structure  28  with the oven  12 . 
         [0048]    Referring again to  FIG. 6 , once the enclosed structure  28  is at the desired elevation, a translation actuator  92  attached to the frame  74  and to the enclosed structure  28  may be used to translate the enclosed structure from a retracted position, shown in  FIG. 6 , to a coke pushing position, shown in  FIG. 9 . In the retracted position, there is a space between the oven  12  and enclosed structure  28  sufficient for movement of the quenching device  22  along the rails  26  adjacent the ovens  12 . However, in the coke pushing position illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the enclosed structure  28  is closely adjacent to the oven  12  and the transition section  90  is resting on an oven sill  94 . After loading the coke into the enclosed chamber  28 , enclosed chamber  28  is retracted from the oven  12  and lowered to the first elevational position for quenching the coke and for moving the quenching device  22  to a position to reinstall the exit door  62  on the oven  12 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , each of the pivoting rollers  76  and the actuator roller  78  contains wheels  100  and  102 , respectively that enable a translational movement of the enclosed chamber  28  thereon relative to the frame  74 . The wheels  100  and  102  engage a bottom portion of the enclosed chamber  28  or rails attached to the bottom portion of the enclosed chamber  28  for rolling movement thereon. 
         [0050]    In another alternative embodiment, the quenching system  22  may be positioned on rails  26  closely adjacent to the ovens  10  so that a portion of the quenching system  22  overhangs a coke side bench  96 . In such embodiment, the transition section  90  may be used to provide a smooth transfer of the coke slab  24  into the quenching device  22 . Hence, the above described the elevation and translation mechanism  72  may not be required for this embodiment. 
         [0051]    In order to reduce emissions of gases and particulates during the transfer of the coke slab  24  from the oven  12  to the quenching device  22 , the lintel sealing device  110  is provided as shown in more detail in  FIG. 10 . The lintel sealing device  110  and engages a lintel beam  112  of the oven  12  when enclosed structure  28  is closely adjacent to the oven  12 . The lintel sealing device  110  provides sealing between the enclosed structure  28  the oven  12  in order to reduce an amount of dust, fumes, and particulate matter that may escape from the open end  16  of the oven  12 . The lintel sealing device  110  includes a flexible wire brush-like member  114  fixedly attached to an extension arm  116  on the enclosed structure  28  for sealing contact with a lintel beam  112  of the oven  12  as the enclosed structure  28  is traversed toward the oven  12 . 
         [0052]    During the coke pushing step for pushing the coke slab  24  into the enclosed chamber,  28 , coke dust may accumulate on the oven sill  94  attached to each oven  12  after removing the oven exit door  62 . Accordingly, the oven skirt sweeping mechanism  120 , as shown in  FIG. 11  may be provided on the transition section  90  to remove coke dust from the sill  94  in order to provide a smooth transition between the oven floor  70  and the transition section  90 . In one embodiment, the sweeping mechanism  120  may include a gas jet spray nozzle  122  and a source  124  of compressed gas in fluid flow communication with the spray nozzle  122 . The spray nozzle  122  may be activated by the operator when the oven door  62  is removed to provide a relatively coke free sill  94  for mating with the transition section  90  of the quenching device  22  and/or after pushing the coke into the quenching device  22  before replacing the oven exit door  62 . 
         [0053]    Once the coke slab  24  has been pushed into the enclosed structure  28  by the coke discharge ram  18 , the operator retracts enclosed structure  28  away from the oven  12  and lowers the structure  28  to the first elevational position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0054]    As with any coke quenching operation, solids, including coke fines plus ash from the coke slab  24  may accumulate in the quench water  40  in the sump portion  38  of the quenching device  22 . It is anticipated that the sump portion  38  may be able to hold the solids from about 50 oven pushes (about 8 hours of quenching operation). After 50 pushes, the quenching device  22  may be trammed to a solids dewatering area  130  illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0055]    Once the quenching device  22  is in the solids dewatering area  130 , which may be located at one end of the coke oven battery  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 , drain valves of a size sufficient to pass water and the solids through may be opened up in the sump portion  38  of the quenching device  22 . It is highly desirable that the sump portion  38  of the quenching device be sloped to aid in the removal of solids with the water from the sump portion. “Water cannon” type nozzles may be included in the sump portion  38  to flush solids out of the sump portion  38  during draining. After the sump portion  38  has been drained and cleaned, discharge valves are closed and the sump portion  38  may be refilled with clean water. 
         [0056]    The discharge water with solids is directed to a gently sloping concrete apron  132 . The slope of the gently sloping apron  132  may range from about one percent to about five percent slope. As the water and solids flow down the gently sloping apron  132 , most of the solids may be left on the apron  132  and the water flows into a holding basin  134 . The holding basin may be of a size suitable to hold from about 60,000 to about 100,000 gallons or more. The solids on the apron  132  may be removed periodically using a front end loader  136 . 
         [0057]    Water from the holding basin  134  may overflow through a weir  138  into a clear well  140 . The clear well  140  may be used to provide make up water to the sump portion  38  of the quenching device  22 . The clear well may be sized to hold from about 120,000 to about 200,000 gallons of water, or may be sized to hold the same amount of water as the holding basin. 
         [0058]    In the foregoing description, the entire apparatus with the exception of conveyor belts, electrical components and the like may be made of cast or forged steel. Accordingly, robust construction of the apparatus is possible and provides a relatively long lasting apparatus which is suitable for the coke oven environment. 
         [0059]    The foregoing embodiments are susceptible to considerable variation in its practice. Accordingly, the embodiments are not intended to be limited to the specific exemplifications set forth hereinabove. Rather, the foregoing embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, including the equivalents thereof available as a matter of law. 
         [0060]    The patentees do not intend to dedicate any disclosed embodiments to the public, and to the extent any disclosed modifications or alterations may not literally fall within the scope of the claims, they are considered to be part hereof under the doctrine of equivalents.