Patent Publication Number: US-2016230098-A1

Title: Coal charging telescope for filling coke ovens

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a coal charging telescope for charging coke ovens having an upper connector device for fastening to a coal charging carriage, a charging telescope upper part which is suspended on pendulum elements, and a charging telescope lower part which is suspended by way of further pendulum elements on a lifting device, a seal being arranged between the charging telescope upper part and the connector device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A coal charging telescope having the described features is known from DE 10 2007 044 181 A1. The known construction is very flexible, with the result that the telescope lower part can be adapted to the position of the oven charging frame of a coke oven and sufficiently large compensation movements are possible in three axial directions, without the movable parts of the charging telescope being loaded excessively as a result. Furthermore, the known coal charging telescope is distinguished by a satisfactory sealing action. However, it is not possible to trap charging emissions which are produced during charging of an oven chamber and to discharge them for the purpose of combustion or further utilization. 
     Coal charging telescopes are known from practice which, in addition to transferring the feedstock coal from a coal charging carriage into an oven chamber, can also trap the charging emissions which are produced during charging of the oven chamber and can feed them to a combustion or filter system which is installed on the coal charging carriage. In the case of this requirement, the charging telescopes have to be of sealed configuration, in order that the emissions can be fed to the abovementioned systems without leakage into the environment. A generally known deficiency of charging telescope systems having charging emission trapping means is the fact that the required sealing action of the charging telescopes cannot be reconciled with the flexibility of the charging telescopes which is required by coking plant operators and is necessary, in particular, in relatively old coking plant systems for positional correction. Known charging telescope systems having charging emission trapping means cannot meet this requirement of the coking plant operators and represent only compromised solutions in relation to sealing action and flexibility. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following, the disclosure will be explained with reference to a drawing representing merely an exemplary embodiment. In the FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a coal charging telescope constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Against this background, the invention is based on the problem of specifying a coal charging telescope which is very movable in three axes, whereas the coke oven charging means is sealed and, moreover, makes trapping of the emissions which are produced during coke oven charging and their reliable discharge for combustion or further recycling possible. 
     The subject matter of the invention and the solution of said problem is a coal charging telescope as claimed in claim  1 . 
     The coal charging telescope has the features which were mentioned at the outset. According to the invention, the charging telescope lower part is introduced into the charging telescope upper part and is configured as a double-walled element which has an outer shell and an inner tube. Furthermore, the connector device has a coal charging tube and a gas collecting space which adjoins the upper side of the charging telescope upper part with an outlet opening for discharging emissions. The coal charging tube extends in every functional position of the lifting device as far as into the region of the charging telescope lower part. Emissions are produced during coke oven charging and pass through an annular space of the charging telescope lower part, which annular space is delimited by the outer shell and the inner tube, into the charging telescope upper part and from there into the gas collecting space of the connector device. 
     The discharge of the emissions is not impeded by the flow of coal during the coke oven charging. During the charging operation, the coal is conducted through the charging tube of the connector device as far as into the charging telescope lower part. Here, the flow of coal is separated by way of the inner tube of the charging telescope lower part from the emissions which flow upward through the annular space of the double-walled charging telescope lower part. The space of the charging telescope upper part is utilized as flow space for the emissions. The emissions can be collected and discharged with low flow pressure losses by way of the annular space of the charging telescope lower part and by way of the adjoining space of the charging telescope upper part. 
     A permanently installed suction line system can be connected to the outlet opening of the gas collecting space of the connector device, which suction line system conducts the emissions, for example, to a combustion or filter system on the coal charging carriage. The connector device is connected to the coal charging carriage and is separated from the charging telescope upper part which can be moved in the transverse and longitudinal direction with respect to the coal charging carriage as a result of its suspension on pendulum elements. The connector device therefore does not perform any horizontal or vertical movements during the compensating movements of the charging telescope. The suction line system can therefore be connected to the connector device of the coal charging telescope without compensating elements in the form of compensators or the like. This increases the operational reliability of a coal charging carriage substantially, since it is known that compensating elements, such as compensators and the like, are subject to increased wear as a consequence of continuous movements and can have undesired leaks after a short service life. 
     The annular space of the charging telescope lower part for discharging emissions extends as far as the lower edge of the charging telescope lower part. At its lower end, the charging telescope lower part preferably has a double-walled outlet cone which is formed by the inner tube and the outer shell, the internal diameter of the chute opening which is measured at the lower edge of the inner tube being smaller than the diameter of the opening of the outlet cone, which opening is delimited by the lower edge of the outer shell. The chute opening which is defined by the dimension of the inner tube is smaller than the opening of the outlet cone which bears against a charging hole frame in the oven ceiling of the coke oven during coke oven charging. A space remains between the flow of coal which enters into the charging hole and the circumference of the charging hole, through which space emissions can be extracted by suction in an unimpeded manner and can be fed to the annular space of the charging telescope lower part. 
     A further advantageous refinement of the outlet cone provides that a circle comprising a plurality of guiding elements which are spaced apart from one another for guiding emissions which enter into the annular space of the charging telescope lower part is arranged on the inner side of the outlet cone below the chute opening which is defined by the inner tube. The guiding elements can be configured, in particular, as rib-shaped projections. The circle comprising guiding elements produces a flow abatement zone close to the wall and reduces a suction effect of the mass flow of coal which enters through the coal charging opening into the coke oven. 
     A seal element for sealing on the charging hole frame of the coke oven is expediently arranged on the outer shell of the outlet cone. 
     One advantageous refinement of the connector device provides that the connector device has a box which is open on the bottom side, the coal charging tube extending through the interior of the box and that space of the box which surrounds the coal charging tube forming the gas collecting space. The outlet opening is expediently arranged on one side of the box and has a stub for connecting a suction line. The sealing means between the connector device and the charging telescope upper part is arranged on the lower side of the box. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging telescope upper part has an annular flange and the connector device has a horizontal lower terminating face, the seal being arranged between the annular flange and the lower terminating face of the connector device. The seal is preferably configured as a tube or diaphragm, the interior of the sealing tube or a space which is closed off by the diaphragm being connected to a pressure source. During telescoping adjusting movements of the charging telescope, the seal is pressure-relieved, with the result that the annular flange of the charging telescope upper part can be moved freely without constraints relative to the sealing face of the connector device. After the charging telescope has been lowered onto the charging opening in the oven ceiling and has reached its end position, the seal can be activated, that is to say can be loaded with compressed air or another pressure medium. As a result of the pressure loading, the seal curves outward and acts on an associated surface, as a result of which an optimum sealing action is ensured during the charging operation. 
     A seal is also preferably arranged between the charging telescope lower part and the charging telescope upper part, it being possible for conventional seal materials to be used or a pressure-loaded tube or a pressure-loaded diaphragm likewise being used as seal. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging telescope lower part has a radially protruding collar which is arranged on the outer shell, and a seal is arranged on the telescope upper part, which seal bears against the collar when the charging telescope lower part is lowered into a lower position for coke oven charging. If the charging telescope lower part is raised up by means of the lifting device, the collar leaves the area of action of the seal, a gap which corresponds to the thickness of the collar being produced between the outer shell and the seal, and it being possible for the charging telescope lower part to be adjusted without contact with the seal. Since the seal comes into contact with the charging telescope lower part only when the charging telescope lower part reaches a lower end position for the purpose of coke oven charging, wear of the seal can be largely reduced. The collar can, in particular, also be composed of a thermally insulating material, with the result that the temperature loading of the seal during coke oven charging is reduced. 
     In the following text, the invention will be explained using one exemplary embodiment. The single FIGURE diagrammatically shows a coal charging telescope in two functional positions. 
     The charging telescope which is shown in the FIGURE is fastened to a discharge device on the underside of a coal charging carriage (not shown) and serves to transfer feedstock coal from the discharge device into the oven chambers of a coke oven. Emissions which are produced during coke oven charging are trapped and are discharged for the purpose of combustion or further utilization. 
     The coal charging telescope has an upper connector device  1  for fastening to a coal charging carriage, a charging telescope upper part  3  which is suspended on pendulum elements  2 , and a charging telescope lower part  6  which is suspended by way of further pendulum elements  4  on a lifting device  5 . A seal  7  is arranged between the charging telescope upper part  3  and the connector device  1 . The charging telescope lower part  6  can be lowered onto a charging hole frame  8  in the oven ceiling of the coke oven by way of an adjusting movement of the lifting device  5 . The charging hole frame forms an opening in the oven ceiling. The right-hand illustration of the FIGURE shows the position of the charging telescope lower part  6  during the coke oven charging. After the charging of the oven chamber, the charging telescope lower part  6  is raised up, said charging telescope lower part  6  assuming the position which is shown in the left-hand illustration of the FIGURE. 
     The charging telescope lower part  6  engages into the charging telescope upper part  3  and is configured as a double-walled element which has an outer shell  9  and an inner tube  10 . The connector device  1  has a coal charging tube  11  and a gas collecting space  12  which adjoins the upper side of the charging telescope upper part  3  with an outlet opening  13  for discharging emissions. The coal charging tube  11  of the connector device  1  is dimensioned in such a way that the coal charging tube  11  extends in every functional position of the lifting device  5  as far as into the region of the charging telescope lower part  6 . Emissions which are released during the charging of the oven chamber can be discharged through an annular space  14  of the charging telescope lower part  6 , which annular space  14  is delimited by the outer shell  9  and the inner tube  10 , into the charging telescope upper part  3  and pass from there into the gas collecting space  12  of the connector device  1 . The upwardly flowing emissions which are shown by way of a flow arrow and the downwardly directed flow of coal are separated from one another by way of the wall of the inner tube  10 . The emissions which are produced during the charging of a coke oven can be extracted through the annular space  14  of the charging telescope lower part  6  and subsequently through the space of the charging telescope upper part  3  with a low flow pressure loss. 
     At its lower end, the charging telescope lower part  6  has a double-walled outlet cone  15  which is formed by the inner tube  10  and the outer shell  9 , the internal diameter d of the chute opening  16  which is measured at the lower edge of the inner tube  10  being smaller than the diameter D of the opening of the outlet cone  15 , which opening is delimited by the lower edge of the outer shell  9 . By way of this configuration, the opening region of the annular space  14 , through which emissions are discharged, and a region close to the wall below said opening region remain substantially free of coal, with the result that emissions can be withdrawn without impairment of the mass flow of coal which flows into the oven shaft. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, a circle comprising a plurality of guiding elements  17  which are spaced apart from one another in the form of rib-shaped projections is arranged on the inner side of the outlet cone  15  below the chute opening  16  which is defined by the inner tube  10 . The guiding elements  17  assist the discharge of the emissions. The circle which is formed from the guiding elements  17  forms a flow abatement zone and reduces the suction effect of the downwardly flowing mass flow of coal on the upwardly flowing emissions. 
     A seal element  18  for sealing on the charging hole frame  8  in the oven ceiling of a coke oven is arranged on the outer shell  9  of the outlet cone  15 . 
     The connector device  1  can be fastened to the underside of a coal charging carriage and has a box  19  which is open on the lower side and through which the coal charging tube  11  of the connector device  1  extends. The space of the box  19 , which space surrounds the coal charging tube  11 , forms the gas collecting space  12 . The outlet opening  13  is arranged on one side of the box  19  and has a stub for connecting a suction line  20 , through which the charging emissions pass to a combustion or filter system on the charging carriage. The box  19  which is open on the lower side is separate from the charging telescope upper part  3  and therefore does not perform any horizontal or vertical movements when the charging telescope is lowered onto a charging hole in the oven ceiling for filling a coke oven and in the process the charging telescope upper part and/or the charging telescope lower part perform/performs laterally directed compensating movements. The suction line  20  for discharging the charging emissions can therefore be connected without compensating elements in the form of compensators or the like to the outlet opening  13  of the connector device  1  or to the stub of the box  19  of the connector device  1 , which box  19  is open toward the bottom. This increases the operational reliability of a coal charging carriage substantially, since compensators and similar compensating elements are subject to increased wear in the case of continuous movements and can become leaky after a short service life. 
     A seal  21  is likewise arranged between the charging telescope lower part  6  and the charging telescope upper part  3 . Furthermore, it can be gathered from the FIGURE that the charging telescope lower part  6  has a radially protruding collar  22  which is arranged on the outer shell  9 , and the seal  21  which is fastened to the charging telescope upper part  3  bears against the collar  22  when the charging telescope lower part  6  has been lowered into a lower position for coke oven charging. The collar can also be configured as an insulating body and can protect the seal  21  against loading with excessive temperatures during the coke oven charging. 
     The seal between the connector device  1  and the charging telescope upper part  3  is preferably configured as a tube or diaphragm, the interior of the tube or a space which is closed off by the diaphragm being connected to a pressure source (not shown). The seal is activated by way of pressure loading with compressed air or another pressure medium and curves outward, said seal bridging the gap between the surfaces to be sealed. If the charging telescope is to be retracted or lowered, the seal is deactivated, that is to say is pressure-relieved. After pressure relieving, the charging telescope upper part  3  which is suspended on the pendulum elements  2  can be moved freely and can perform laterally directed compensating movements. The seal  21  between the charging telescope upper part  3  and the charging telescope lower part  6  can be composed of conventional seal materials. Said seal  21  is preferably also composed of a pressure-loaded tube or a pressure-loaded diaphragm which is pressure-relieved before an adjusting movement of the charging telescope lower part  6  and is subsequently pressure-loaded when the charging telescope lower part  6  has reached its lower end position for the purpose of oven charging. 
     The coal charging telescope according to the invention completely meets the requirements made in practice. It ensures maximum sealing action during the charging operation of an oven chamber with feedstock coal. It is very flexible and makes large compensating movements possible in three axes, with the result that the coal charging telescope is also suitable, in particular, for relatively old coking plant systems. Finally, the coal charging telescope according to the invention makes it possible to trap the charging emissions and to reliably transfer the charging emissions to a filter or combustion system which is arranged on the coal charging carriage.