Patent ID: 7727382

Claim:
A process for producing and removing coke which has a bulk morphology such that at least 60 volume percent is substantially free-flowing from a delayed coker vessel, which delayed coker vessel contains: i) a bottom portion defining an aperture through which coke is discharged; ii) at least one inlet feed entry line positioned above said aperture; and iii) a drum closure/discharge throttling system having a closure member and being sealing attached to the bottom of the coker vessel and covering said aperture; comprising: a) ensuring that the closure member of said drum closure/discharge throttling system is in the closed position; b) feeding a heated residuum feedstock to a coker vessel through one or more feed lines, which feedstock is one that is capable of producing coke that has a bulk morphology such that at least 60 volume percent is substantially free-flowing under the force of gravity or hydrostatic forces in the coke drum, or one that will form free-flowing coke with use of a suitable additive, under delayed coking conditions; c) maintaining the coker vessel at delayed coker conditions for an effective amount of time thereby resulting in vapor products and a bed of at least 60 volume percent of substantially free-flowing shot coke; d) removing at least a portion of the vapor products overhead; e) quenching said bed comprised of at least 60 volume percent of substantially free-flowing shot coke with steam injected into the coker drum and removing additional vapor products overhead; f) introducing water into said coker vessel to cool the bed comprised of at least 60 volume percent substantially free-flowing shot coke and retaining the water in the vessel to form a slurry with the substantially free-flowing shot coke; g) throttling open said closure member in a controlled fashion to allow a controlled discharge of the substantially free-flowing shot coke and water as a slurry from the coker vessel; and h) collecting the coke discharged from the coker vessel.