Patent ID: 8349169

Claim:
A method for decoking a tube furnace used in combination with delayed coke drums, the method comprising the steps of: feeding a hydrocarbon feed to a tube furnace comprising a plurality of passes, wherein each pass comprises a furnace tube including a hydrocarbon feed input line and a feed output line having a computer-controlled, automatic three-way valve located therein upstream of a combined output line leading to the delayed coke drums; monitoring the performance of each pass; maintaining hydrocarbon feed to each pass while the number of passes that meet or exceed an allocated performance rate does not fall below a predetermined number; initiating decoking of the passes separately or together when the number of passes that meet or exceed the allocated performance rates falls below the predetermined number thereby generating decoking waste; diverting the decoking waste via the three-way valves to a decoke waste system; completing the decoking of the passes; and redirecting hydrocarbon feed to the tube furnace to provide heated hydrocarbon feed to the combined output line and the downstream coke drums via the three-way valves.