Coke oven charging system
The present technology is generally directed to coal charging systems used with coke ovens. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly 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, charging plates extend outwardly from inward faces of opposing wings.
1. A coal charging system, the system comprising:
an elongated charging frame having a distal end portion, proximal end portion, and opposite sides;
a charging head operatively coupled with the distal end portion of the elongated charging frame; the charging head including a planar body residing within a charging head plane and having an upper edge portion, lower edge portion, opposite side portions, a front face, and a rearward face;
an extrusion plate operatively coupled with the rearward face of the charging head; the extrusion plate having a coal engagement face that is oriented to face rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the charging head; and
a charging conveyor operatively coupled with the elongated charging frame and having a distal end positioned adjacent the coal engagement face of the extrusion plate so that coal is deposited into an opening, which extends, unimpeded, from the distal end of the charging conveyor to the coal engagement face of the extrusion plate; the distal end of the charging conveyor further being positioned so that the coal engages the coal engagement face and increases a charging pressure, such that the extrusion plate extrudes and compacts the coal from the opening into a coal bed.
2. The coal charging system of claim 1 wherein the extrusion plate extends substantially along a length of the charging head.
3. The coal charging system of claim 1 wherein the extrusion plate further includes an upper deflection face that is oriented to face rearwardly and upwardly with respect to the charging head; the coal engagement face and deflection face being operatively coupled with one another to define a peak shape, having a peak ridge that faces rearwardly away from the charging head.
4. The coal charging system of claim 1 wherein the extrusion plate is shaped to include opposing side deflection faces that are oriented to face rearwardly and laterally with respect to the charging head.
5. A method of charging coal into a coke oven, the method comprising:
positioning a coal charging system, having an elongated charging frame, a charging head operatively coupled with the distal end portion of the elongated charging frame, and an extrusion plate operatively coupled with a reward face of the charging head, the extrusion plate having a coal engagement face oriented rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the charging head, at least partially within a charging opening of a coke oven;
conveying coal into the coal charging system and into an opening extending, unimpeded, from the distal end of the charging conveyor to the coal engagement face of the extrusion plate so that the coal piles up in the opening and engages the coal engagement face of the extrusion plate;
extruding at least a portion of the coal by continuing to convey coal into the opening and against the coal engagement face of the extrusion plate, causing a charging pressure to increase, compacting the coal and extruding it into a coal bed; and
gradually moving the coal charging system along a long axis of the coke oven.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the extrusion plate is shaped to include opposing side deflection faces that are oriented to face rearwardly and laterally with respect to the charging head and portions of the coal are extruded by the opposing side deflection faces.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the charging pressure includes a conveyor chain pressure that is maintained above 2300 psi.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the charging pressure includes a conveyor chain pressure that is maintained between 2500 psi and 2800 psi.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the charging pressure includes a conveyor chain pressure that is maintained between 3000 psi and 3300 psi.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the charging pressure includes a conveyor chain pressure that is maintained at a level that increases the rigidity of the coal charging system and reduces a deflection of the coal charging system.