SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR PYROPHORIC MATERIAL EXTRACTION
Systems, assemblies, and methods to enhance extraction of pyrophoric materials from a refinery apparatus may include supplying a pressurized fluid to a plurality of vacuum generators, and generating, via the plurality of vacuum generators using the pressurized fluid, a vacuum flow. A manifold may provide a flow path for the vacuum flow, and pyrophoric material may be extracted from the refinery apparatus via the vacuum flow to a material collector through which the vacuum flow passes, depositing at least a portion of the extracted pyrophoric material in the material collector. One or more of inert gas or a cooling medium may be supplied to the material collector.
1 . An extraction assembly to enhance extraction of pyrophoric catalyst from a refinery apparatus, the extraction assembly comprising:
a vacuum source including a plurality of vacuum generators, each of the plurality of vacuum generators positioned to cause a vacuum flow between the refinery apparatus and the vacuum source;
a material collector including an interior positioned for receipt of the vacuum flow and to collect at least a portion of pyrophoric catalyst in the vacuum flow; and
an inert gas conduit positioned to supply inert gas from a source of inert gas to the interior of the material collector.
2 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sound attenuation chamber connected to the vacuum source, the sound attenuation chamber including an attenuation housing at least partially defining an interior being positioned to receive at least a portion of the vacuum flow from the vacuum source and attenuate sound generated by the vacuum source.
3 . The extraction assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inert gas conduit comprises a first inert gas conduit, and wherein the extraction assembly further comprises a second inert gas conduit positioned to supply inert gas from a source of inert gas to the interior of the sound attenuation chamber.
4 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a collection conduit positioned to provide a flow path for the vacuum flow between the refinery apparatus and the material collector.
5 . The extraction assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a vacuum conduit positioned to provide a flow path for the vacuum flow between the material collector and the sound attenuation chamber.
6 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material collector includes an inert gas inlet connected to the inert gas conduit, and one or more of the interior of the material collector or the inert gas inlet of the material collector is configured to induce swirl in inert gas supplied to the interior of the material collector.
7 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the material collector comprises a material receiver and a collection container, and
the material collector is positioned relative to the collection container, such that at least a portion of pyrophoric catalyst which passes into the material receiver is deposited into the collection container during operation.
8 . The extraction assembly of claim 7 , wherein the inert gas conduit is positioned to supply inert gas from a source of inert gas to an interior of the material receiver.
9 . The extraction assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the material receiver includes an upper portion and a lower portion,
the inert gas conduit comprises a first inert gas conduit between a source of inert gas and the upper portion of the material receiver to supply inert gas from the source of inert gas to the interior of the upper portion of the material receiver, and
the extraction assembly further comprises a second inert gas conduit between the source of inert gas and the lower portion of the material receiver to supply inert gas from a source of inert gas to the interior of the lower portion of the material receiver.
10 . The extraction assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the upper portion of the material receiver includes a first inert gas inlet connected to the first inert gas conduit,
the lower portion of the material receiver includes a second inert gas inlet connected to the second inert gas conduit, and
one or more of:
(i) one or more of the upper portion of the interior of the material receiver or the first inert gas inlet of the material receiver is configured to induce swirl in inert gas supplied to the interior of the upper portion of the material receiver, or
(ii) one or more of the lower portion of the interior of the material receiver or the second inert gas inlet of the material receiver is configured to induce swirl in inert gas supplied to the interior of the lower portion of the material receiver.
11 . The extraction assembly of claim 9 , wherein the upper portion of the material receiver is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the lower portion of the material receiver is substantially conical and includes a deposit port at an apex of the lower portion.
12 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors associated with the material collector and configured to generate one or more temperature signals indicative of a temperature in the interior of the material collector; and
an inert gas supply controller in communication with the one or more sensors to:
receive the one or more temperature signals indicative of a temperature in the interior of the material collector, and
cause, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, supply of inert gas to the interior of the material collector via the first inert gas conduit.
13 . The extraction assembly of claim 12 , wherein the inert gas supply controller is configured:
to determine, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, whether the temperature in the interior of the material collector exceeds a threshold temperature, and
when the temperature in the interior of the material collector exceeds the threshold temperature, cause the supply of inert gas to the interior of the material collector via the first inert gas conduit.
14 . The extraction assembly of claim 13 , wherein the inert gas supply controller further is configured:
to determine, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, whether the temperature in the interior of the material collector is below the threshold temperature, and
when the temperature inside the interior of the material collector is below the threshold temperature, discontinue the supply of inert gas to the interior of the material collector.
15 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inert gas conduit comprises a first inert gas conduit, and wherein the extraction assembly further comprises:
a sound attenuation chamber connected to the vacuum source, the sound attenuation chamber including an attenuation housing at least partially defining an interior being positioned to receive at least a portion of the vacuum flow from the vacuum source and attenuate sound generated by the vacuum source, and
a second inert gas conduit positioned to supply inert gas from a source of inert gas to the interior of the sound attenuation chamber.
16 . The extraction assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more sensors associated with the sound attenuation chamber to generate one or more temperature signals indicative of a temperature in the interior of the sound attenuation chamber; and
an inert gas supply controller in communication with the one or more sensors to:
receive the one or more temperature signals indicative of a temperature in the interior of the sound attenuation chamber, and
cause, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, supply of inert gas to the interior of the sound attenuation chamber via the second inert gas conduit.
17 . The extraction assembly of claim 16 , wherein the inert gas supply controller is configured:
to determine, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, whether the temperature in the interior of the sound attenuation chamber exceeds a threshold temperature, and
when the temperature in the interior of the sound attenuation chamber exceeds the threshold temperature, cause the supply of inert gas to the interior of the sound attenuation chamber via the second inert gas conduit.
18 . The extraction assembly of claim 17 , wherein the inert gas supply controller further is configured:
to determine, based at least in part on the one or more temperature signals, whether the temperature in the interior of the sound attenuation chamber is below the threshold temperature, and
when the temperature inside the interior of the sound attenuation chamber is below the threshold temperature, discontinue the supply of inert gas to the interior of the sound attenuation chamber.
19 . The extraction assembly of claim 15 , wherein the sound attenuation chamber comprises:
filter media at least partially enclosed in the sound attenuation chamber to filter the vacuum flow, and
one or more jet generators positioned relative to the sound attenuation chamber to generate jets of fluid flow directed toward the filter media to at least partially maintain filtration capacity of the filter media.
20 . The extraction assembly of claim 19 , wherein the second inert gas conduit is positioned to provide flow between the source of inert gas and the jet generators.
21 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of vacuum generators comprises a venturi mechanism positioned to receive pressurized fluid from a fluid source of pressurized fluid and use a venturi effect to generate the vacuum flow between the source of the material and the vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly.
22 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source and the sound attenuation chamber are connected to one another to form a unified vacuum and attenuation module.
23 . The extraction assembly of claim 22 , wherein the unified vacuum and attenuation module comprises a chassis supporting the vacuum source and the sound attenuation chamber and configured to be transported between geographical locations.
24 . The extraction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a compressor housing; and
one or more compressors in the compressor housing, and
wherein the one or more vacuum generators are at least partially contained in the compressor housing and positioned to receive pressurized fluid from the one or more compressors, the one or more vacuum generators comprising a venturi mechanism, thereby to use a venturi effect to generate a vacuum flow between the material source and the one or more vacuum generators during operation.
25 . The extraction assembly of claim 24 , further comprising one or more vacuum controllers at least partially contained in the compressor housing and configured control one or more parameters of the compressor and vacuum source.