Petroleum Coke

Petroleum coke moves in refinery, cement and anode plants, and each sees a different part of the problem.

Abrasion

Calcined coke is hard and angular, and it removes material from chutes, screw flights and belt covers steadily.

• Replaceable liners at impact points rather than hard facing on structure.
• Chute geometry that lets material slide rather than strike.
• Conservative conveying velocity where pneumatic transfer is used.

Fugitive dust

Open stockpiles and ship or truck loading are where petcoke dust becomes a neighbourhood issue and a regulatory one.

Enclosed conveyors, telescopic loading chutes with extraction, wind fencing and water suppression are the usual combination, chosen by site rather than by preference.

Fire and combustible dust

Coke fines ignite and smoulder, and milled coke used as fuel is a classic combustible dust.

Mills, classifiers, filters and silos in a fuel preparation plant need inerting or explosion protection, with ignition source control and temperature monitoring across the system.

Moisture and sticking

Green coke carries residual volatiles and moisture and can build up heavily in chutes and hoppers.

Liner selection, chute slope and cleanout access matter more here than in dry calcined service.

What to establish before buying equipment

• Green or calcined, with particle size and moisture on receipt.
• Expected wear rates and the inspection interval.
• Dust control requirement at the site boundary.
• Explosion characteristics where coke is milled.

Petroleum coke stores outdoors in most plants, and the weather is part of the handling.

It is hydrophobic enough that water sits on it rather than soaking in, which makes a wet pile sticky at the surface and dry underneath. Fine coke also blows readily, which is a nuisance and a neighbourhood issue.

• Plan for wind: covered storage or suppression, because a coke pile is visible from a long way off.
• Expect a sticky surface layer after rain and a dry interior.
• Monitor temperature in large volumes; green coke in particular can self-heat.

Abrasion and dust define the equipment.

Calcined coke in particular is hard and angular, so wear concentrates at every impact. Belt conveying with well-designed transfers is standard, and the dust control is designed with the conveyor rather than added later.

• Impact beds, replaceable liners and generous chute radii.
• Belt cleaners maintained as a routine, because carryback becomes spillage along the line.
• Suppression or capture at every transfer.

Coke dust is combustible and respirable, and some grades carry regulated contaminants.

• Dust capture or suppression at the source.
• Check sulphur and metals content against the handling and exposure requirements.
• Temperature monitoring in large stores; self-heating is slow and internal.