While introducing water to cool the drum, we currently have a practice of intentionally throttling steam so as to cause violent water hammering of the drum inlet line. This is ostensibly done to keep the drum inlet “open” and to keep coke from backing into either the inlet line or plugging of the inlet “hat” ( a slotted cap on the drum bottom flange that sits above the inlet line). Is this a common practice anywhere else? I am concerned that this hammering will damage inlet piping and joints.
