Steam generator and method for generating steam
View Patent ↗A method for producing steam includes combusting a fuel and an oxidant to generate heat in a combustion stream, and injecting impure water into the combustion stream such that the heat produces a steam stream including particulate matter precipitated from the impure water. A steam generator includes a combustion chamber that has an initial section including an oxidant feed that is substantially free of nitrogen and a fuel feed, and downstream from the initial section at least one liquid water feed.
1. A method for producing steam, the method comprising:
combusting a fuel and an oxidant to generate heat in a combustion stream;
injecting impure water into the combustion stream such that the heat produces a steam stream including particulate matter precipitated from the impure water, wherein the combusting is conducted in a combustion chamber, and further including cooling the combusting chamber using a film of the impure water;
establishing a velocity of the combustion stream that is greater than a saltation velocity of the particulate matter in the combustion stream;
separating the particulate matter using a separator selected from the group consisting of a cyclone separator, a filter and combinations thereof; and
injecting the steam stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, without conveying the steam stream through a heat exchanger.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the combusting is conducted in a combustion chamber, and further including preventing a scale build-up of the particulate matter on interior surfaces of the combustion chamber.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the impure water is produced water.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is substantially free of nitrogen.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , including heating the impure water into superheated steam.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , including injecting the impure water at a plurality of different downstream positions into the combustion stream.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including removing the particulate matter from the steam stream.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fuel includes a hydrocarbon.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fuel includes methane.
10. A steam generator comprising:
a combustion chamber having an initial section including an oxidant feed and a fuel feed, and downstream from the initial section, at least one impure water feed, wherein the combustion chamber establishes a velocity of a combustion stream that is greater than a saltation velocity of particulate matter in the combustion stream;
a conduit connecting the outlet of the combustion chamber to a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, the conduit being free of any heat exchangers; and
a separator operable to remove particulate matter positioned with respect to the conduit, wherein the separator is selected from the group consisting of a cyclone separator, a filter and combinations thereof.
11. The steam generator as recited in claim 10 , where the oxidant feed is an exclusive oxidant feed of the combustion chamber and the fuel feed is an exclusive fuel feed of the combustion chamber.