Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:864562

Fox, Ronald L ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

An apparatus for generation of steam in a borehole for penetration into an earth formation wherein feedback preheater means are provided for the fuel and water before entering the combustor assembly. First, combustion gases are conducted from the combustion chamber to locations in proximity to the water and fuel supplies. Secondly, both hot combustion gases and steam are conducted from the borehole back to the water and fuel supply. The water used for conversion to steam is passed in a countercurrent manner through a plurality of annular water flow channels surrounding the combustion chamber. In this manner, the water is preheated, and the combustion chamber is cooled simultaneously, thereby minimizing thermal stresses and deterioration of the walls of the combustion chamber. The water is injected through slotted inlets along the combustion chamber wall to provide an unstable boundary layer and stripping of the water from the wall for efficient steam generation. Pressure responsive doors are provided at the steam outlet of the combustor assembly. The outlet doors and fluid flow functions may be controlled by a diagnostic/control module. The module is positioned in the water flow channel to maintain a relatively constant, controlled temperature.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: AT(29-1)-789
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4385661
• OSTI ID: 864562
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/166/431/
annular
apparatus
assembly
borehole
boundary
boundary layer
chamber
chamber wall
channel
channels
combustion
combustion chamber
combustion gas
combustion gases
combustor
combustor assembly
conducted
constant
control
control module
controlled
controlled temperature
conversion
cooled
countercurrent
deterioration
diagnostic
doors
downhole
downhole steam
earth
earth formation
efficient
entering
features
feedback
feedback preheater
flow
flow channel
flow channels
fluid
fluid flow
formation
fuel
fuel supply
functions
gases
generation
generator
heater means
hot
hot combustion
improved
improved preheating
injected
inlets
layer
locations
maintain
manner
means
minimizing
minimizing thermal
module
outlet
passed
penetration
plurality
positioned
preheated
preheater
preheater means
preheating
pressure
pressure responsive
protection
provide
provided
proximity
relatively
relatively constant
responsive
responsive doors
secondly
simultaneously
slotted
steam
steam generation
steam generator
steam outlet
stresses
stripping
supplies
supply
surrounding
temperature
thermal
thermal stress
thermal stresses
unstable
wall
walls
water
water flow