Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply
- Albuquerque, NM
An apparatus for generation of steam in a borehole for penetration into an earth formation wherein a spiral, tubular heat exchanger is used in the combustion chamber to isolate the combustion process from the water being superheated for conversion into steam. The isolation allows combustion of a relatively low pressure oxidant and fuel mixture for generating high enthalpy steam. The fuel is preheated by feedback of combustion gases from the top of the combustion chamber through a fuel preheater chamber. The hot exhaust gases of combustion at the bottom of the combustion chamber, after flowing over the heat exchanger enter an exhaust passage and pipe. The exhaust pipe is mounted inside the water supply line heating the water flowing into the heat exchanger. After being superheated in the heat exchanger, the water is ejected through an expansion nozzle and converts into steam prior to penetration into the earth formation. Pressure responsive doors are provided at a steam outlet downstream of the nozzle and close when the steam pressure is lost due to flameout.
- 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 4390062
- OSTI ID:
- 864594
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Downhole steam generator having a downhole oxidant compressor
Downhole steam generator having a downhole oxidant compressor
Related Subjects
air
air supply
allows
apparatus
borehole
bottom
chamber
close
combustion
combustion chamber
combustion gas
combustion gases
combustion process
conversion
converts
doors
downhole
downhole steam
downstream
due
earth
earth formation
ejected
enter
enthalpy
exchanger
exhaust
exhaust gas
exhaust gases
expansion
feedback
flameout
flowing
formation
fuel
fuel mixture
gases
generating
generation
generator
heat
heat exchange
heat exchanger
heating
hot
hot exhaust
inside
isolate
isolation
line
lost
mixture
mounted
mounted inside
nozzle
outlet
oxidant
passage
penetration
pipe
preheated
preheater
pressure
pressure fuel
pressure responsive
prior
process
provided
relatively
responsive
responsive doors
spiral
steam
steam generator
steam outlet
superheated
supply
supply line
top
tubular
tubular heat
water
water flow
water flowing
water supply