Downhole steam generator with improved preheating/cooling features

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:864749

Donaldson, A Burl ^[1]; Hoke, Donald E ^[1]; Mulac, Anthony J ^[2]

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1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Tijeras, NM

An apparatus for downhole steam generation employing dual-stage preheaters for liquid fuel and for the water. A first heat exchange jacket for the fuel surrounds the fuel/oxidant mixing section of the combustor assembly downstream of the fuel nozzle and contacts the top of the combustor unit of the combustor assembly, thereby receiving heat directly from the combustion of the fuel/oxidant. A second stage heat exchange jacket surrounds an upper portion of the oxidant supply line adjacent the fuel nozzle receiving further heat from the compression heat which results from pressurization of the oxidant. The combustor unit includes an inner combustor sleeve whose inner wall defines the combustion zone. The inner combustor sleeve is surrounded by two concentric water channels, one defined by the space between the inner combustor sleeve and an intermediate sleeve, and the second defined by the space between the intermediate sleeve and an outer cylindrical housing. The channels are connected by an annular passage adjacent the top of the combustor assembly and the countercurrent nature of the water flow provides efficient cooling of the inner combustor sleeve. An annular water ejector with a plurality of nozzles is provided to direct water downwardly into the combustor unit at the boundary of the combustion zone and along the lower section of the intermediate sleeve.

• Research Organization: AT & T CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: Donaldson, A. Burl (Albuquerque, NM);Hoke, Donald E. (Albuquerque, NM);Mulac, Anthony J. (Tijeras, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 4411618
• OSTI ID: 864749
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/431/166/
adjacent
annular
annular passage
apparatus
assembly
boundary
channels
combustion
combustion zone
combustor
combustor assembly
compression
compression heat
concentric
connected
contacts
cooling
countercurrent
cylindrical
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defined
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direct
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downhole
downhole steam
downstream
downwardly
dual-stage
efficient
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employing
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flow
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fuel
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generation
generator
heat
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housing
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improved preheating
inner
inner wall
intermediate
jacket
jacket surrounds
line
liquid
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mixing
mixing section
nature
nozzle
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outer
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oxidant
passage
plurality
portion
preheaters
preheating
pressurization
provided
provides
provides efficient
receiving
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section
sleeve
space
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steam
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steam generator
supply
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surrounded
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top
unit
upper
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wall
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