Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864562
- Patent Number(s):
- 4385661
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F23 - COMBUSTION APPARATUS F23D - BURNERS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(29-1)-789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- downhole; steam; generator; improved; preheating; combustion; protection; features; apparatus; generation; borehole; penetration; earth; formation; feedback; preheater; means; provided; fuel; water; entering; combustor; assembly; gases; conducted; chamber; locations; proximity; supplies; secondly; hot; supply; conversion; passed; countercurrent; manner; plurality; annular; flow; channels; surrounding; preheated; cooled; simultaneously; minimizing; thermal; stresses; deterioration; walls; injected; slotted; inlets; wall; provide; unstable; boundary; layer; stripping; efficient; pressure; responsive; doors; outlet; fluid; functions; controlled; diagnostic; control; module; positioned; channel; maintain; relatively; constant; temperature; steam generation; water flow; fuel supply; hot combustion; controlled temperature; relatively constant; combustor assembly; thermal stress; earth formation; flow channels; flow channel; steam generator; combustion chamber; fluid flow; combustion gases; combustion gas; chamber wall; boundary layer; thermal stresses; downhole steam; control module; minimizing thermal; responsive doors; steam outlet; pressure responsive; heater means; improved preheating; feedback preheater; preheater means; /166/431/
Citation Formats
Fox, Ronald L. Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Fox, Ronald L. Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features. United States.
Fox, Ronald L. Sat .
"Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864562.
@article{osti_864562,
title = {Downhole steam generator with improved preheating, combustion and protection features},
author = {Fox, Ronald L},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1983},
month = {1}
}