Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864594
- Patent Number(s):
- 4390062
- 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 F22 - STEAM GENERATION F22B - METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(29-1)-789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- downhole; steam; generator; pressure; fuel; air; supply; apparatus; generation; borehole; penetration; earth; formation; spiral; tubular; heat; exchanger; combustion; chamber; isolate; process; water; superheated; conversion; isolation; allows; relatively; oxidant; mixture; generating; enthalpy; preheated; feedback; gases; top; preheater; hot; exhaust; bottom; flowing; enter; passage; pipe; mounted; inside; line; heating; ejected; expansion; nozzle; converts; prior; responsive; doors; provided; outlet; downstream; close; lost; due; flameout; mounted inside; water flow; combustion process; earth formation; exhaust gases; steam generator; combustion chamber; heat exchange; heat exchanger; combustion gases; combustion gas; exhaust gas; fuel mixture; supply line; water supply; air supply; downhole steam; responsive doors; water flowing; pressure fuel; steam outlet; pressure responsive; tubular heat; hot exhaust; /166/431/
Citation Formats
Fox, Ronald L. Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Fox, Ronald L. Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply. United States.
Fox, Ronald L. Sat .
"Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864594.
@article{osti_864594,
title = {Downhole steam generator using low pressure fuel and air supply},
author = {Fox, Ronald L},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1983},
month = {1}
}