Method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrocarbons
First Claim
1. A method for generating steam by a high pressure, high intensity, or high heat release method of combustion in an elongated combustion zone having upstream and downstream ends on an intermediate location and utilizing a normally-solid, fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, comprising:
- (a) introducing said fuel axially into said upstream end of said elongated combustion zone;
(b) introducing a first volume of combustion-supporting gas into said upstream end of said combustion zone, as an annular, rotating stream about said fuel, in a manner to produce a rotating, toroidal vortex, of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas, moving from said upstream end toward said downstream end of said combustion zone;
(c) said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being in an amount at least equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary for combustion of essentially all of the combustible portion of said fuel;
(d) said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being introduced into and flowed through said combustion zone in a manner to collapse said vortex, at said intermediate location in said combustion zone, to produce an intimate mixture of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas and produce plug-type flow through the remaining downstream portion of said combustion zone;
(e) burning said fuel in the presence of said first volume of combustion-supporting gas while thus flowing the same through said combustion zone under conditions to produce a heat release rate of at least about 7 MM Btu/hr and a flue gas containing non-combustible solid residues of said fuel;
(f) abruptly terminating said burning of said fuel, adjacent said downstream end of said combustion zone, at least in part, by introducing water into said flue gas to form a mixture of said flue gas and said water;
(g) maintaining said mixture of flue gas and water in an vaporization zone, directly coupled to and in open communication with said downstream end of said combustion zone, for a time sufficient to vaporize a major portion of said water and produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and
(h) separating said solid residues from said mixture of flue gas and steam.
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Abstract
A method for generating steam by a high pressure, high intensity, or high heat release method of combustion in an elongated combustion zone having upstream and downstream ends and an intermediate location and utilizing a normally-solid fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues in which the fuel is introduced axially and a volume of air, at least equal to the stoichiometric amount, is introduced as an annular, rotating stream to produce a rotating vortex of fuel and air, such introduction and flow through the combustion zone being carried out in a manner to collapse the vortex and create plug flow at the intermediate location, burning the fuel and air to produce flue gas at a heat release rate of at least 7 MM Btu/hr, abruptly terminating combustion by the introduction of water, vaporizing the water to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam, and separating solid residues therefrom.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for generating steam by a high pressure, high intensity, or high heat release method of combustion in an elongated combustion zone having upstream and downstream ends on an intermediate location and utilizing a normally-solid, fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, comprising:
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(a) introducing said fuel axially into said upstream end of said elongated combustion zone; (b) introducing a first volume of combustion-supporting gas into said upstream end of said combustion zone, as an annular, rotating stream about said fuel, in a manner to produce a rotating, toroidal vortex, of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas, moving from said upstream end toward said downstream end of said combustion zone; (c) said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being in an amount at least equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary for combustion of essentially all of the combustible portion of said fuel; (d) said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being introduced into and flowed through said combustion zone in a manner to collapse said vortex, at said intermediate location in said combustion zone, to produce an intimate mixture of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas and produce plug-type flow through the remaining downstream portion of said combustion zone; (e) burning said fuel in the presence of said first volume of combustion-supporting gas while thus flowing the same through said combustion zone under conditions to produce a heat release rate of at least about 7 MM Btu/hr and a flue gas containing non-combustible solid residues of said fuel; (f) abruptly terminating said burning of said fuel, adjacent said downstream end of said combustion zone, at least in part, by introducing water into said flue gas to form a mixture of said flue gas and said water; (g) maintaining said mixture of flue gas and water in an vaporization zone, directly coupled to and in open communication with said downstream end of said combustion zone, for a time sufficient to vaporize a major portion of said water and produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and (h) separating said solid residues from said mixture of flue gas and steam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification