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US 10,215,399 B2Granted
Small supercritical once-thru steam generator
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsMichael A Costanzo, James S Bloss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A small supercritical once-through steam generator (OTSG) includes a radiant section with a furnace coil, and a convection section downstream of the radiant section that includes a superheater which is fluidically connected to the furnace coil. Optionally, the OTSG is devoid of a steam separator. An economizer can also be included downstream of the superheater. Supercritical steam can be generated using the OTSG, for use, among other things, in enhanced oil recovery applications.
Claims21
An apparatus for producing supercritical steam for injection into an underground hydrocarbon-containing reservoir, comprising:
- a radiant section for generating steam above the critical point, comprising a horizontal housing having a burner end and an exhaust end opposite the burner end, a burner located at the burner end, at least one furnace coil running in a serpentine path between the burner end and the exhaust end circumferentially and evenly spaced along an internal circumference of the horizontal housing, and a convection flue at the exhaust end;
- and
- a convection section of the apparatus for generating supercritical superheated steam, comprising a vertical housing that is located above the convection flue and that contains a superheater in fluid communication with the at least one furnace coil and an economizer located in the convection section above the superheater;
- wherein flue gas generated by the burner travels horizontally through the radiant section and travels vertically through the vertical housing;
- wherein the economizer is tapered, with a greater surface area adjacent the superheater;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is devoid of a steam separator.
4 more elements
A supercritical once-through steam generator, comprising:
- a radiant section comprising a cylindrical horizontal housing having a burner end and an exhaust end opposite the burner end, a burner located at the burner end, at least one furnace coil running in a serpentine path between the burner end and the exhaust end circumferentially and evenly spaced along an internal circumference of the horizontal housing, and an outlet port at the exhaust end that leads to a convection flue, wherein a perimeter of the outlet port is formed by an arc and a chord;
- and
- a convection section comprising a vertical housing that is located above the convection flue;
- wherein the once-through steam generator is devoid of a steam separator;
- wherein the convection section includes a superheater in fluid communication with the at least one furnace coil and an economizer above the superheater, the economizer being in fluid communication with the at least one furnace coil;
- wherein the economizer is tapered, with a greater surface area adjacent the superheater;
- and
- wherein flue gas generated by the burner travels horizontally through the radiant section and travels vertically through the vertical housing.
5 more elements
A method of enhancing recovery from an underground hydrocarbon-containing reservoir, comprising:
- generating supercritical steam in a supercritical once-through steam generator;
- and
- injecting the supercritical steam into the reservoir to recover hydrocarbons;
- wherein the supercritical once-through steam generator comprises:
- a radiant section comprising a horizontal housing having a burner end and an exhaust end opposite the burner end, a burner located at the burner end, at least one furnace coil running in a serpentine path between the burner end and the exhaust end circumferentially and evenly spaced along an internal circumference of the horizontal housing, and a convection flue at the exhaust end;
- and
- a convection section comprising a vertical housing that is located above the convection flue and that contains a superheater in fluid communication with the at least one furnace coil and an economizer above the superheater, the economizer being in fluid communication with the at least one furnace coil;
- wherein the economizer is tapered, with a greater surface area adjacent the superheater;
- wherein the once-through steam generator is devoid of a steam separator;
- wherein flue gas generated by the burner travels horizontally through the radiant section and travels vertically through the vertical housing;
- and
- wherein the at least one furnace coil comprises:
- an inlet through which water enters the at least one furnace coil at a temperature of from about 400° F. to about 450° F.;
- and
- an outlet through which water exits the at least one furnace coil at a temperature of from about 700° F. to about 750° F.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.