Plasma assisted, dirty water, direct steam generation system, apparatus and method

A system for generating steam, comprising:

• a direct steam generator;
• a feed conduit fluidly coupled to the direct steam generator configured for delivery of feedwater to the direct steam generator, wherein the feedwater includes organic and inorganic constituents;
• a fossil fuel source fluidly connected to the direct steam generator to provide power to operate the direct steam generator;
• at least one of an air conduit and an oxygen enriched air conduit fluidly coupled with the direct steam generator;
• a close coupled heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the direct steam generator, the close coupled heat exchanger configured to route saturated steam and combustion exhaust constituents produced by the direct steam generator through a condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger via a condenser side steam conduit and configured to condense the saturated steam to form a condensate;
• a throttling valve fluidly coupled between the direct steam generator and the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the throttling valve is located downstream of the direct steam generator and upstream of the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger and is the only mechanically adjusted device that provides control over a pressure of the saturated steam routed to the close coupled heat exchanger;
• a flash tank fluidly coupled between the direct steam generator and the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the flash tank captures particulate matter and feeds the particulate matter to a plasma assisted vitrifier, wherein the captured particulate matter is made up of solid material;
• a solid feed conduit that includes a screw feeder, wherein the solid feed conduit couples the flash tank with the direct steam generator and the screw feeder delivers the solid material from the flash tank to the direct steam generator;
• a separation tank and water return system fluidly coupled to a condenser side condensate conduit of the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the separation tank and water return system is configured to separate the combustion exhaust constituents from the condensate;
• and
• an evaporator portion of the close coupled heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the separation tank and water return system via an evaporator side condensate conduit, wherein the evaporator portion is configured to evaporate the condensate from the separation tank and water return system via heat transfer between the condenser portion and evaporator portion to form steam.