# US 2014/0190698 A1 · Steam generator and method for generating steam

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- Number: US 2014/0190698 A1
- Document ID: US20140190698A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/733,988
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeffrey A. Mays
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190698A1

## CPC

- F22B 1/02: by exploitation of the heat content of hot heat carriers
- E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection
- F22B 1/1853: {coming in direct contact with water in bulk or in sprays}
- F22B 37/00: Component parts or details of steam boilers
- Y02E 20/34: Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery
- F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for producing steam includes combusting a fuel and an oxidant to generate heat in a combustion stream, and injecting impure water into the combustion stream such that the heat produces a steam stream including particulate matter precipitated from the impure water. A steam generator includes a combustion chamber that has an initial section including an oxidant feed that is substantially free of nitrogen and a fuel feed, and downstream from the initial section at least one liquid water feed

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing steam, the method comprising:
combusting a fuel and an oxidant to generate heat in a combustion stream; and
injecting impure water into the combustion stream such that the heat produces a steam stream including particulate matter precipitated from the impure water.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the combusting is conducted in a combustion chamber, and further including preventing a scale build-up of the particulate matter on interior surfaces of the combustion chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the combusting includes establishing a velocity of the combustion stream that is greater than a saltation velocity of the particulate matter in the combustion stream.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the combusting is conducted in a combustion chamber, and further including cooling the combustion chamber using a film of the impure water.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the impure water is produced water.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further including injecting the steam stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method as recited in claim 6, including injecting the steam stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir without conveying the steam stream through a heat exchanger.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the oxidant is substantially free of nitrogen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, including heating the impure water into superheated steam.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, including injecting the impure water at a plurality of different downstream positions into the combustion stream.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further including removing the particulate matter from the steam stream.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the fuel includes a hydrocarbon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the fuel includes methane.

### Claim 14

A steam generator comprising:
a combustion chamber having an initial section including an oxidant feed and a fuel feed, and downstream from the initial section, at least one impure water feed.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The steam generator as recited in claim 14, further including a conduit connecting an outlet of the combustion chamber to a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, the conduit being free of any heat exchangers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The steam generator as recited in claim 15, wherein the conduit includes a separator operable to remove particulate matter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The steam generator as recited in claim 16, wherein the separator is selected from the group consisting of a cyclone separator, a filter and combinations thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The steam generator as recited in claim 14, where the oxidant feed is an exclusive oxidant feed of the combustion chamber and the fuel feed is an exclusive fuel feed of the combustion chamber.