US 2024/0280256 A1Published application

Systems and methods for steam production

AssigneeShell USA, Inc.

InventorsJoseph Daniel MACKLIN, Ingmar Hubertus Josephina PLOEMEN, Gianluca DI NOLA

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Abstract

Methods and systems for steam production are provided. Methods include providing feedwater having an electrical conductivity of less than 200 μS/cm to an electrode boiler, and converting the feedwater to saturated steam by the electrode boiler. The saturated steam is provided as a first fluid to a heat exchange component. Water having an electrical conductivity of more than 200 μS/cm is provided to the heat exchange component as a second fluid, where the second fluid is heated through indirect thermal transfer with the saturated steam to generate wet steam. The saturated steam is at least partially condensed in the heat exchange component through the indirect thermal transfer with the second fluid. At least a portion of the thus obtained condensed fluid is fed back to the electrode boiler for use as part of the low-conductivity water to generate said saturated steam.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for generating steam comprising:

a. providing feedwater having an electrical conductivity of less than 200 μS/cm to an electrode boiler, wherein the electrode boiler has a capacity of at least 5 megawatts (MW);
b converting the feedwater to saturated steam by the electrode boiler, wherein the saturated steam has a pressure in a range from at least 3.5 MPa and up to 14 MPa and a temperature in a range from 240 degrees C. and up to 340 degrees C.:
c. providing the saturated steam as a first fluid to a heat exchange component:
d. providing water having an electrical conductivity of more than 200 μS/cm as a second fluid to the heat exchange component:
e. heating the second fluid in the heat exchange component through indirect thermal transfer with the saturated steam to generate wet steam having a temperature lower than the temperature of the saturated steam by a range from 2 degrees C. and up to 30 degrees C. and a pressure in a range from at least 0.5 MPa and up to 13 MPa:
f. at least partially condensing the saturated steam in the heat exchange component through indirect thermal transfer with the second fluid to produce a condensed fluid;
and
h. providing at least a portion of the condensed fluid to the electrode boiler for use as part of the low-conductivity water to generate said saturated steam.

5 more elements

A system for generating steam comprising:

a. an electrode boiler configured to convert feedwater having an electrical conductivity of less than 200 μS/cm to saturated steam having a pressure in a range from 3.5 MPa and up to 14 Mpa and a temperature in a range from 240 degrees C. and up to 340 degrees, wherein the electrode boiler has a capacity of at least 5 megawatts (MW):
b. a heat exchange component in fluid communication with the electrode boiler to receive the saturated steam,
wherein said heat exchange component is configured to receive water having an electrical conductivity of more than 200 μS/cm as a second fluid to the heat exchange component and allow indirect thermal transfer between the saturated steam and the second fluid to convert (i) the second fluid into wet steam having a temperature lower than the temperature of the saturated steam by a range from 2 degrees C. and up to 30 degrees C. and a pressure in a range from at least 0.5 Mpa and up to 13 Mpa and (ii) the saturated steam into a condensed fluid;
and
c. a recycle line between an outlet of the heat exchange component and an inlet of the electrode boiler to provide at least a portion of the condensed fluid to the electrode boiler for use as the feedwater generate the saturated steam.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.