High temperature boiler and method

A process for vaporizing liquid water comprising the steps:

• providing a heat-carrying liquid at a predetermined elevated temperature to a boiler;
• providing liquid water to said boiler;
• providing a reducing gas to said boiler to prevent oxidation of the heat-carrying liquid;
• transferring heat from the heat-carrying liquid directly to the liquid water to be vaporized within the boiler;
• and
• separately withdrawing the produced steam from the boiler.

A process for producing superheated steam from unpurified natural waters comprising in combination the steps:

• providing a heat-carrying liquid at a predetermined elevated temperature to a boiler;
• providing natural liquid water to said boiler;
• transferring heat from the heat-carrying liquid directly to the natural liquid water to be vaporized within the boiler;
• separately withdrawing the produced steam from the boiler;
• passing said produced steam to a confined flow passageway;
• providing a plurality of liquid droplets of a liquid selected from the group consisting of a molten metal and a molten inorganic salt in said passageway;
• passing the steam through said passageway and in a heat exchange relationship with said droplets;
• recovering the liquid droplets after heat exchange with said steam;
• and
• adjusting the recovered liquid to a predetermined temperature for superheated steam, said liquid providing recycle for production of said droplets.