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US 4,730,577 AGranted
Steam generator for thermal recovery system
AssigneeShell California Production Inc.
InventorJohn D. Houghton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for producing steam for use in a thermal recovery process for crude oil. The system is particularly useful in combination with a cogeneration plant that produces high temperature process steam. The system uses a central steam drum-separating unit surrounded by a plurality of once-through heat exchangers.
Claims5
A system for producing steam in a cogeneration plant for use in a thermal recovery process for crude oil using brackish water, said system comprising:
- a central steam drum-separator unit;
- a plurality of once-through shell and tube type heat exchangers, said heat exchangers surrounding said steam drum-separator unit, said brackish water circulating through the tubes of said heat exchangers;
- conduit means for coupling the tube side of each of said heat exchangers to both the top and bottom portions of the steam drum-separator unit;
- circulation means disposed to establish circulation between the steam drum-separator unit and each of said heat exchangers;
- means for circulating steam from the cogeneration plant through the shell side of the heat exchangers;
- and
- means for maintaining the liquid level in the steam drum-separator unit within preset limits.
4 more elements
A method for producing thermal recovery steam in a cogeneration plant, said method comprising:
- circulating steam from the cogeneration plant through the shell side of at least one heat exchanger;
- withdrawing water from a steam drum-separator unit and circulating it through the tube side of the at least one heat exchanger to produce thermal recovery steam;
- returning the thermal recovery steam formed on said tube side of the heat exchanger to the steam drum-separator unit;
- separating the thermal recovery steam from the water in the steam drum-separator unit and withdrawing the thermal recovery steam from the steam drum-separator unit;
- and
- withdrawing at least a portion of the water from the bottom of the steam drum-separator unit and recombining it with the steam from the steam drum-separator unit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.