Reaction chamber for a direct contact rotating steam generator

Abstract

A direct contact rotating steam generator apparatus has an enclosure with an interior volume with a steam producing section. The enclosure has a water injection inlet and a steam outlet and a waste discharge outlet. The enclosure is mounted in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis is slightly inclined to horizontal. The water injection inlet is positioned at one end of the enclosure. The waste discharge outlet is positioned at an opposite end to enclosure. The interior volume has a controllable pressure therein. The enclosure is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A direct contact rotating steam generator apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure having an interior volume with a steam producing section, said enclosure having a water injection inlet and a steam outlet and a waste discharge outlet, said enclosure having a longitudinal axis, said enclosure being mounted in an orientation in which said longitudinal axis is slightly inclined to horizontal, said water injection inlet positioned at one end of said enclosure, said waste discharge outlet positioned at an opposite end of said enclosure, said water injection inlet positioned at a location higher than a location of said waste discharge outlet, said interior volume having a controllable pressure therein; and   a means for rotating said enclosure around said longitudinal axis thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of surface area enhancing elements located in said interior volume of said enclosure.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a means for producing a combustion gas within said enclosure.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a means for producing a combustion gas exterior of said enclosure.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water suitable for injection into said interior volume of said enclosure through said water injection inlet, said water containing solid bodies.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lifting means connected to said enclosure for lifting liquids and solids into a gas stream within said enclosure so as to mix the liquids and solids and a combustion gas.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of partitions respectively positioned between said steam producing section and said steam outlet so as to partially separate said steam producing section and said steam outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said solid bodies being of a sulfur-reactable material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixed horizontal pressure combustor located in said enclosure; and   a fixed water injection pipe aligned with said combustor so as to allow water to be injected outside and around the combustion section.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said waste discharge outlet suitable of allowing material of a desired size to be discharged from said enclosure, said waste discharge outlet having a partition with openings formed therein. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said waste discharge outlet connected to said steam generator section of said enclosure so as to discharge the solid bodies from the water. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solid removing means for separating solids from said enclosure;   a wet scrubbing means for generating saturated steam; and   a discharge line connected to said wet scrubbing means so as to recycle the scrubbed solids back to said enclosure.   
     
     
         13 . A reaction chamber assembly for a direct contact rotating steam generator apparatus comprising:
 a fixed combustion enclosure;   a rotatable steam generating enclosure in fluid communication with said combustion enclosure, said rotatable steam generating enclosure having a steam producing section and a steam discharge section, said steam discharge section positioned at an end of said steam producing section opposite said fixed combustion gas enclosure;   a means for injecting water into said rotating steam generating section;   an inlet connected to said fixed combustion enclosure;   a connection element between said fixed combustion enclosure and said rotating steam generating enclosure; and   an outlet connected to an end of said rotating steam generating enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , said fixed combustion enclosure having a solids discharge outlet at a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , said fixed combustion enclosure having a heat exchanger suitable for generating steam. 
     
     
         16 . A method for generating a high pressure steam and combustion gas mixture comprising:
 mixing a carbon or hydrocarbon fuel with an oxidation gas;   combusting the mixture at a controllable pressure and elevated temperature; and   mixing the combusted mixture with water so as to generate steam and a combustion gas mixture in a rotatable enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the step of combusting comprising:
 adding solid bodies to the water.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , said step of combusting comprising:
 transferring a liquid phase to a gas phase, said gas phase containing steam and the combustion gas mixture.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 injecting said steam and said combustion gas mixture into an underground reservoir through an injection well.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 recovering the heat and water from said steam and said combustion gas mixture so as to produce hot process water.