Steam generator and reactor

Abstract

A method of producing an active chemical species, steam or superheated steam includes flowing one or more fluids through a conduit, locating one or more incandescent lights in close proximity to the conduit, and using at least a portion of the heat emitted from the one or more incandescent lights to heat the one or more fluids flowing through the conduit so that the fluid or fluids are disassociated into chemical components, associated into a new compound, or converted into steam.

1 . A method of producing an active chemical species, steam or superheated steam comprises:
 flowing one or more fluids through a conduit;   locating one or more incandescent lights in close proximity to the conduit; and   using at least a portion of the heat emitted from the one or more incandescent lights to heat the one or more fluids flowing through the conduit so that the fluid or fluids are disassociated into chemical components, associated into a new compound, or converted into steam.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the locating one or more incandescent lights includes locating one or more tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the locating one or more tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit includes locating at least two tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit, optionally locating at least four tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit, or optionally locating six or more tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the locating the lamps includes locating the lamps around the conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , or further comprising surrounding the lamps with the conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the locating the lamps may include surrounding the lamps with a first portion of the conduit, and locating the lamps around a second portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the locating the lamps includes surrounding the lamps with a first portion of the conduit, and surrounding the first portion of the conduit with a second portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the flowing one or more fluids through the conduit includes flowing the one or more fluids into the second portion of the conduit wherein the second portion of the conduit forms the inlet to the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the flowing the water includes flowing one or more fluids through two conduits, and locating the light in close proximity to at least one of the conduits, and optionally both conduits. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising locating radiation shields between the end of the lamps and the conduit to shield the ends of the lamps from at least some of the radiation emitted by the lamps and heat emitted from the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . A generator comprising:
 a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet being in fluid communication with a source of one or more fluids; and   one or more incandescent lights located in close proximity to the conduit wherein at least some of the heat emitted from the one or more incandescent lights is used to heat the one or more fluids flowing through the conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more incandescent lights includes one or more tungsten halogen lamps located in close proximity to the conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The generator according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more tungsten halogen lamps includes at least two tungsten halogen lamps in close proximity to the conduit, optionally at least four tungsten halogen lamps are in close proximity to the conduit, or optionally six or more tungsten halogen lamps are in close proximity to the conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The generator according to  claim 11 , wherein the lamps are arranged the around the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The generator according to  claims 12 , wherein the generator further includes first and second mounting bases for holding the opposed ends of the lamps. 
     
     
         16 . The generator according to  claim 15 , wherein the bases are formed from a ceramic material, such as a machineable glass ceramic. 
     
     
         17 . The generator according to  claim 12 , wherein the conduit includes first and second portions, the first portion extending between the lamps with the lamps surrounding the first portion of the conduit, and the second portion surrounding the lamps.