Heating for indirect boiling

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-06-19
CONOCOPHILLIPS CO
View PDF4 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a method and system for vaporizing water using a gas-solid reaction for heat transfer. The system includes a first vessel with solid particulate and a gaseous fluid that circulates through the vessel to transfer heat to the solid particulate. The heated gaseous fluid is then recovered and reheated for continued heating of the solid particulate. The second vessel contains water that is introduced into contact with the hot solid particulate to vaporize it into steam, which is then separated from the solid particulate. The technical effects of this invention include efficient heat transfer and continuous production of steam.

Problems solved by technology

Costs associated with building a complex, large, sophisticated facility to process water and generate steam contributes to economic challenges of oil sands production operations.
Such a facility represents much of the capital costs of these operations.
Chemical and energy usage of the facility also contribute to operating costs.
However, boiler feed water to these steam generators requires expensive de-oiling and treatment to limit boiler fouling problems.
Even with this treatment, fouling issues persist and are primarily dealt with through regular pigging of the boilers.
This recurring maintenance further increases operating costs and results in a loss of steam production capacity, which translates to an equivalent reduction in bitumen extraction.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Heating for indirect boiling
  • Heating for indirect boiling
  • Heating for indirect boiling

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0018]Turning now to the detailed description of the preferred arrangement or arrangements of the present invention, it should be understood that the inventive features and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated.

[0019]Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and ...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

Systems and methods relate to vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and facilitate the production.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional application which claims benefit under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 737,973 filed Dec. 17, 2013, entitled “Heating for Indirect Boiling,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]None.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for generating steam which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Several techniques utilized to recover hydrocarbons in the form of bitumen from oil sands rely on generated steam to heat and lower viscosity of the hydrocarbons when the steam is injected into the oil sands. One common approach for this type of recovery includes steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). The hydrocarbons once heated become mobile enough for production along with the condensed steam, which is then recove...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): F22B1/02
CPCF22B1/028
InventorLARKIN, DAVID W.LOVE, SCOTT D.MACADAM, SCOTTSLATER, PETER N.
OwnerCONOCOPHILLIPS CO