Method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A method for generating steam by a high pressure, high intensity, or high heat release method of combustion in an elongated combustion zone having upstream and downstream ends on an intermediate location and utilizing a normally-solid, fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, comprising: (a) introducing said fuel axially into said upstream end of said elongated combustion zone; (b) introducing a first volume of combustion-supporting gas into said upstream end of said combustion zone, as an annular, rotating stream about said fuel, in a manner to produce a rotating, toroidal vortex, of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas, moving from said upstream end toward said downstream end of said combustion zone; (c) said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being in an amount at least equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary for combustion of essentially all of the combustible portion of said fuel; (d) said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being introduced into and flowed through said combustion zone in a manner to collapse said vortex, at said intermediate location in said combustion zone, to produce an intimate mixture of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas and produce plug-type flow through the remaining downstream portion of said combustion zone; (e) burning said fuel in the presence of said first volume of combustion-supporting gas while thus flowing the same through said combustion zone under conditions to produce a heat release rate of at least about 7 MM Btu/hr and a flue gas containing non-combustible solid residues of said fuel; (f) abruptly terminating said burning of said fuel, adjacent said downstream end of said combustion zone, at least in part, by introducing water into said flue gas to form a mixture of said flue gas and said water; (g) maintaining said mixture of flue gas and water in an vaporization zone, directly coupled to and in open communication with said downstream end of said combustion zone, for a time sufficient to vaporize a major portion of said water and produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and (h) separating said solid residues from said mixture of flue gas and steam.

Claim 2

A method for generating steam by a high pressure, high intensity, or high heat release method of combustion in an elongated combustion zone having upstream and downstream ends on an intermediate location and utilizing a normally-solid, fuel which produces non-combustible solid residues, comprising: (a) introducing said fuel axially into said upstream end of said elongated combustion zone; (b) introducing a first volume of combustion-supporting gas into said upstream end of said combustion zone, as an annular, rotating stream about said fuel, in a manner to produce a rotating, toroidal vortex, of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas, moving from said upstream end toward said downstream end of said combustion zone; (c) said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being in an amount at least equal to the stoichiometric amount necessary for combustion of essentially all of the combustible portion of said fuel; (d) said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas being introduced into and flowed through said combustion zone in a manner to collapse said vortex, at said intermediate location in said combustion zone, to produce an intimate mixture of said fuel and said first volume of combustion-supporting gas and produce plug-type flow through the remaining downstream portion of said combustion zone; (e) burning said fuel in the presence of said first volume of combustion-supporting gas while thus flowing the same through said combustion zone under conditions to produce a heat release rate of at least about 7 MM Btu/hr and a flue gas containing non-combustible solid residues of said fuel; (f) abruptly terminating said burning of said fuel, adjacent said downstream end of said combustion zone, at least in part, by introducing water into said flue gas to form a mixture of said flue gas and said water; (g) maintaining said mixture of flue gas and water in an vaporization zone, directly coupled to and in open communication with said downstream end of said combustion zone, for a time sufficient to vaporize a major portion of said water and produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and (h) separating said solid residues from said mixture of flue gas and steam.