Laser fired steam boiler

Claim 3

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of laser beams are directed into said liquid.

Claim 4

A method of producing vapor according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of laser beams are split from a single laser beam before being directed into said liquid in the container.

Claim 5

A method of producing vapor according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of laser beams are directed so that they intersect one another in the liquid within the container.

Claim 6

A method of producing vapor according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of laser beams are out of phase with each other so that they interfere with each other when they meet in said liquid.

Claim 7

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, wherein the energy of said at least one laser beam is retained by providing a shield within the container which prevents said at least one laser beam from leaving said liquid.

Claim 8

A method of producing vapor according to claim 6, wherein said shield is spaced inwardly of an outer wall of said container with said liquid being provided on inner and outer sides of said shield.

Claim 9

A method of producing vapor according to claim 6, wherein said shield has a hollow essentially closed form with at least one opening therein, said at least one laser beam being directed through said at least one opening for vaporizing said liquid.

Claim 10

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, including the step of replacing the liquid in the container which is vaporized.

Claim 11

A method of producing vapor according to claim 9, wherein said container has an opening in the bottom thereof through which liquid is introduced in said step of replacing the liquid which has been vaporized.

Claim 12

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, including the step of conveying vaporized liquid from the container.

Claim 13

A method of producing vapor according to claim 11, wherein the top of said container has an opening through which the vaporized liquid is conveyed from the container.

Claim 14

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, including the step of passing said at least one laser beam through a lens provided in the container before the laser beam enters the liquid within the container.

Claim 15

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, including the step of causing said at least one laser beam to diverge as it passes through said liquid within the container.

Claim 16

A method of producing vapor according to claim 1, wherein said liquid is water and said container is a boiler of a high pressure steam generator.

Claim 19

An apparatus for producing vapor according to claim 16, including means for introducing a plurality of laser beams into liquid provided in said container.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for introducing a plurality of laser beams directs said laser beams so that they intersect one another in the liquid within the container.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for introducing includes at least one laser transparent portion of said container.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said transparent portion of said container includes a lens through which said laser beam is directed.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said lens to causes said laser beam passing through it to diverge as it passes through the liquid within the container.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said lens is mounted in a lens holder which is secured to an outer wall of said container.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for retaining laser energy includes a shield for absorbing laser energy of said at least one laser beam which impinges thereon.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for retaining laser energy includes a shield which prevents said at least one laser beam from leaving said liquid.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said shield has a hollow essentially closed form with at least one opening therein through which said at least one laser beam is directed for vaporizing said liquid.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for retaining laser energy includes a shield located inwardly of an outer wall of said container with said liquid being provided on inner and outer sides of said shield.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a lens holder extends between an opening in the shield and an opening in the outer wall of the container, said lens holder supporting a lens through which said at least one laser beam is introduced into said liquid.

Claim 30

An apparatus according to claim 16, further including means for replacing liquid which is vaporized in said container.

Claim 31

An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said means for replacing liquid includes an opening in the bottom of said container and means for introducing liquid into said container through the opening.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to claim 16, further including means for conveying vaporized liquid from the container.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for conveying includes an opening in the top of said container through which said vaporized liquid is conveyed from said container.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said container is a boiler of a high pressure steam generator.

Claim 35

A laser fired boiler of a steam generator comprising a drum containing water to be vaporized, a plurality of spaced portions of said drum being transparent to laser beams to permit a plurality of laser beams to be introduced into water provided in the drum, laser means for providing a plurality of laser beams for introduction through said plurality of spaced transparent portions into water in said drum for vaporizing water to produce steam, a shield provided in said drum for absorbing laser energy of said laser beams which impinge thereon, said shield being in contact with the water in said container, means for conveying steam from said drum and means for replacing water in said drum which has been vaporized.

Claim 36

A laser fired boiler of a steam generator comprising a drum containing water to be vaporized, a plurality of spaced portions of said drum being transparent to laser beams to permit a plurality of laser beams to be introduced into water provided in the drum, laser means for providing a plurality of laser beams for introduction through said plurality of spaced transparent portions into water in said drum for vaporizing water to produce steam, a shield provided in said drum for absorbing laser energy of said laser beams which impinge thereon, said shield being in contact with the water in said container, means for conveying steam from said drum and means for replacing water in said drum which has been vaporized.