US5055030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for the recovery of hydrocarbons
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1989-06-23
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2009-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons in a which a first toroidal vortex of fuel and a combustion supporting gas is created with its center adjacent the axis of an elongated combustor; a second toroidal vortex of combustion supporting gas is generated between the first toroidal vortex; the fuel is burned in the presence of the combustion supporting gas to produce a fuel gas at the downstream end of the combustor; water is introduced into the flue gas adjacent the downstream end of the combustion to produce a mixture of flue gas and water; a major portion of the water is vaporized in a vaporizor to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam; and the mixture of flue gas and steam is injected into a hydrocarbon bearing formation.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Schirmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:31
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B36/00; E21B36/003; E21B36/02; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; F; F22; F22B; F22B1/00; F22B1/22; F22B1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A method of generating steam comprising: (a) introducing a fuel and at least a first volume of a combustion supporting gas into a mixing chamber having its downstream end in open communication with an elongated combustion chamber; (b) creating a first toroidal vortex of said fuel and at least said first volume of said combustion supporting gas, in a volume at least equal to the stoichiometric volume necessary for combustion of all said fuel, said first vortex having its center adjacent the center of said elongated combustion chamber and rotating in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce a body of said fuel and said combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (c) creating a second toroidal vortex of a second volume of combustion supporting gas between said first toroidal vortex and the inner wall of said combustion chamber and rotating in the other of the clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce an annular body of said second volume of combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (d) burning said fuel in the presence of said combustion supporting gas to produce a flame moving from said inlet end of said combustion chamber toward said outlet end of said combustion chamber and a flue gas substantially free of unburned fuel at said outlet end of said combustion chamber; (e) maintaining said first and second toroidal vortices in said combustion chamber for a residence time sufficient for said first and second toroidal vortices to naturally collapse and the flow of fluids in said combustion chamber to assume a uniform flow velocity across said combustion chamber and moving toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; and (f) introducing water into said flue gas adjacent the outlet end of said combustion chamber to produce a mixture of said flue gas and said water and vaporize a major portion of said water to produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
346 words
A method of generating steam comprising: (a) introducing a fuel and at least a first volume of a combustion supporting gas into a mixing chamber having its downstream end in open communication with an elongated combustion chamber; (b) creating a first toroidal vortex of said fuel and at least said first volume of said combustion supporting gas, in a volume at least equal to the stoichiometric volume necessary for combustion of all said fuel, said first vortex having its center adjacent the center of said elongated combustion chamber and rotating in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce a body of said fuel and said combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (c) creating a second toroidal vortex of a second volume of combustion supporting gas between said first toroidal vortex and the inner wall of said combustion chamber and rotating in the other of the clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce an annular body of said second volume of combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (d) burning said fuel in the presence of said combustion supporting gas to produce a flame moving from said inlet end of said combustion chamber toward said outlet end of said combustion chamber and a flue gas substantially free of unburned fuel at said outlet end of said combustion chamber; (e) maintaining said first and second toroidal vortices in said combustion chamber for a residence time sufficient for said first and second toroidal vortices to naturally collapse and the flow of fluids in said combustion chamber to assume a uniform flow velocity across said combustion chamber and moving toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; and (f) introducing water into said flue gas adjacent the outlet end of said combustion chamber to produce a mixture of said flue gas and said water and vaporize a major portion of said water to produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber as a divergent spray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diameter of the thus formed body of the fuel and the combustion supporting gas is reduced adjacent the downstream end of the mixing chamber and is then expanded into the combustion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the relative volumes of the first and second volumes of combustion supporting gas and the relative pressures of introduction of said first and second volumes of combustion supporting gas are maintained such that the first torroidal vortex naturally collapses before the second torroidal vortex naturally collapses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flow of fluids in the combustion chamber is altered to cause collapse of at least the second torroidal vortex at a residence time within the combustion chamber which is shorter than that residence time at which said at least said second torroidal vortex would naturally collapse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the flow of fluids in the combustion chamber is altered by reducing the diameter of the fluids flowing through said combustion chamber before said flowing fluids reach the downstream end of the combustion chamber and thereafter expanding the diameter of said flowing fluids to the full diameter of said combustion chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the second volume of combustion supporting gas is between a small amount, sufficient to thus produce the annular body of said second volume of combustion supporting gas, and about 75% of the total volume of the first and said second volumes of combustion supporting gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flame speed in the combustion chamber is maintained substantially in excess of laminar flame speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the flame speed, at flame temperature, is maintained above about 5 ft. per second.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water is introduced in a generally radial direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the water is introduced in a generally radial direction from a plurality of points spaced about the periphery of the combustion chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the flue gas or the mixture of flue gas and water is abruptly expanded adjacent the location of introduction of said water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein one of the flue gas and the mixture of flue gas and water is abruptly expanded at an angle greater than 15° relative to the wall of the combustion chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein one of the flue gas or the mixture of flue gas and water is reduced in diameter immediately prior to the abrupt expansion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the water is introduced into one of the flue gas at the reduced diameter portion of the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mixture of flue gas and water is maintained in a vaporization chamber for a time sufficient to vaporize a major portion of said water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the mixture of flue gas and water is maintained in the vaporization chamber for a time sufficient to vaporize at least 80% of said water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water is passed as an annular stream about the outside wall of the combustion chamber prior to introduction of said water into the flue gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the volume of fuel is sufficient to produce a power output of at least about 7 MM Btu/hr. at the outlet end of the combustion chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the volume of fuel is sufficient to produce a heat release of at least about 50 MM Btu/hr. ft. 3 at the outlet end of the combustion chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the output pressure of the mixture of flue gas and steam is at least about 300 psi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the fuel is heated to a temperature of between about ambient temperature and about 450° F. prior to introduction into the combustion chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the volume of combustion supporting gas is about 3% in excess of the stoichiometric amount.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the relative velocity of the fluids in the combustion chamber is maintained between about 10 and about 200 ft. per second.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the flow velocity within the combustion chamber, at flame temperature, is maintained between about 5 and 1,000 ft. per second.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the combustion supporting gas is air and said air is heated to a temperature between about ambient temperature and about 800° F. prior to introduction into the combustion chamber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the fuel is a normally gaseous fuel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the fuel is a normally liquid fuel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the fuel is a normally solid, essentially ashless fuel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second volume of combustion supporting gas is between a small amount, sufficient to form the annular body of said second volume of combustion supporting gas, and about 75% of the total volume of the first volume of combustion supporting gas and said second volume of combustion supporting gas.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of generating steam comprising: (a) introducing a fuel and at least a first volume of a combustion supporting gas into a mixing chamber having its downstream end in open communication with an elongated combustion chamber; (b) creating a confined toroidal vortex of said fuel and at least said first volume of said combustion supporing gas, in a volume at least equal to the stoichiometric volume necessary for the combustion of all said fuel, said vortex having its center adjacent the center of said elongated combustion chamber and rotating in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce a body of said fuel and said combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (c) burning said fuel in the presence of said combustion supporting gas to produce a flame moving from said inlet end of said combustion chamber toward said outlet end of said combustion chamber and a flue gas substantially free of unburned fuel at said outlet end of said combustion chamber; (d) introducing water into said flue gas adjacent the outlet end of said combustion chamber to produce a mixture of said flue gas and said water and vaporize a major portion of said water to produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and (e) maintaining a pressure in the combustion chamber sufficient to produce choked flow of the mixture of flue gas and steam.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of generating steam comprising: (a) introducing a fuel and at least a first volume of a combustion supporting gas into a mixing chamber having its downstream end in open communication with an elongated combustion chamber; (b) creating a confined toroidal vortex of said fuel and at least said first volume of said combustion supporing gas, in a volume at least equal to the stoichiometric volume necessary for the combustion of all said fuel, said vortex having its center adjacent the center of said elongated combustion chamber and rotating in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to produce a body of said fuel and said combustion supporting gas moving from the inlet end of said combustion chamber toward the outlet end of said combustion chamber; (c) burning said fuel in the presence of said combustion supporting gas to produce a flame moving from said inlet end of said combustion chamber toward said outlet end of said combustion chamber and a flue gas substantially free of unburned fuel at said outlet end of said combustion chamber; (d) introducing water into said flue gas adjacent the outlet end of said combustion chamber to produce a mixture of said flue gas and said water and vaporize a major portion of said water to produce a mixture of said flue gas and steam; and (e) maintaining a pressure in the combustion chamber sufficient to produce choked flow of the mixture of flue gas and steam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 which further includes reducing the cross sectional dimension of the mixture of flue gas and steam to a cross sectional dimension such that said mixture of flue gas and steam exits at said choked flow velocity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |