Abstract: In a steam generation system in which cold water is introduced into steam as an incident of equipment start-up, condensation shock is substantially reduced by having a diffusion plate in a generator discharge line leading to the steam conduit. The diffusion plate breaks up the flow of water into a plurality of steams thereby substantially increasing the surface area of the water to provide enhanced heat transfer and reduced condensation shock.

Abstract: A system and the equipment for economically enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean reservoir in which a plurality of production and injection wells are formed. High grade steam from a common source is mixed with relatively cold water at each injection well to be treated. To avoid, or substantially reduce condensation shock in the water/steam mixer, the high velocity cold water is initially heated in a steam compartment with minimal contact between the two fluids. Thereafter, the steam and the water are introduced to a heat exchange chamber in which the temperature of the water is raised prior to the two streams being merged for injection into a well as either heated water or as low quality steam.