Abstract: A steam generator is fired by a fossil fuel burner. The generator is shown as producing approximately 80% quality steam to be injected into oil wells to promote secondary recovery. The flame body from the burner is propagated along the longitudinal axis of a horizontally extended cylindrical chamber. Water and/or steam is passed through tubes mounted on the internal walls of the cylindrical chamber in order that they may absorb radiant heat from the flame body. The heat absorbing tubes are divided into groups, or sets, to establish the rate of water and/or steam flow through the tubes. The tubes within each group are extended as a plurality of reaches the length of the cylinder and are joined to each other by 180.degree. bends of that part of the tube between reaches. Each reach of each tube group is arranged on the internal wall of the cylinder to result in uniform exposure of the tube groups to the radiant heat.

Abstract: The shell of a low temperature separator vessel has an inlet spinner structure mounted to absorb kinetic energy of fluids flowed into the vessel. A grating structure is placed over the outlet of the spinner to dissipate kinetic energy of the incoming fluids, divert the direction of fluid flow away from the gas outlet of the vessel, and distribute the fluids transverse their flow path from the vessel inlet to the vessel outlet.

Abstract: A separator vessel shell is connected to receive a mixture of fluids produced from an oil well. An inlet structure is mounted within the shell and positioned to receive the flow stream of fluid mixture. The inlet structure includes a matrix of units, each of which provide a large surface area over which the fluid mixture passes in flowing through the matrix. The forces generated on the fluid mixture convert the energy in the flowing mixture and prevent the energy from shearing vapor bubbles in the mixture and forming additional foam.