Abstract: A steam supply system having a wet steam source and a steam separator disposed to separated wet steam into dry saturated steam and a saturated condensate. The dry saturated steam is heated in a superheater to produce superheated steam, while the saturated condensate is cooled in a subcooler to produced subcooled condensate with a target temperature selected to prevent immediate evaporation of the subcooled condensate when mixed with the superheated steam. The subcooled condensate is sprayed into a stream of superheated steam using spray nozzles and gradually evaporates downstream of the spray nozzles to produce process steam of a desired % quality. A cooling fluid passing through the subcooler is utilized to cool the saturated condensate. The flow rate of the cooling fluid through the subcooler can be utilized to achieve process steam of a desired % quality.

Abstract: A steam supply system includes a steam generator disposed to produce wet steam for introduction into a steam separator. The steam separator includes a saturated condensate outlet. A superheater receives dry saturated steam from the steam separator and produces superheated steam. An evaporator with an evaporator vessel having a saturated condensate inlet, a soluble solids slurry outlet and a dry steam outlet is in fluid communication with the saturated condensate outlet of the steam separator. Disposed within the evaporator vessel is a superheated steam heat exchanger having a superheated steam outlet and a superheated steam inlet which superheated steam inlet is in fluid communication with the superheater to receive superheated steam. The dry steam outlet of the evaporator is in fluid communication with a steam mixing vessel where the dry steam is mixed with superheated steam from the superheated steam outlet of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A solar receiver has an arrangement of heat transfer surfaces and a heat transfer fluid phase separator, such as a vertical steam/water separator, fluidly interconnected thereto. The receiver includes a plurality of heat transfer fluid filled components, and at least one alternate heat source. When various temperature measurements indicate freezing or solidification of the fluid is possible, the alternate heat source is activated to maintain a temperature of the fluid greater than the freezing/solidification point of the fluid. The application of the alternate heat source further induces natural circulation of the fluid within the components, further providing freeze/solidification protection to the receiver. A controller may be configured to receive sensed temperatures of the fluid, components, ambient air, etc., and use these temperatures relative to a threshold temperature to activate, vary output, and deactivate one or more alternate heat sources.