Steam Treatment Patents (Class 122/459)
  • Patent number: 6499440
    Abstract: A steam generator has a combustion chamber which is configured for an approximately horizontal main direction of flow of the fuel gas and which is followed on the fuel-gas side, via a horizontal gas flue, by a vertical gas flue. The containment walls of the combustion chamber are formed from evaporator tubes. Temperature differences between adjacent evaporator tubes of the combustion chamber are to be kept particularly low in all the load states of the steam generator. For this purpose, a first group and a second group of evaporator tubes can be acted upon in each case in parallel by a flow medium. The first group of evaporator tubes is connected in series with the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Franke, Rudolf Kral
  • Patent number: 6474272
    Abstract: Apparatus for the condensation of steam, includes a substructure, a fan supported by the substructure and a plurality of self-supported tube bundles which are arranged in a roof-shaped manner in opposing relationship with respect to a vertical center longitudinal plane and mounted to the substructure above the fan, with each of the tube bundles having an upper tube plate and a lower tube plate. A steam distribution duct is fluidly connected to the upper ends of the tube bundles, whereas condensate collection pipes are fluidly connected to the lower ends of the tube bundles. The upper tube plates of opposite tube bundles so mutually support one another as to allow a limited pivotal movement of the tube bundles, and the condensate collection pipes are so positioned on the substructure as to be shiftable relative to the substructure in parallel relationship to the center longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: GEA Energietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Bensing, Benedict Korischem
  • Publication number: 20020144663
    Abstract: A steam generator for converting water to steam by the transfer of heat from a heating medium includes two or more water/steam circuits. Each water/steam circuit has at least one evaporator for transferring the heat from the heating medium to the water. A single water/steam drum receives steam or water and steam from the evaporators. A descending pipe has at least one bypass, from which the supply pipes of the respective water/steam circuits branch off, and a venturi device in the area of the bypass. The inlet opening of the supply pipe of at least one water/steam circuit is disposed in the area of diffuser-shaped outlet of the venturi device such that the supply pipe section acts as a dynamic compression pipe in order to increase the pressure of the working medium in this circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Jiri Jekerle
  • Patent number: 6457441
    Abstract: This invention provides a superheated steam apparatus that is cable of efficiently heating water to generate superheated steam, and to perform a process such as sterilization utilizing this superheated steam while keeping the loss of heating energy to a minimum. The invention comprises a processing section 11 at the top on the inside of a housing container 2, which is at atmospheric pressure, for performing a process utilizing superheated steam, and where the processing section 11 includes a steam discharge outlet 12, and a superheated steam generation section 10 located at the bottom of the processing section 11; and where the superheated steam generation section 10 generates superheated steam or moist air inside the housing container 2, hat is essentially in an open state, and is connected with the processing section 11 in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Medical Clean Products Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6446584
    Abstract: A steam generator has an especially simple structural concept of a combustion chamber for a predetermined output range and for various qualities of different fossil fuels. The steam generator includes a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber which have a respective number of burners for fossil fuel and are constructed for an approximately horizontal main flow direction of heating gas. The first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber open into a common horizontal gas flue connected upstream of a vertical gas flue on the heating-gas side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Franke, Rudolf Kral
  • Publication number: 20020100433
    Abstract: This invention provides a superheated steam apparatus that is capable of efficiently heating water to generate superheated steam, and to perform a process such as sterilization utilizing this superheated steam while keeping the loss of heating energy to a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Mitsuru Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20020092483
    Abstract: A steam conditioning system comprising a steam conditioning valve 1 for depressurizing and desuperheating steam S by supplying moisture W in said conditioning valve. A discharge pipe 3 connected to the steam conditioning valve 1 has a horizontal section 3a, and said horizontal arrangement section 3a is provided with a moisture drain 4 or at a portion near the bottom. Condensed moisture W1 is extracted from this moisture drain 4 and is recycled as moisture W to be supplied to the steam S in said conditioning valve 1. The steam conditioning valve 1 further has a reduced annular section 9 with a nozzle 5a disposed therein for injecting subcooled water mist W. A transport conduit 5 connects the drain 4 to nozzle 5a. Moisture W is drawn into steam flow S due to the Venturi effect caused by the pressure drop through the reduced annular section 9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20020026905
    Abstract: A steam generator has an especially simple structural concept of a combustion chamber for a predetermined output range and for various qualities of different fossil fuels. The steam generator includes a first combustion chamber and a second combustion chamber which have a respective number of burners for fossil fuel and are constructed for an approximately horizontal main flow direction of heating gas. The first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber open into a common horizontal gas flue connected upstream of a vertical gas flue on the heating-gas side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Joachim Franke, Rudolf Kral
  • Publication number: 20020026906
    Abstract: A steam generator has a combustion chamber which is configured for an approximately horizontal main direction of flow of the fuel gas and which is followed on the fuel-gas side, via a horizontal gas flue, by a vertical gas flue. The containment walls of the combustion chamber are formed from evaporator tubes. Temperature differences between adjacent evaporator tubes of the combustion chamber are to be kept particularly low in all the load states of the steam generator. For this purpose, a first group and a second group of evaporator tubes can be acted upon in each case in parallel by a flow medium. The first group of evaporator tubes is connected in series with the second group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Joachim Franke, Rudolf Kral
  • Publication number: 20020017251
    Abstract: A continuous-flow steam generator includes a combustion chamber with evaporator tubes for fossil fuel. The combustion chamber is followed on the fuel-gas side by a vertical gas flue through a horizontal gas flue. When the continuous-flow steam generator is in operation, temperature differences in a connecting portion, which includes an outlet region of the combustion chamber and an inlet region of the horizontal gas flue, are to be kept particularly low. For such a purpose, of a plurality of evaporator tubes capable of being acted upon in parallel by flow medium, a number of evaporator tubes are guided in the form of a loop in the connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Eberhard Wittchow
  • Publication number: 20020005176
    Abstract: Apparatus for the condensation of steam, includes a substructure, a fan supported by the substructure and a plurality of self-supported tube bundles which are arranged in a roof-shaped manner in opposing relationship with respect to a vertical center longitudinal plane and mounted to the substructure above the fan, with each of the tube bundles having an upper tube plate and a lower tube plate. A steam distribution duct is fluidly connected to the upper ends of the tube bundles, whereas condensate collection pipes are fluidly connected to the lower ends of the tube bundles. The upper tube plates of opposite tube bundles so mutually support one another as to allow a limited pivotal movement of the tube bundles, and the condensate collection pipes are so positioned on the substructure as to be shiftable relative to the substructure in parallel relationship to the center longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Bensing, Benedict Korischem
  • Publication number: 20020000208
    Abstract: The fossil fuel fired continuous-flow steam generator has a gas turbine combustion chamber for fossil combustibles. On the heating gas side a vertical gas extractor is mounted downstream of a horizontal gas extractor. The walls surrounding the combustion chamber are composed of vertical evaporator tubes that are welded together. During operation the temperature differences between adjacent evaporator tubes of the combustion chamber are kept as low as possible. The burners are arranged at the level of the horizontal gas extractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Joachim Franke, Rudolf Kral, Eberhard Wittchow
  • Publication number: 20010000094
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery boiler in which an exhaust gas discharged from a gas turbine into a boiler duct to recover a heat of the exhaust gas and ammonia is injected to and mixed with the exhaust gas to reduce nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust gas, the exhaust heat recovery boiler comprising: a boiler duct of a horizontal installation type having an inner hollow portion along which an exhaust gas flows from an upstream side to, a downstream side; a superheater; an evaporator; a denitration reactor; and an economizer, which are disposed inside the boiler duct in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the exhaust gas flow therein. A drum is disposed outside the boiler duct and connected to the evaporator and a downcomer pipe extending from the drum into the boiler duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: April 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hideaki Shimada, Norihide Egami, Takayuki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5791300
    Abstract: A steam generator parallel back end arrangement divides a flue gas flow into a plurality of paths in the steam generator housing. A pendant primary superheater is located in the housing near the top of the housing and a baffle wall having tubes therethrough vertically extends from the bottom of the housing in the flue gas flow. The baffle wall is divided into enclosure walls which extend upwardly in the housing and define an interior space therebetween. A top directional baffle is connected to the enclosure walls for forming a gas-tight vestibule in which an inlet header of a reheater and an outlet header of an economizer are supported and contained therein for protection from the flue gas environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Calvin Eugene Phelps, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5724922
    Abstract: A low-temperature steam generating device comprises a pressure reducing unit 2 that lowers the pressure of steam to below atmospheric pressure by means of a vacuum pressure reducing valve 3 and a cooling unit 4 that changes steam with reduced pressure into saturated steam by lowering the temperature of the steam. The vacuum pressure reducing valve 3 is controlled based on the pressure and temperature of the steam with reduced pressure, whereas the cooling unit has a spray nozzle 5 that sprays cooling liquid into a passageway 61 at the entry end of a cooler proper 6 through which the steam with reduced pressure is admitted. The cooler proper 6 has a cylinder 60 through which the steam with reduced pressure passes and multistage constricting plates 65 disposed in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Shin-Ei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Agata
  • Patent number: 5605118
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling reheater steam temperature is disclosed. The method can be carried out by selectively adjusting the flow of superheated steam into a superheater positioned between two reheater sections in the convection pass of a carbonaceous fuel boiler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Tampella Power Corporation
    Inventors: Brian T. Sinn, Michael G. Alliston, Kulwarn S. Parmar, Leonid S. Blokh, Song Wu, Brian G. Martin, Matti Rautanen
  • Patent number: 5385121
    Abstract: A desuperheater is disclosed which employs an acceleration orifice within a steam conduit to increase the velocity of steam flowing therethrough, creating a region of low pressure steam. A nozzle having an enclosed elliptical discharge orifice sprays small droplets of cooling water in a semi-elliptical hollow cone pattern directly into the region of low pressure steam flow. Evaporization of the cooling water into the steam is optimized allowing effective control of the steam temperature. Nozzle fouling and plugging is reduced because the droplet size created by the nozzle is small in comparison to the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Roy L. Feiss
  • Patent number: 4942847
    Abstract: A procedure and apparatus for generating steam for an autoclave or an equivalent device, so that the load of the autoclave or device can be equalized. Thermal energy is stored in water under pressure which is converted when needed into steam which, in turn, is accumulated and later purified. The present invention also concerns the use of the procedure and apparatus to equalize load in the autoclave or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Oy Santasalo-Sohlberg AB
    Inventors: Lauri Santasalo, Esko Huhta-Koivisto
  • Patent number: 4915169
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for controlling pH in the liquid and vapor phases of wet steam having such phases formed in a steam generation system from feedwater having therein at least one carbonate species which in the presence of steam forms a vapor phase component tending to lower the pH of the vapor phase of the steam upon condensation and a liquid phase component tending to raise the pH of the liquid phase of the steam. It comprises: (a) converting the feedwater in a steam generation system to steam having a vapor phase and a liquid phase; and (b) adding to the steam generation system, a heterocyclic, multifunctional, nitrogen-containing compound capable of forming a nonvolatile anionic component and a cationic component that, in the presence of said system, yields hydrogen ions for reducing the pH of the liquid phase of said steam and an alkaline component for increasing the pH of the vapor phase of said steam upon condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Rong J. Hwang, Andrew Nigrini, Marion G. Reed
  • Patent number: 4871023
    Abstract: A method for controlling pH in the liquid and vapor phases of wet steam having such phases formed in a steam generator system from feedwater having therein at least one carbonate species which in the presence of steam forms a vapor phase component tending to lower the pH of the vapor phase of the steam upon condensation and a liquid phase component tending to raise the pH of the liquid phase of the steam, comprising: (a) converting the feedwater in a steam generation system to steam having a vapor phase and a liquid phase; and (b) adding to the steam generation system, a compound, selected from the group of phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth containing compounds which are capable of forming a nonvolatile anionic component and a cationic component that, in the presence of the steam, yields hydrogen ions for reducing the pH of the liquid phase of the steam and an alkaline component for increasing the pH of the vapor phase of said steam upon condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Andrew Nigrini, Rong J. Hwang
  • Patent number: 4524728
    Abstract: An apparatus for condensing steam is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a group of individually removable modules, each of which uses a series of spaced-apart confronting plates to define passageways for the steam to be condensed and ammonia which serves as the condensing medium. As the steam moves in one direction through designated passageways, liquid ammonia moves in the opposite direction in other designated passageways. The liquid ammonia causes the steam to condense which, in turn, causes the liquid ammonia to be reduced to a vapor which itself is condensed at a remote location for repeating the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4470961
    Abstract: Certain impure steams, especially those from geothermal sources, are polluted with hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, other gases, and finely divided particulate solid matter in a form resembling dust or smoke. These contaminants reduce the efficiency of the steam as a heat transfer fluid, are detrimental to equipment utilizing steam as an energy source, and result in environmental pollution or expensive requirements for limiting the same. Herein so polluted steam is selectively processed in the gaseous state to remove hydrogen sulfide therefrom, with or without removing other pollutants, to recover valuable materials therefrom, and to improve the utility of the steam as an energy source. This is done by contacting a flow of the steam with aqueous fluid reactant media comprising one or more reactive compounds of certain metals electropositive with respect to hydrogen. The valuable materials subsequently may be recovered from said media as useful byproducts. The reactant compounds may be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Deuterium Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome S. Spevack
  • Patent number: 4438730
    Abstract: The inventive combination provides for a profitable and efficient utilization of low-pressure waste heat in conjunction with medium-pressure steam. The combination of mechanical and thermodynamic compression for the generation of superheated low-pressure steam is a method that has better results regarding energy and cost than any other known configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Link, Siegfried Jung, Reinhold Zapp, Helmut Bar, Herbert Mader
  • Patent number: 4242305
    Abstract: Certain impure steams, especially those from geothermal sources, are polluted with hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, other gases, and finely divided particulate solid matter in a form resembling dust or smoke. These contaminants reduce the efficiency of the steam as a heat transfer fluid, are detrimental to equipment utilizing steam as an energy source, and result in environmental pollution or expensive requirements for limiting the same. Herein apparatus is provided wherein so polluted steam is selectively processed in the gaseous state upstream of said equipment to remove hydrogen sulfide therefrom, with or without removing other pollutants, to recover valuable materials therefrom, and to improve the utility of the steam as an energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Deuterium Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome S. Spevack
  • Patent number: 4202864
    Abstract: Certain impure steams, especially those from geothermal sources, are polluted with hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, other gases, and finely divided particulate solid matter in a form resembling dust or smoke. These contaminants reduce the efficiency of the steam as a heat transfer fluid, are detrimental to equipment utilizing steam as an energy source, and result in environmental pollution or expensive requirements for limiting the same. By the invention herein so polluted steam is selectively processed in the gaseous state upstream of said equipment to remove hydrogen sulfide therefrom, with or without removing other pollutants, to reduce environmental pollution from effluents thereof, to recover valuable materials therefrom, and to improve the utility of the steam as an energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Deuterium Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome S. Spevack
  • Patent number: 4123506
    Abstract: Certain impure streams, especially those from geothermal sources, are polluted with hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, other gases, and finely divided particulate solid matter in a form resembling dust or smoke. These contaminants reduce the efficiency of the steam as a heat transfer fluid, are detrimental to equipment utilizing steam as an energy source, and result in environmental pollution or expensive requirements for limiting the same. Herein so polluted steam is selectively processed in the gaseous state upstream of said equipment to remove hydrogen sulfide therefrom, with or without removing other pollutants, to recover valuable materials therefrom, and to improve the utility of the steam as an energy source. This is done by contacting a flow of the steam with aqueous liquid reactant media consisting essentially of one or more reactive compounds of certain metals which form solid metal sulfide reaction products and which preferably are electropositive with respect to hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Deuterium Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome S. Spevack
  • Patent number: 4084080
    Abstract: An apparatus for the heating, moistening and holding cosmetic towels or the like is disclosed herein having a box-like support into which a water tray is placed. Legs are carried underneath the tray for holding the tray in spaced relationship with respect to the bottom of the support. A heater coil is downwardly suspended from the tray in the space and the heater coil terminates in a pronged electrical connection for detachably receiving an electrical plug attached to a conventional source of AC line voltage. The water tray holds a small quantity of water and, in turn, supports a removable perforated table which supports the towels. The sidewall of the water tray upwardly project beyond the towel surface of the perforated table and the sidewall of box-like support. A removable lid completes the device so that steam produced by the heated water is captured in the device for heating and moistening the towels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Inventor: William T. McMahan