U.S. patent application number 15/732319 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for controlled high pressure steam generation system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Einar Arvid Orbeck, JR., John Edward Vandigriff. Invention is credited to Einar Arvid Orbeck, JR., John Edward Vandigriff.
Application Number | 20190120480 15/732319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66171049 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190120480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vandigriff; John Edward ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
Controlled high pressure steam generation system
Abstract
A controlled steam generation system for producing and
controlling high temperature and high pressure steam includes a
steam generator, a control unit for controlling the temperature and
pressure of the steam, a power unit for supplying power to the
steam unit through the control unit, and a water source and pump
for supplying water to the steam unit, the water pump being
controlled by the control unit.
Inventors: |
Vandigriff; John Edward;
(Carrollton, TX) ; Orbeck, JR.; Einar Arvid; (Las
Vegas, NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Vandigriff; John Edward
Orbeck, JR.; Einar Arvid |
Carrollton
Las Vegas |
TX
NV |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66171049 |
Appl. No.: |
15/732319 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F22B 29/06 20130101;
F22B 1/282 20130101; F22B 35/104 20130101; F22D 5/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F22B 1/28 20060101
F22B001/28; F22D 5/18 20060101 F22D005/18; F22B 29/06 20060101
F22B029/06; F22B 35/10 20060101 F22B035/10 |
Claims
1. A controlled steam generation system for producing and
controlling high temperature and high pressure steam, comprising a
steam generator which includes a housing and at least two
electrodes around which is continuous flow of water, a control unit
for controlling the temperature and pressure of the steam, a power
unit for supplying power to the steam unit through the control
unit, and a water source and pump for supplying the continuous flow
of water to the steam unit, the water pump being controlled by the
control unit.
2. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 1,
wherein the system includes pressure and a temperature measuring
devices for measuring the output pressure and temperature of the
generated steam and directing the pressure and temperature
measurements of the steam into the control unit.
3. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 1,
including a water filter to allow the use of impure water such as
brine water and other water containing contaminants to filter and
remove particulate materials.
4. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 1,
wherein steam is produced by moving high pressure water flow into
the steam unit where it surrounds and passes electrical elements to
which voltage is applied, the voltage producing a constant current
between the electrical elements and turning the water into
steam.
5. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 1,
including a one way value through which the water is sent into the
steam unit to prevent a back flow of water and steam into the water
pump.
6. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 1,
wherein the steam unit has an internal insulation of ceramic to
prevent electrical contact between electrical elements in the steam
unit and the outer metallic housing of the steam unit.
7. The steam unit of claim 6, wherein the electrical elements
extend from the inside of the steam unit to the outside of the
steam unit through the metallic housing and are insulated from
there to prevent power supplied to the electrical elements from
contacting the metallic housing.
8. A controlled steam generation system for producing and
controlling high temperature and high pressure steam, comprising a
steam generator which includes a housing and at least two
electrodes around which is continuous flow of water, a control unit
for controlling the temperature and pressure of the steam, a power
unit for supplying power to the steam unit through the control
unit, and a water source and pump for supplying the continuous flow
of water to the steam unit, the water pump being controlled by the
control unit, a one way valve to prevent the steam and water in the
steam generator from flowing back into the water pump and water
source.
9. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 8,
including steam pressure and temperature measuring meters for
measuring the steam pressure and temperature output of the steam
generator.
10. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 9,
wherein the measurement of the pressure and temperature of the high
pressure steam output is returned to the control unit to regulate
the temperature and pressure of the steam out of the steam
generation unit.
11. A controlled steam generation system for producing and
controlling high temperature and high pressure steam, comprising a
steam generator, a control unit for controlling the temperature and
pressure of the steam, a power unit for supplying power to the
steam unit through the control unit, and a water source and pump
for supplying a continuous flow of high pressure water to the steam
unit, the water pump being controlled by the control unit, the
steam generator having an outer metallic structure, with an inner
ceramic insulation, a plurality of electrical elements, an input in
which the pressurized water flows into the steam unit and an output
out of which the steam flows, steam being produced when electrical
power is applied to the electrical elements and water flowing
around the electrical elements is converted to steam.
12. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 11,
wherein one of DC voltage, single phase voltage and three phase
voltage is used to convert the water flow around the electrical
elements into steam.
13. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 4,
wherein the electrical elements are mounted within the steam unit
parallel to each other, spaced apart and extend across the steam
unit within the flow of water.
14. The controlled steam generation system according to claim 4,
wherein the electrical elements are mounted within the steam unit
parallel to each other and spaced apart and alone the length of the
steam unit along the flow of water.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to steam generation systems and more
particularly to a controlled steam generation system for producing
and controlling high temperature and high pressure steam.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Steam generation systems generally have a boiler in which
water is heated to produce steam. New technology uses electrodes to
which a voltage is applied to heat the water in which the
electrodes are placed to produce steam. Such an apparatus is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,403,701 in which water is heated using
electrodes placed in the water. A similar system to heat water and
produce steam is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,193. Another U.S.
Pat. No. 4,266,116 uses a water flow system to produce steam. In
this system the water is pumped through a porous insulating
material positioned between two electrodes. The electrodes are
connected to a power sources to heat the electrodes to produce
steam.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a controlled steam
generation system, and more particularly to a high pressure high
temperature system which produces extremely high pressure and high
temperature steam. The high pressure high temperature steam can be
used in cleaning oil wells, producing power with turbines, the
purification of water.
[0004] The technical advance represented by the invention as well
as the objects thereof will become apparent from the following
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the
novel features set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates the controlled steam generation system in
which the pressure and temperature of the steam is controlled and
regulated by a control unit.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the steam generator.
[0007] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a second configuration of the
placement of the electrical elements.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0008] In FIG. 1, the controlled pressure steam generation unit 10
has a steam generator 11 which is powered at terminals 17, 18 and
19. This unit is powered through a control unit 12 which supplies
voltage to the terminals 17, 18 and 19. The illustrated unit 11 is
powered by a three phase voltage. The unit 11 could be powered by
one of 12 volts DC, 120 volts ac single phase, 240s volt AC single
phase, 208s AC volt 3-phase and 480 volts AC 3-phase. When single
phase voltage is used, only two terminals are needed to supply
power to the steam unit 11. The power applied and voltage applied
depends upon the desired pressure and temperature of the out put
steam. The steam generated can be in a range of ambient temperature
to well over 760 degree Fahrenheit. The output pressure range can
be from about 14.7 psi to well over 4500 psi.
[0009] To produce steam, power comes from a power source 13 which
goes through control unit 12 and then to steam unit 11, applying
voltage to terminals 17, 18 and 19. Water is input at 22. The water
comes from any source of water and is strained by stainer 23 to
remove any particulate material. A pump 15, controlled by motor 14
feeds the water through one way valve 16 and inlet 22 into the
steam generator where the power applied to terminals 17, 18 and 19
coverts the water to steam. Steam exits out output 24. A
temperature gauge 21 measures the temperature of the steam, and a
pressure gauge 20 measures the pressure of the steam. Both the
temperature 21a and pressure 20a is feed back to the control unit
12. The control unit is preprogrammed to the desired temperature
and pressure settings. The control unit 12 also controls motor 14
which drives the water pump 15. By controlling the motor speed, the
amount of water pumped into the steam unit 11, the pressure of the
steam output is controlled. The control of the motor 14 from the
control unit 12 is based upon, in part, the pressure information
20a from the pressure gage 20 returned to the control unit 12.
[0010] The steam system of FIG. 1 is not large like steam boilers
which have to be housed in a large apace. The steam system of the
present invention can be stationary or mounted on a trailer and
moved to any location where steam is needed or used.
[0011] The present system can use impure water sources such as gray
water, brine water, sewage water naturally occurring saline bodies
of water. It can use clean water, but in some areas, clean water is
limited or not available. Fracturing water from wells may be used,
particularly when the steam unit is used to clean old wells. These
impure water sources provide a better water to use in the steam
unit as the impurities in the water provide more conductivity and
provide a more efficient production of steam.
[0012] In regard to the power source 13 for the steam generation
system, a portable generator may be used to supply the power to
initially start the generation of steam. A steam driven turbine
(not illustrated), which turns a generator, may be used after the
initial start up of the steam generator. Upon start, the steam
generator requires a larger amount of power until the steam
generator has started producing steam. After the steam has reached
it desired temperature and pressure, the amount of power required
decreases. This results from the fact that once the current flowing
through the water starts producing steam, the conductivity of the
steam is less than the water, and the amount of current to maintain
the desired flow of steam reduces. In a small initially produced
steam unit the steam, using 220 Volt AC, the current was initially
about 45 amps. After the steam flow was produced, the current fell
to about 15 amps to maintain the desired flow of steam.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the basic structure of a steam generation unit
that can be used in the present invention. Steam unit 11 has a
metal outer wall which is basically tubular in form and has one end
22 into which there is a continuous flow of water. The opposite end
24 is from which the steam exits. The inner surface of the steam
unit 11 is insulated with a layer of ceramic 26 to prevent
electrical contact of the outer metal wall. The electrical elements
17a, 18a and 19a are vertically placed within the steam unit and
extend through the outer metal wall and are insulated from
contacting the metal wall by ceramic cylinders 25. The steam unit
of FIG. 2 shows three electrical elements. With three electrical
elements, a three phase voltage would be used. If there were only
two electrical elements, then a single phase voltage would be
used.
[0014] An important feature of the present invention is that a
continuous flow of pressurized water is used. In the prior art
steam generators, a container holds water and two electrical
elements are at least partially emerged in the container of water.
The container is supplied additional water as needed, but there is
not continuous flow of pressurized water.
[0015] FIG. 3a shows a different configuration and placement of the
electrical elements 35, 36 and 37. In this configuration, the
electrical elements are placed across the water flow in the steam
generation unit. The steam unit housing 39 has an inner ceramic
insulation 31. The electrical elements 35, 36 and 37 each extend
through the steam unit wall and are insulted by ceramic insulator
38, 39 and 40 to insulate the electrical elements from the housing
30.
[0016] FIG. 3b illustrated how the electrical elements 35, 36 and
37 are spaced as they are mounted through the wall 30 of the steam
unit. The spacing of the electrical elements in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3a
and 3b are such that there will be not arcing from the power
applied to the electrical elements. There will only be flow of
current through the water in the steam unit between each of the
electrical elements.
* * * * *