Patent ID: 11898745
Assignee: INNOTECH ALBERTA INC.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  E | IPC E  F

Claim 0:
1. A method for generating a vapor, the method comprising:
a) providing a vessel operating at a first pressure and a first temperature and having a liquid brine phase therein;
b) introducing a feedstream into the vessel such that the feedstream enters the liquid brine phase, wherein the feedstream contains dissolved solids therein;
c) withdrawing a stream of liquid brine from the liquid brine phase of the vessel, wherein the stream of liquid brine is below its saturation point due to the feedstream combining with the liquid brine phase;
d) pressurizing the stream of liquid brine to a second pressure, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure;
e) heating the pressurized stream of liquid brine from step d) in an ohmic heating device to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, wherein:
the ohmic heating device comprises an outer tubular body functioning as a ground electrode, at least one inner tubular body functioning as a live electrode, and an annular space defined therebetween;
heating the pressurized stream of liquid brine comprises flowing the pressurized stream of liquid brine through the annular space;
the second temperature and the second pressure are selected to prevent boiling of the pressurized stream of liquid brine as the pressurized stream of liquid brine flows through the ohmic heating device; and
the dissolved solids remain dissolved in the pressurized stream of liquid brine as the pressurized stream of liquid brine flows through the ohmic heating device;

f) introducing the pressurized, heated stream of liquid brine from step e) into the vessel via a flash inlet above the liquid brine phase, such that the pressurized, heated stream of liquid brine flashes to a vapor portion and a remaining liquid portion without flashing the liquid brine phase, wherein the remaining liquid portion enters the liquid brine phase; and
g) withdrawing a vapor stream from the vessel.