Patent ID: 7993110
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: F04C

Abstract:
1. A steam generator, gas/air compressor system used for compressing a gas/air stream of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air and other combustible gases and delivering a moderate-to-high-temperature, moderate-to-high-pressure fluid for in-situ retorting and refining of hydrocarbons, for large, electric-power-generation plants and similar applications, the compressor system comprising: a compressor housing for compressing the gas/air stream therein; a gas/air inlet in said housing for receiving the gas/air stream therein to be compressed; at least one water-based fluid injector in said housing; a water slurry, said water slurry injected through said fluid injector into said housing, said water slurry acting as a sealant, a lubricant and a coolant during the compression of the gas/air stream, said water slurry includes non-potable, brackish, saline water, the saline water in said water slurry partially evaporated during the compression of the gas/air stream in said compressor housing, whereby the non-evaporated saline water includes progressively increasing concentrations of dissolved minerals therein of which some of the dissolved minerals in the non-evaporated saline water can be extracted as a downstream mineral byproduct and can be disposed of as a waste product; and a gas/air outlet in said housing for discharging the compressed gas/air stream under pressure; whereby a portion of said water slurry is evaporated during the compression of the gas/air stream, the steam commingling with the compressed gas/air stream, whereby the steam in the gas/air stream can be condensed to distilled water as a downstream byproduct from said gas/air outlet.