Patent ID: 7559537
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: C08B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A direct steam injection heater with integrated reactor and boiler, comprising: a process tube having a process fluid inlet and a process fluid outlet, said process tube configured to accommodate a flow of process liquid while retaining said flow of process liquid for a period of time during which heat is transferred to said flow of process liquid, said process fluid inlet and said process fluid outlet configured to accommodate connection of said process tube with external process piping; a pressure vessel surrounding said process tube, sealed thereto, and configured in relation to said process tube so as to define an envelope between said process tube and said pressure vessel, said pressure vessel and said envelope being configured to accommodate an amount of steam and an amount of heating liquid condensate within said pressure vessel, said pressure vessel having a pressure vessel exterior, said amount of heating liquid condensate having a condensate level; at least one external heat source, configured so as to heat at least a portion of said pressure vessel exterior to accommodate heating of said amount of heating liquid condensate; at least one direct steam injector assembly connected to said process tube, each of said direct steam injector assemblies configured so as to accommodate injection of at least a portion of said amount of steam into said process tube; said direct steam injector assembly comprising: whereby said pressure vessel operates to heat said process tube while providing said amount of steam and whereby said process tube operates to allow heating and mixing of said flow of process fluid.