A system for maintaining the depth of injected vapor in an entrochemical system is disclosed. The vapor transfer pathway terminates in the chamber containing high concentration solution underneath the surface of the solution. In one example the vapor transfer pathway is passively adjustable, using a flotation device to maintain the depth of its end. Another example uses an active, actuated system to maintain the depth of the end of the vapor transfer pathway. The energy for controlling the depth of vapor transfer pathway is minimized by passive methods and derives from the heat of mixing of the vapor and the high concentration solution.

Exemplary apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided to produce steam for use in oil field applications. In some embodiments, a catalyst is provided that includes a plurality of ceramic bodies impregnated with an alkaline-promoted manganese oxide. In other embodiments, the catalyst includes a plurality of bodies formed of an active ceramic oxide in a consolidated state without an underlying ceramic body. The bodies are contacted with a liquid hydrogen peroxide having a strength, in one embodiment, between about 30 and about 70 weight percent to produce steam. The steam is directed to an oil field application, such as, but not limited to, a geologic formation to increase oil production from the geologic formation, an applicator to clean oilfield equipment, a heat exchanger to heat hydrogen peroxide, or a heat exchanger to heat living quarters.

Exemplary apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided to produce steam for use in oil field applications. In some embodiments, a catalyst is provided that includes a plurality of ceramic bodies impregnated with an alkaline-promoted manganese oxide. In other embodiments, the catalyst includes a plurality of bodies formed of an active ceramic oxide in a consolidated state without an underlying ceramic body. The bodies are contacted with a liquid hydrogen peroxide having a strength, in one embodiment, between about 30 and about 70 weight percent to produce steam. The steam is directed to an oil field application, such as, but not limited to, a geologic formation to increase oil production from the geologic formation, an applicator to clean oilfield equipment, a heat exchanger to heat hydrogen peroxide, or a heat exchanger to heat living quarters.

A microwave oven includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber and a steam generator within the cooking chamber. The steam generator includes a disk-shaped main body with a water storage volume internal to the main body. The steam generator also includes a connector in operative communication with a motor of the microwave oven. The motor is operable to rotate the disk-shaped main body during a cooking operation of the microwave oven. The steam generator also includes a plurality of vents positioned above the water storage volume. The vents direct steam from the water storage volume into the cooking chamber of the microwave oven appliance during the cooking operation of the microwave oven appliance.

A microwave oven includes a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber and a steam generator within the cooking chamber. The steam generator includes a disk-shaped main body with a water storage volume internal to the main body. The steam generator also includes a connector in operative communication with a motor of the microwave oven. The motor is operable to rotate the disk-shaped main body during a cooking operation of the microwave oven. The steam generator also includes a plurality of vents positioned above the water storage volume. The vents direct steam from the water storage volume into the cooking chamber of the microwave oven appliance during the cooking operation of the microwave oven appliance.

A method of evaporation comprises cooling a prime mover using a coolant. The cooling comprising pumping the coolant from the prime mover through a heat exchanger and back to the prime mover in a cooling circuit. A process fluid is circulated in an evaporator loop comprising the heat exchanger and a flash tank, the process fluid being circulated from the flash tank, through the heat exchanger and to a flash nozzle positioned in the flash tank. A pressure of the process fluid is reduced across the flash nozzle from a first pressure upstream of the flash nozzle to a second pressure in the flash tank, wherein heat from the coolant provides sufficient thermal energy to the process fluid in the heat exchanger so that a percentage of the process fluid changes phase from liquid to steam when the pressure of the process fluid is reduced across the flash nozzle. Steam is ejected from the flash tank to separate the steam from the process fluid.

A method of evaporation comprises cooling a prime mover using a coolant. The cooling comprising pumping the coolant from the prime mover through a heat exchanger and back to the prime mover in a cooling circuit. A process fluid is circulated in an evaporator loop comprising the heat exchanger and a flash tank, the process fluid being circulated from the flash tank, through the heat exchanger and to a flash nozzle positioned in the flash tank. A pressure of the process fluid is reduced across the flash nozzle from a first pressure upstream of the flash nozzle to a second pressure in the flash tank, wherein heat from the coolant provides sufficient thermal energy to the process fluid in the heat exchanger so that a percentage of the process fluid changes phase from liquid to steam when the pressure of the process fluid is reduced across the flash nozzle. Steam is ejected from the flash tank to separate the steam from the process fluid.

Waste heat is extracted in two stages from the exhaust (20) of a biomass dryer (14) in a grain alcohol plant (10). A boiler circuit (56) provides a first steam at high pressure. A first energy recovery circuit (36) extracts heat from the exhaust via a non-contact heat exchanger (24) and provides a second, relatively lower pressure steam (78), thereby bypassing a portion of the boiler circuit. Working fluids in the boiler and first energy recovery circuits are maintained within boiler water quality specifications and are intermixed to allow the production of the second steam without a pressure reduction device. A second energy recovery circuit (44) extracts heat from the exhaust downstream of the first energy recovery circuit using a direct contact heat exchanger (38) and provides a non-boiler quality heated fluid (52), which may be a heated liquid or a third steam.

Waste heat is extracted in two stages from the exhaust (20) of a biomass dryer (14) in a grain alcohol plant (10). A boiler circuit (56) provides a first steam at high pressure. A first energy recovery circuit (36) extracts heat from the exhaust via a non-contact heat exchanger (24) and provides a second, relatively lower pressure steam (78), thereby bypassing a portion of the boiler circuit. Working fluids in the boiler and first energy recovery circuits are maintained within boiler water quality specifications and are intermixed to allow the production of the second steam without a pressure reduction device. A second energy recovery circuit (44) extracts heat from the exhaust downstream of the first energy recovery circuit using a direct contact heat exchanger (38) and provides a non-boiler quality heated fluid (52), which may be a heated liquid or a third steam.

An apparatus may include an inlet and an enclosure includes a container that is coupled to the inlet. The container may receive water from the inlet. The apparatus may further include various check valves coupled to the container. The apparatus may further include a laser head coupled to the container. The laser head may receive a laser signal that converts the water inside the container into steam. The check valves may release the steam outside the enclosure.