A system for generating high pressure steam from dirty water uses a combination of sub-merged plasma arcs and electrical resistive heating. Dirty water from steam assisted gravity drainage, or other dirty water producing process, which needs to be converted into high pressure steam, is fed directly without any pre-treatment, into a plasma fired steam generator, powered by submerged electrodes. The combination of electric arc plasma and resistive heating is created between the submerged electrodes. The heat so generated will boil the water portion of the dirty water feed to generate steam that is collected in a steam space and then removed there from. The solids and other residues (residual sludge) present in the feed water settle down at the bottom of the steam generator and are removed via a blow-down stream. The plasma arcs are used to intermittently remove any scaling or solid deposits that can accumulate on the electrodes.

A system for generating high pressure steam from dirty water uses a combination of sub-merged plasma arcs and electrical resistive heating. Dirty water from steam assisted gravity drainage, or other dirty water producing process, which needs to be converted into high pressure steam, is fed directly without any pre-treatment, into a plasma fired steam generator, powered by submerged electrodes. The combination of electric arc plasma and resistive heating is created between the submerged electrodes. The heat so generated will boil the water portion of the dirty water feed to generate steam that is collected in a steam space and then removed there from. The solids and other residues (residual sludge) present in the feed water settle down at the bottom of the steam generator and are removed via a blow-down stream. The plasma arcs are used to intermittently remove any scaling or solid deposits that can accumulate on the electrodes.

Apparatus for generating steam is disclosed. It comprises a water inlet (19), an evaporation surface (24), and a heater (26) disposed adjacent to the evaporation surface to heat the evaporation surface. The water inlet (19) is positioned relative to the evaporation surface (24) so that water is fed onto the evaporation surface from the inlet (19) and forms a film on the evaporation surface such that said film is evaporated from the evaporation surface (24). The apparatus also has a scale collection region (23). The evaporation surface (24) and the scale collection region (23) are configured such that the scale collection region (23) is positioned below the evaporation surface (24) during use of the apparatus so that scale dislodged from the evaporation surface (24) and which falls away from the evaporation surface (24), drops into the scale collection region (23).

A steam generating humidifier apparatus (1) comprises a water container (2) with a water inlet (11) and a steam outlet (12) and at least two elongated electrodes (3, 4) arranged vertically within the container. The electrodes have each an upper electrode end (3, 4) and a lower electrode end (3, 4) and at least one of the electrodes is provided at its lower electrode end with an end piece (15) made of an electrically non-conducting material which end piece is connected to the lower electrode end. This will avoid arcing between the electrode and the water surface in cases where the water level drops so low that the electrodes are exposed.

Methods and systems for steam production are provided. Methods include providing feedwater having an electrical conductivity of less than 200 ?S/cm to an electrode boiler, and converting the feedwater to saturated steam by the electrode boiler. The saturated steam is provided as a first fluid to a heat exchange component. Water having an electrical conductivity of more than 200 ?S/cm is provided to the heat exchange component as a second fluid, where the second fluid is heated through indirect thermal transfer with the saturated steam to generate wet steam. The saturated steam is at least partially condensed in the heat exchange component through the indirect thermal transfer with the second fluid. At least a portion of the thus obtained condensed fluid is fed back to the electrode boiler for use as part of the low-conductivity water to generate said saturated steam.

Methods and systems for steam production are provided. Methods include providing feedwater having an electrical conductivity of less than 200 ?S/cm to an electrode boiler, and converting the feedwater to saturated steam by the electrode boiler. The saturated steam is provided as a first fluid to a heat exchange component. Water having an electrical conductivity of more than 200 ?S/cm is provided to the heat exchange component as a second fluid, where the second fluid is heated through indirect thermal transfer with the saturated steam to generate wet steam. The saturated steam is at least partially condensed in the heat exchange component through the indirect thermal transfer with the second fluid. At least a portion of the thus obtained condensed fluid is fed back to the electrode boiler for use as part of the low-conductivity water to generate said saturated steam.

A boiler, including: electrodes immersed in contained water, for heating thereof; and a separating circuit, for supplying electric power from an electric grid supply to the electrodes therethrough in an electric separated manner, thereby the water electrified by the electrodes is electrically separated from the electric grid supply, thereby providing safety.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor, having an evaporation surface, a liquid inlet, a heater for heating the evaporation surface, a flow controller, a control unit configured to control a liquid flow rate injected into the liquid inlet, a chamber containing the evaporation surface, and a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation surface. The control unit is configured to control a heating power of the heater according to a flow rate and to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor according to a predetermined control law. The predetermined control law varies, for each flow rate, non-linearly and inversely proportionally to the difference between a reference temperature of the chamber and the measured temperature.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor, having an evaporation surface, a liquid inlet, a heater for heating the evaporation surface, a flow controller, a control unit configured to control a liquid flow rate injected into the liquid inlet, a chamber containing the evaporation surface, and a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation surface. The control unit is configured to control a heating power of the heater according to a flow rate and to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor according to a predetermined control law. The predetermined control law varies, for each flow rate, non-linearly and inversely proportionally to the difference between a reference temperature of the chamber and the measured temperature.

Humidity control method and apparatus are disclosed. The humidity control apparatus may include a water holding tank for holding water therein, a nozzle positioned adjacent to the water holding tank for escape of the water therethrough, a first electrode connected to the nozzle, and a second electrode positioned opposite to the first electrode. The humidity control apparatus may include a first electrical power control unit for applying a voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a first insulator formed on the second electrode.