Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a steam generator and a car washer with the steam generator. The steam generator includes: a boiler having a combustion chamber. The steam generator further includes: a windproof cover, at least a part of an ignition device of the steam generator being located in the windproof cover; an igniting cover, at least a part of the igniting cover being located in the combustion chamber, and an outlet of the windproof cover being located in the igniting cover; an air inlet grating, the air inlet grating being provided around the windproof cover and connected with the windproof cover, and the air inlet grating being located on an inner side of an air inlet of the igniting cover, to prevent airflow in the igniting cover from flowing out from the inlet of the igniting cover.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system, method, and apparatus comprising a direct steam generator configured to generate saturated steam and combustion exhaust constituents.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system, method, and apparatus comprising a direct steam generator configured to generate saturated steam and combustion exhaust constituents.

A boiler has a shell surrounding a vertical centerline. The shell defines an inner surface having an inner diameter and an inner length extending between an upper upstream end and a lower downstream end. The inner surface defines a hollow interior, the boiler having a pre-combustion zone, a combustion zone downstream from the pre-combustion zone, and a post-combustion zone downstream from the combustion zone. The shell is tapered outward along its length in at least a portion of the combustion zone. An oxidizer inlet is in fluid communication with the pre-combustion zone, and a fuel nozzle introduces fuel into the combustion zone. A tube assembly is mounted in the hollow interior of the shell for transferring heat to fluid flowing through the tube assembly. A flue duct is in fluid communication with the post-combustion zone for transporting flue gases from the hollow interior.

A well fluid treatment system includes a cavitation reactor causing cavitation-induced heating of a flow sufficient to convert at least a portion of water in the well fluid to steam a single pass of the well fluid through the cavitation reactor, a steam-liquid phase separator receives the heated well fluid and separates the flow into steam and a condensed contaminated fluid. One or more auxiliary systems are coupled to the steam outlet and receive the flow of steam in order to transfer thermal energy from the flow of steam to one or more of the following: (a) a well fluid treatment process before the cavitation reactor, and (b) a condensed contaminated fluid treatment process after the cavitation reactor.

A method of thermal energy recovery from production of at least one solid carbon material comprises reacting at least one carbon oxide material and at least one gaseous reducing material at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 400° C., at a pressure greater than or equal to about 1×10.sup.5 pascal, and in the presence of at least one catalyst material to produce at least one solid carbon material and a gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Thermal energy is extracted from the gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Other methods of generating recoverable thermal energy are disclosed, as is a solid carbon production system having thermal energy recovery.

A method of thermal energy recovery from production of at least one solid carbon material comprises reacting at least one carbon oxide material and at least one gaseous reducing material at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 400° C., at a pressure greater than or equal to about 1×10.sup.5 pascal, and in the presence of at least one catalyst material to produce at least one solid carbon material and a gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Thermal energy is extracted from the gaseous effluent stream comprising water vapor. Other methods of generating recoverable thermal energy are disclosed, as is a solid carbon production system having thermal energy recovery.

Separators and mixers for delivering controlled-quality solar-generated steam over long distances for enhanced oil recovery, and associated systems and methods. A representative method includes heating water to steam at a solar field, separating a liquid fraction from the steam, directing the steam toward a target steam user via a first, steam conduit, and directing the liquid fraction toward the target steam user in parallel with the steam via second, liquid fraction conduit. The method can further include mixing the liquid fraction and the steam before delivering the combined liquid fraction and steam to the target user.

A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO.sub.2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.

A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO.sub.2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.