The present invention relates to a device (1) for generating steam. The device (1) comprises a plate (2) forming a surface, and a heating element (3) to heat the plate (2) to a predetermined temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature. The plate (2) is inclined at an angle compared to the horizontal direction to define an upper end and a lower end. The device (1) also comprises a water inlet arrangement (4) for dispensing water onto the plate (2) proximate the upper end, a control unit (11) to control the flow of water dispensed onto the plate (2), and a scale collection container (5) disposed adjacent to the plate (2). The control unit (11) is configured to control the flow of water dispensed onto the plate (2) and the temperature of the plate (2) so that substantially all the water dispensed onto the plate (2) evaporates before it reaches the lower end (15) of the plate (2). This invention allows an easy scale collection, thanks to the inclination angle of the plate's surface that causes the dislodged scale to travel down the plate's surface toward the lower end of the plate and, ultimately, into the container.

Steam generation apparatus and method in which liquid is regulated in thermal catalytic reaction below a specific temperature and accelerated in thermal catalytic reaction above that temperature, including a vaporizer housing, axial ends of the housing being opened, and collars formed at axial ends of a cylindrical part of the housing; upper and lower flanges joined to housing collars; a vaporizer with a spiral channel in between; an exothermic member disposed such that the vaporizer inside is heated to a predetermined temperature; an injection nozzle at a center of the upper flange with an intake for liquid to be treated; a steam socket attached to the lower flange for guiding steam to the spiral channel, the steam socket including an inlet port connected to an inside of the vaporizer, outlet port connected to the spiral channel, and a steam channel connecting the inlet port and the outlet port.

Steam generation apparatus and method in which liquid is regulated in thermal catalytic reaction below a specific temperature and accelerated in thermal catalytic reaction above that temperature, including a vaporizer housing, axial ends of the housing being opened, and collars formed at axial ends of a cylindrical part of the housing; upper and lower flanges joined to housing collars; a vaporizer with a spiral channel in between; an exothermic member disposed such that the vaporizer inside is heated to a predetermined temperature; an injection nozzle at a center of the upper flange with an intake for liquid to be treated; a steam socket attached to the lower flange for guiding steam to the spiral channel, the steam socket including an inlet port connected to an inside of the vaporizer, outlet port connected to the spiral channel, and a steam channel connecting the inlet port and the outlet port.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor includes an enclosure, a heating surface with a downward slope arranged in the enclosure, and a liquid inlet port connected to an upper portion of the heating surface so that a liquid introduced from the liquid inlet port flows on the heating surface. The device also includes a vapor outlet port formed through a wall of the enclosure. The heating surface includes a heat transfer pipe configured to allow the flowing of a heat transfer fluid to heat the heating surface, and a corner piece including a U-shaped cross-section with a semi-circular portion arranged around the heat transfer pipe and an upper portion forming an opening on the enclosure.

A device for converting a liquid into vapor includes an enclosure, a heating surface with a downward slope arranged in the enclosure, and a liquid inlet port connected to an upper portion of the heating surface so that a liquid introduced from the liquid inlet port flows on the heating surface. The device also includes a vapor outlet port formed through a wall of the enclosure. The heating surface includes a heat transfer pipe configured to allow the flowing of a heat transfer fluid to heat the heating surface, and a corner piece including a U-shaped cross-section with a semi-circular portion arranged around the heat transfer pipe and an upper portion forming an opening on the enclosure.

A spraying and re-heating vapor reactor includes: a heat preservation boiler; a vapor reaction boiler disposed in the heat preservation boiler; a re-heating conduit communicating the vapor reaction boiler with a device outside the heat preservation boiler, a high heat capacity material being accommodated within the heat preservation boiler, and surrounding the vapor reaction boiler and the re-heating conduit; a heater heating the high heat capacity material; a sprayer disposed in the vapor reaction boiler; and a liquid supplying tube communicating with the sprayer through structure walls of the heat preservation boiler and the vapor reaction boiler, and supplying an external liquid to the sprayer. The sprayer atomizes the external liquid into an atomized liquid absorbing thermal energy from the high heat capacity material and becomes a low-temperature vapor entering the re-heating conduit and being re-heated into a high-temperature vapor. A generator apparatus is also provided.

A spraying and re-heating vapor reactor includes: a heat preservation boiler; a vapor reaction boiler disposed in the heat preservation boiler; a re-heating conduit communicating the vapor reaction boiler with a device outside the heat preservation boiler, a high heat capacity material being accommodated within the heat preservation boiler, and surrounding the vapor reaction boiler and the re-heating conduit; a heater heating the high heat capacity material; a sprayer disposed in the vapor reaction boiler; and a liquid supplying tube communicating with the sprayer through structure walls of the heat preservation boiler and the vapor reaction boiler, and supplying an external liquid to the sprayer. The sprayer atomizes the external liquid into an atomized liquid absorbing thermal energy from the high heat capacity material and becomes a low-temperature vapor entering the re-heating conduit and being re-heated into a high-temperature vapor. A generator apparatus is also provided.

The present invention relates to an evaporator of a working fluid for an OTEC plant, comprising an elongated evaporator body extending along a main axis, a bundle of evaporators transporting hot water, a sprinkling system arranged in an upper part of the evaporator body, a system for evacuating the fluid in gaseous state and a guide system for the fluid in gaseous state towards the evacuation system. The guide system comprises an elongated cover extending along the main axis, covering the bundle of evaporators and the sprinkling system, and two partitioning means which are arranged at each end of the evaporator body and form on each of these ends a sealed connection between the outer surface of the cover and the inner surface of the evaporator body.

The present invention relates to an evaporator of a working fluid for an OTEC plant, comprising an elongated evaporator body extending along a main axis, a bundle of evaporators transporting hot water, a sprinkling system arranged in an upper part of the evaporator body, a system for evacuating the fluid in gaseous state and a guide system for the fluid in gaseous state towards the evacuation system. The guide system comprises an elongated cover extending along the main axis, covering the bundle of evaporators and the sprinkling system, and two partitioning means which are arranged at each end of the evaporator body and form on each of these ends a sealed connection between the outer surface of the cover and the inner surface of the evaporator body.

A steam generator for a fuel cell system having a heat exchanger (34) with at least one internal heat exchange surface, a water inflow pipe (46), a dripper head (52) with a flow passageway fluidly connected to the water inflow pipe (46). The dripper head (52) extends inside the heat exchanger (52) above the heat exchange surface for feeding water down onto the heat exchange surface for conversion into steam. The dripper head (52) has outlet holes (56) spaced along the flow passageway and between adjacent outlet (holes 56) the dripper head has a stepped profile on at least its underside to prevent droplets from adjacent holes coalescing. A fuel inflow pipe can have a section mounted coaxially to a part of the water inflow pipe (46). The fuel inflow pipe's section can surround the water inflow pipe's part. In a fuel cell system with a steam generator, the steam generator can include the fuel inflow pipe and a combined steam and fuel outlet and a reformer directly or indirectly connected downstream of the steam generator.