STEAM INJECTION HEATER WITH STATIONARY END SEAL ASSEMBLY

摘要

A direct contact steam injection heater (10) that includes a steam diffuser having a plurality of steam diffusion holes (80) that are selectively exposed by a regulating member (84) to control the amount of steam used to heat a liquid. The regulating member is movable within the steam diffuser (58) and the steam diffuser includes a seating member to prevent the flow of steam from the diffuser when the regulating member is in a completely closed, seated position. At least one sealing members selectively exposes the steam diffusion holes in the discharge region of the steam diffuser when the regulating member moves between the open and closed positions. The spacing of the steam diffusion holes along the steam diffuser can be varied depending upon the desired resolution of the steam released as the regulating member moves between its fully closed and fully open position.