Combustor installation and process for producing a heated fluid.

摘要

A boilerless steam generator, e.g. for use in producing steam to flood an oil bearing formation comprises a catalytic combustor (11) in which a thermally self-extinguishing carbonaceous fuel diluent admixture is combusted. Water from a source (15) is mixed with fuel from a source (16) in a mixer (14) and then formed into an emulsion in homogenizer (17). The emulsion is fed to combustor (11) and mixed with air containing stoichiometric quantities of oxygen before flowing through a catalytic combustion zone to directly heat the water to produce suber-heated steam. Upon discharge from the combustion zone additional water is added to the steam/combustion product mixture and the resultant flow enters well casing (33). By keeping the ratio of dilient to fuel high, a low combustion temperature is obtained and this avoids the formation of thermal nitrous oxide, and avoids problems of catalyst stability.