Heating for indirect boiling

Abstract

Systems and methods relate to vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and facilitate the production.

1 . A method of vaporizing water, comprising:
 introducing a gaseous fluid into a first vessel and in contact with solid particulate within the first vessel to transfer heat from the gaseous fluid to the solid particulate;   recovering the gaseous fluid from the first vessel;   reheating the gaseous fluid recovered from the first vessel prior to circulating the gaseous fluid back into the first vessel for continued heating of the solid particulate;   circulating the solid particulate between the first vessel and a second vessel;   introducing the water into the second vessel and in contact with the solid particulate heated to a temperature that results in vaporizing the water into steam; and   separating the steam from the solid particulate.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous fluid includes at least one of nitrogen, methane, propane, butane, naphtha and oxygen. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second vessel are maintained at pressures above 2500 kilopascals. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous fluid recovered from the first vessel is condensed into a liquid and pumped for pressurization prior to being reheated. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous fluid includes oxygen such that the reheating burns off organics from the water that are deposited on the solid particulate. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first vessel is disposed beside the second vessel and the solid particulate transfers between the first vessel and the second vessel by dense phase gravity drain. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the gaseous fluid is directed to provide lift for transporting the solid particulate between the first and second vessels. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first vessel includes multiple bed stages that the solid particulate passes through countercurrent with the gaseous fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising also heating the solid particulate in the second vessel by heat exchange with hot fluids separated from the solid particulate by a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a riser forms the second vessel. 
     
     
         11 . A system for vaporizing water, comprising:
 a first vessel having an inlet and an outlet for a gaseous fluid and containing solid particulate in contact with the gaseous fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet for transference of heat from the gaseous fluid to the solid particulate;   a heater coupled to the inlet and the outlet of the first vessel for reheating the gaseous fluid that is recovered from the outlet of the first vessel and circulated back to the inlet of the first vessel for sustained heating of the solid particulate;   a second vessel coupled to the first vessel by conduits through which the solid particulate is circulated between the first vessel and the second vessel;   an injection line coupled to the second vessel to supply the water into the second vessel and in contact with the solid particulate heated to a temperature that results in vaporization of the water into steam; and   a steam output line coupled to the second vessel for conveying the steam that is separated from the solid particulate.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the gaseous fluid includes at least one of nitrogen, methane, propane, butane, naphtha and oxygen. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second vessel are at pressures above  2500  kilopascals. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a condenser and pump coupled together such that the gaseous fluid recovered from the first vessel is condensed into a liquid and pumped to a preset pressure prior to being reheated. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the gaseous fluid includes oxygen to burn off organics from the water that are deposited on the solid particulate. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a bypass for at least part of the gaseous fluid to provide lift for transporting the solid particulate between the first and second vessels. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first vessel is disposed above the second vessel such that the solid particulate transfers from the first vessel to the second vessel by gravity. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first vessel includes multiple bed stages that the solid particulate passes through countercurrent with the gaseous fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a heat exchanger disposed in the second vessel that also heats the solid particulate by heat transfer with hot fluids separated from the solid particulate by thermally conductive material of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein a riser forms the second vessel.