Dirty water and exhaust constituent free, direct steam generation, convaporator system, apparatus and method

Abstract

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.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a condenser portion configured to route saturated steam through the condenser portion via a condenser side steam conduit and configured to condense the saturated steam to form a condensate, wherein the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger includes a first corrugated heat exchange element, surrounded by an enclosure;   an evaporator portion of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the evaporator portion is configured to evaporate the condensate, wherein the evaporator portion of the close coupled heat exchanger includes a second corrugated heat exchange element disposed on an opposite side of the enclosure from the first corrugated heat exchange element.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , further comprising a direct steam generator fluidly coupled with the close coupled heat exchanger via the condenser side steam conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein a feedwater provided to the direct steam generator includes produced water. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the feedwater includes produced water and dirty makeup water. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the feedwater includes produced water, dirty makeup water, and bitumen process pond water. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , further comprising a pressure reducing device disposed after the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger and fluidly coupled to the condenser portion of the close coupled heat exchanger via a condenser side condensate conduit. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 23 , further comprising a separation tank and water return system fluidly coupled to the pressure reducing device via an expansion conduit, wherein the separation tank and water return system is configured to separate the combustion exhaust constituents from the condensate. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger  claim 24 , wherein the evaporator portion of the close coupled heat exchanger is fluidly coupled with the separation tank and water return system via an evaporator side condensate conduit, wherein the evaporator portion is configured to evaporate the condensate from the separation tank and water return system via heat transfer between the condenser portion and evaporator portion to form super-heated steam. 
     
     
         26 . A close coupled heat exchanger, comprising:
 a first corrugated heat exchange element configured to route a first fluid through the first corrugated heat exchange element, wherein the first corrugated heat exchange element is surrounded by an enclosure;   a second corrugated heat exchange element of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the second corrugated heat exchange element of the close coupled heat exchanger is disposed on an opposite side of the enclosure from the first corrugated heat exchange element.   
     
     
         27 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein the first fluid is saturated steam and the second fluid is a condensate. 
     
     
         28 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 27 , wherein the first corrugated heat exchanger element is configured to condense the saturated steam into the condensate. 
     
     
         29 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein the second corrugated heat exchange element is configured to evaporate the condensate. 
     
     
         30 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein heat is transferred between the first corrugated heat exchange element and the second corrugated heat exchange element. 
     
     
         31 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein the first corrugated heat exchange element defines first lumens between the first corrugated heat exchange element and the enclosure through which the first fluid flows. 
     
     
         32 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 31 , wherein the second corrugated heat exchange element defines second lumens between the second corrugated heat exchange element and the enclosure through which the second fluid flows. 
     
     
         33 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 32 , wherein the enclosure separates the first fluid from the second fluid. 
     
     
         34 . A close coupled heat exchanger, comprising:
 a first corrugated heat exchange element configured to route a first fluid through the first corrugated heat exchange element, wherein the first corrugated heat exchange element is surrounded by an enclosure, the first corrugated heat exchange element and the enclosure defining lumens through which the first fluid flows;   a second corrugated heat exchange element of the close coupled heat exchanger, wherein the second corrugated heat exchange element of the close coupled heat exchanger is disposed on an opposite side of the enclosure from the first corrugated heat exchange element, the second corrugated heat exchange element and the enclosure defining lumens through which the second fluid flows.   
     
     
         35 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein heat is transferred between the first fluid and the second fluid, across the enclosure. 
     
     
         36 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein heat is transferred between the first corrugated heat exchange element and the second corrugated heat exchange element. 
     
     
         37 . The close coupled heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein the first fluid is a hot fluid and the second fluid is a cold fluid.