Direct Contact Steam Generation (DCSG) technology

Project description

Direct Contact Steam Generation (DCSG) combusts fuel with oxygen and water at elevated pressure, creating a stream of steam and CO₂. DCSG can use waste water containing solids and hydrocarbon to generate steam. Solids from the process are removed from the system as a molten slag.

Text version

Oxygen, fuel, and water are inserted into the top of the DCSG system. The system creates steam and CO₂ as outputs, as well as blowdown and solid waste.

CanmetENERGY has developed a DCSG pilot plant test facility located at their Bells Corners facility in Ottawa, Canada.

Pilot plant specifications

• 0.3 MW_th (1 MMBTU_th)
• Fuel can be natural gas, liquid or slurry
• Oxident: oxy-fired or oxy-enriched air fired
• Moderator: process water (oil, solids, etc.)
• Operating pressure: 30-80 bar
• Reactor temperature: 1100-1300 °C
• Product gas outlet temperature: saturation to 10 °C superheated

DCSG industrial applications

In situ heavy oil extraction processes, such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)

• Consume existing process or wastewater with minimal or no treatment
• Minimize freshwater requirements
• Sequester greenhouse gases
• Increase thermal efficiency

Produced oily water (left) and DCSG steam condensate (right) samples.

Bitumen mining processes

• Produce high pressure process steam and hot water
• Consume tailings water
• Minimize freshwater requirements
• Produce highly concentrated CO₂ stream suitable for sequestration

Other industrial applications of DCSG

DCSG can be applied where:

• process steam or hot water is required
• untreated water use is desirable
• consumption and destruction of waste water streams is beneficial
• production of concentrated CO₂ streams is useful for utilization or sequestration

Some examples include:

• pulp and paper
• potash solution mining
• chemicals production

Contact CanmetENERGY in Ottawa