GENERATION OF STEAM BY IMPACT HEATING

An apparatus (10) for generating steam comprises a source of liquid water, an injector (12) in flow communication with the source of water for injecting liquid water from the source of water at a pressure of at least about 10,000 psia, and an impact chamber (16) having a contact surface onto which the injected water is contacted. Upon impact of the injected water with the contact surface of the impact chamber (16), the injected water undergoes a virtually instantaneous phase transition from the liquid state to a gaseous state following the contact of the water with the contact surface, thereby generating steam. An expansion chamber (18) is also provided in communication with the impact chamber (16) and maintained at a temperature of at least about 299 F for receiving steam from the impact chamber (16) and maintaining the superheated steam.