Boilers

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PROVIDING HOT PROCESS WATER AT TEMPERATURES OF FROM 250* TO 365* F. WITHOUT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL CORROSION OR OBJECTIONABLE DEPOSITION OF HARD SCALE, FROM NATURALLY-OCCURRING ALKALINE WATERS HAVING A SALT CONTENT WHICH PRECIPITATES SCALE-FORMING CONSTITUENTS WHEN HEATED TO SUCH TEMPERATURE WHICH COMPRISES, RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID WATER PART WAY TO SAID LEVEL BY INTRODUCING HOT COMBUSTION GASES DIRECTLY INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WATER WHEREBY CARBON DIOXIDE IS ALSO TAKEN UP THEREIN, REDUCING ITS PH VALUE TO A LEVEL OF ABOUT 6.8-7.2, THEREAFTER RAISING ITS TEMPERATURE UNDER PRESSURE TO A LEVEL WITHIN SAID RANGE BY INTRODUCING THEREINTO STEAM UNDER PRESSURE AND FINALLY FLOWING THE WATER STILL CONTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY ITS WHOLE SCALE-FORMING CONTENT TO A POINT OF CONSUMPTION.