Crystal generator to inhibit scale formation and corrosion in fluid handling systems

Claim 1

AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CRYSTALS IN A FLUID FLOW PIPE TO INHIBIT SCALE FORMATION AND CORROSIVE ACTION COMPRISING A FLUID FLOW PIPE, A HOLLOW CORE SNUGLY FITTING INTO SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE IN A WELL HAVING A BORE CONFIGURATION, THE INTERNAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF WHICH IS LESS THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE FLUID FLOW PIPE, SAID CORE BEING FORMED OF AN ALLOY COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY 54 TO 69 PERCENT OF COPPER, 1 TO 23 PERCENT OF ZINC, 9 TO 27 PERCENT OF NICKEL, 0.5 TO 11 PERCENT OF LEAD, AND 1 TO 7 PERCENT OF TIN. AN INSULATING SLEEVE MOUNTED AROUND SAID CORE TO PREVENT ELECTROLYTIC ACTION BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE, THE UPSTREAM END OF SAID CORE, BEING MOUNTED IN SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE, PROVIDING A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THE SURFACE OF THE FLUID FLOW PIPE IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR CREATING A HIGH VELOCITY AND TURBULENCE OF THE FLUID AS IT ENTERS THEBORE OF SAID CORE, SAID HIGH VELOCITY AND TURBULENCE CREATING AN ABRUPT DISTURBANCE WHICH AIDS IN CRYSTAL FORMATION IN THE FLUID WHICH ARE WASHED AWAY BY THE VIOLENT ACTION OF THE FLUID BEFORE ADDITIONAL CRYSTALS CAN GROW AROUND THE INITIAL CRYSTALS AND FORM SCALE ON ADJACENT EQUIPMENT SURFACES.

Claim 2

AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CRYSTALS IN A FLUID FLOW PIPE TO INHIBIT SCALE FORMATION AND CORROSIVE ACTION COMPRISING A FLUID FLOW PIPE, A HOLLOW CORE SNUGLY FITTING INTO SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE IN A WELL HAVING A BORE CONFIGURATION, THE INTERNAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF WHICH IS LESS THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE FLUID FLOW PIPE, SAID CORE BEING FORMED OF AN ALLOY COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY 54 TO 69 PERCENT OF COPPER, 1 TO 23 PERCENT OF ZINC, 9 TO 27 PERCENT OF NICKEL, 0.5 TO 11 PERCENT OF LEAD, AND 1 TO 7 PERCENT OF TIN. AN INSULATING SLEEVE MOUNTED AROUND SAID CORE TO PREVENT ELECTROLYTIC ACTION BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE, THE UPSTREAM END OF SAID CORE, BEING MOUNTED IN SAID FLUID FLOW PIPE, PROVIDING A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THE SURFACE OF THE FLUID FLOW PIPE IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR CREATING A HIGH VELOCITY AND TURBULENCE OF THE FLUID AS IT ENTERS THEBORE OF SAID CORE, SAID HIGH VELOCITY AND TURBULENCE CREATING AN ABRUPT DISTURBANCE WHICH AIDS IN CRYSTAL FORMATION IN THE FLUID WHICH ARE WASHED AWAY BY THE VIOLENT ACTION OF THE FLUID BEFORE ADDITIONAL CRYSTALS CAN GROW AROUND THE INITIAL CRYSTALS AND FORM SCALE ON ADJACENT EQUIPMENT SURFACES.

Claim 8

An apparatus for generating crystals in a fluid flow line to inhibit scale formation and corrosive action comprising: a hollow cylindrical sleeve formed by two detachably connected, axially aligned sections, said sleeve being provided with threaded ends for threadedly engaging with interrupted sections of a fluid flow pipe to form an interconnecting pipe section, a hollow core for snugly fitting into said sleeve having a bore configuration, the internal cross-sectional area of which is less than the cross-sectional area of said sleeve, said core being formed of an alloy comprising substantially 54 to 69 percent of copper, 1 to 23 percent of zinc, 9 to 27 percent of nickel, 0.9 to 11 percent of lead, and 1 to 7 percent of tin, the upstream end of said core when mounted in said sleeve and said sleeve in a fluid flow pipe providing a flange extending inwardly of the inner surface of the fluid flow pipe in which it is mounted to provide a means for creating a high velocity and turbulence of the fluid as it enters the bore of said core, said high velocity and turbulence creating an abrupt disturbance which aids in crystal formation in the fluid which are washed away by the violent action of the fluid before additional crystals can grow around the initial crystals and form scale on the adjacent fluid flow pipe surfaces, and an insulating sleeve mounted around said core to prevent electrolytic action between said core and said sleeve.

Claim 9

An apparatus for generating crystals in a fluid flow line to inhibit scale formation and corrosive action comprising: a hollow cylindrical sleeve formed by two detachably connected, axially aligned sections, said sleeve being provided with threaded ends for threadedly engaging with interrupted sections of a fluid flow pipe to form an interconnecting pipe section, a hollow core for snugly fitting into said sleeve having a bore configuration, the internal cross-sectional area of which is less than the cross-sectional area of said sleeve, said core being formed of an alloy comprising substantially 54 to 69 percent of copper, 1 to 23 percent of zinc, 9 to 27 percent of nickel, 0.9 to 11 percent of lead, and 1 to 7 percent of tin, the upstream end of said core when mounted in said sleeve and said sleeve in a fluid flow pipe providing a flange extending inwardly of the inner surface of the fluid flow pipe in which it is mounted to provide a means for creating a high velocity and turbulence of the fluid as it enters the bore of said core, said high velocity and turbulence creating an abrupt disturbance which aids in crystal formation in the fluid which are washed away by the violent action of the fluid before additional crystals can grow around the initial crystals and form scale on the adjacent fluid flow pipe surfaces, and an insulating sleeve mounted around said core to prevent electrolytic action between said core and said sleeve.