Patent ID: 6017399
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: C02F,C23F,C23G,F28F,F28G

Abstract:
A method for controlling and removing solid deposits from a surface of at least one component of a steam generating system laden with said solid deposits wherein said solid deposits are porous and are formed from an impurity introduced into said steam generating system and wherein said steam generating system produces megawatts of energy, said method comprises:adding to an aqueous phase of said steam generating system an effective amount of one or more volatile amines having a pKa value greater than about 10.61 at 25.degree. C. and selected from the group consisting of an alkyl amine, a cyclo alkyl amine, and derivatives thereof, to form an aqueous phase having said one or more volatile amines, said effective amount being the amount of said one or more volatile amines necessary for controlling and removing said solid deposits from said surface of at least one component of said steam generating system, said removing of solid deposits does not require dissolution of said solid deposits;converting said aqueous phase having said one or more volatile amines to a steam phase having said one or more volatile amines, wherein said steam phase is selected from the group consisting of wet steam, saturated steam and superheated steam;exposing said steam phase having said one or more volatile amines to said surface of said component laden with said solid deposits, wherein each of said solid deposits has at least one functional site selected from the group consisting of (1) an acidic site to which an inorganic cation is sorbed, (2) a basic site to which an inorganic anion is sorbed, and (3) combinations thereof, for effecting selective sorption of said one or more volatile amines by said solid deposits and displacing said inorganic cation, anion or combinations thereof; andproviding thermal cycling having a temperature ranging, for at least one cycle, from greater than or equal to about 0.degree. C. to less than or equal to about 550.degree. C. for effecting at least one cycle of sorption and one cycle of desorption of said one or more volatile amines wherein the rate of said desorption of said one or more volatile amines exceeds the rate of diffusion of said one or more volatile amines from said porous solid deposit for controlling and removing said porous solid deposits from said surface of said component.