Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is related to the cleaning of surfaces using the hydroblasting technique where the surface to he cleaned is exposed to a cleaning fluid mixture of liquid and abrasives which is ejected under high pressure. More particularly this invention is related to hydroblasting apparatus and methods which do not require the direct pumping of the abrasive component of the cleaning fluid mixture thereby greatly increasing, the operating life of the high pressure hydroblasting pump. 
     2. Description of Ralated Art 
     Many techniques have been used to clean surfaces by exposing the surfaces to abrasives ejected under high pressure. The abrasive particles can be ejected directly upon the surface to he cleaned, or can be injected in a slurry or “carrier” liquid such as water or other suitable liquid. 
     Sandblasting has been used for a number of years as a method for cleaning certain types of surfaces. Sandblasting involves the ejection of sand particles at high pressure. These ejected particles impinge upon the surface to be cleaned and the abrasive properties of the sand clean the struck surface. Sandblasting involves the direct injection of the abrasive sand particles. No carries liquid is used. Sandblasting results in the accumulation of material in the vicinity of the cleaning operation which consists of material removed from the cleaned surface as well as the ejected sand particles. Sandblasting is, therefore, an appropriate cleaning method when the accumulation of material is not critical. As an example, sandblasting is an appropriate method for cleaning flat exterior surfaces where accumulated material can be easily removed. Sandblasting is not, however, an appropriate method for cleaning the interior of pipes, conduits, valves and other internal surfaces where the accumulation of material can further clog the apparatus being cleaned. In addition, sandblasting may often pit or otherwise damage the surface being cleaned. 
     Another technique employed for cleaning various surfaces is a technique generally referred to as “hydroblasting”. Hydroblasting uses a liquid which is typically water and which is ejected under high pressure onto the surface to be cleaned. Hydroblasting is designed to clean many types of surfaces including interior surfaces. As an example, hydroblasting is often used to clean the interior of pipes and tubes in oil field equipment, in manufacturing operations, and in numerous additional applications. Hydroblasting essentially consists of the utilization of a pumping mechanism which causes the pressurized release, through an appropriate nozzle, of a stream of water. 
     Unfortunately, hydroblasters have generally proved to be ineffective in the cleaning of pipes which are clogged with viscous materials. Since the hydroblasting technique generally relics upon the rotation of the injector nozzle and relies upon the high pressure injection of water, it is common for hydroblasters to bog down in viscous materials within the pipe. Since the hydroblaster emits one stream of liquid for cleaning purposes, the clogging of the hydroblaster prevents the hydroblaster from properly rotating for the thorough cleaning of the pipe interior. As the hydroblaister encounters obstructions within the pipe, the high pressure stream of liquid emitted from the hydroblaster will only clean in one azimuthal direction within the pipe. This results in azimuthal sectors of the pipe interior from which the viscous material has not been cleaned. This partial cleaning of the pipe interior is often referred to as “streaking”. 
     It has been found that the sticking of pipes in an ineffective solution to the problem of clogged pipes. Whenever streaking occurs in a pipe, this results in easier and quicker accumulation of clogging material. Stated another way, streaking promotes additional accumulation of material or “addition”. Since the use of conventional hydroblasters almost always results in the streaking of the interior conduit surface, hydroblasting is a relatively ineffective means for cleaning pipes and tubes, especially if these conduits are clogged with viscous material. 
     In conventional hydroblasting applications, when the hydroblasting nozzle becomes clogged within the pipe, the operator of the hydroblaster typically increases the pressure from the nozzle until it effectively penetrates the viscous material in the pipe. Under these circumstances, there is no way to maintain constant rotation of the spinning nozzle. As a result, it has become conventional in hydroblasting to rely on pure water force for the cleaning of pipes and other surfaces. The use of high pressure results in increased fuel consumption by the pumping mechanism. It also causes an increase in fatigue of the blaster gunner. As increased fatigue is applied to all components of the hydroblasting apparatus, there is a corresponding increase in the chance of an accident resulting form component failure under high pressure. Given the high pressures that are utilized in any hydroblasting operation, any metal fatigue or other material deterioration can cause a potentially fatal accident. In order to avoid such fatigue and dangers, hydroblasting companies must greatly increase their costs of maintenance and inspection of equipment. Another problem associated with the use of extremely high pressures for the hydroblasting of surfaces is that higher pressures more frequently result in lower amounts of water ejected per unit time, or lower “blasting volumes”. Reduction in blasting volume usually results in less waste product removal from the surface being cleaned. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378 to James J. Rooney. which is assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure, discloses a solution which greatly improves the hydroblasting technique. The teachings of this patent are herein entered by reference. In summary, Rooney discloses apparatus and methods for cleaning a surface which utilize a hydrolyzed solution of preferably silica compound and water having solid particles of silica compound. The silica compound and the water are pumped, using separate pumps, to an orifice. The hydrolyzed solution is formed and ejected thought the orifice at a pressure greater than 500 pounds per square inch (psi) thereby impinging the solid particles of silica compound onto the surface to be cleaned. The abrasive action of tile solid particles clean the surface, and the water component continuously flushes abrasive particles and waste removed from the cleaned surface. The technique is suited for cleaning interior and exterior surfaces, and overcomes the previously discussed problems associated with conventional hydroblasting. As mentioned previously, the silica compound is delivered to the nozzle by means of a dedicated pump. The abrasive silica compound greatly reduces the operating life of this dedicated pump. Presently, there is no known high pressure pump that will effectively pump the silica compound for an extended operating period. This requires that the pump be service finds maintained at frequent intervals thereby significantly increasing the cost of the cleaning operation. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods for cleaning interior and exterior surfaces using a high pressure pumping mechanism, wherein the apparatus requires minimal maintenance, and wherein a hydrolyzed solution is delivered at high pressure but does not pass thorough the pumping mechanism. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning technique which, when used to cleaning interior surfaces such as pipes or tubes, does not cause streaking. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a hydroblasting method for cleaning which reduces effective pressure required for effective cleaning. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus which is optimized for vertical orientation and can be modified for horizontal orientations and wherein portions of the apparatus can be shut down for maintenance or repair without terminating cleaning operations. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning which is environmentally sale. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods for controlling the temperature of the solution being nucleated thereby preventing temperature related nucleation retardation. 
     There are other objects and applications of the present invention which will become apparent in the following disclosure and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for cleaning both exterior and interior surfaces. Preferably, a hydrolyzed solution of a silica compound such as sodium silicate, which contains abrasive solid particles, is sprayed through an orifice under high pressure onto the surface to be cleaned. The term “hydrolyzed solution” will be defined in a subsequent section. The invention apparatus comprises a nucleation reactor chamber which contains the silica compound to be ejected under pressure. The term “nucleation” will be defined in a subsequent section. The silica compound can be placed within the reactor by a variety of methods including simply pouring. The density of the silica compound is greater than the density of water. The nucleation reactor also contains water which is pumped into the reactor under pressure, and which is partitioned from the hydrolyzed silica compound. Water pressure is transferred, through the water/silica compound partition to the silica compound within the nucleation reactor. The silica compound is subsequently forced, under pressure, from the nucleation reactor and through a suitable nozzle, and disclose in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,375.378, onto the surface to be cleaned. Using the apparatus and methods of the present invention, it is not necessary to pass the hydrolyzed silica compound through any pumping mechanism. Only water is pumped thereby greatly increasing the operating life of the high pressure pounding equipment. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a mechanical partition is used to separate the more dense silica solution front the less dense water solution. The partition moves within the nucleation reactor vessel as hydrolyzed silica solution is forced out for “hydroblaster” cleaning, and water, under pressure, displaces the ejected silica compound. In another embodiment of the invention multiple nucleation reactor tubes, connected by a common water inlet manifold, are employed. The tubes are initially filled with the solution of silica compound. Water is pumped at a high pressure into the top of each tube thereby forcing the hydrolyzed silica solution out of the tube, under pressure, and to the hydroblasting nozzle. A baffle and capillary tube arrangement is used to “partition” the water from the silica solution, rather than a mechanical partition, as the solution is forced from the tube. 
     Both embodiments can be oriented to operate vertically or horizontally, although some venting must be modified as will be discussed in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     The present invention eliminates the need to pass the hydrolyzed solution of silica compound through a pump, as taught in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378. This greatly extends the operating life of the pumping mechanism of the present invention. The present invention retains other advantages disclosed in the referenced patent. As an example, the methods of the present invention are generally compatible with conventional hydroblasting operations. As an additional example, the present invention provides cleaning techniques which do not streak the interior of tubular such as pipes. As a further example, the present system provides a method of cleaning, using hydroblasting technology, which is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and very effective. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a multitude, nucleation reactor; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor, 
     FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of a multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor; 
     FIG. 4 a  illustrates side sectional views of mixing retardation cartridges used in the tubes of the multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor; 
     FIG. 4 b  illustrates top sectional views of an operating retardation cartridges used in the tubes of the multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor; 
     FIG. 5 shows a functional diagram of an operating hydroblasting system employing mainframe multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor cooperating with a secondary nucleation unit; and 
     FIG. 6 shows a functional diagram of an operating hydroblasting system employing a mainframe multitude, miltiphase nucleation reactor cooperating with a thermal control chamber. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before disclosing in detail the preferred embodiments of the invention, certain definitions used in the context of this disclosure will be set forth. 
     As disclosed herein, a “hydrolyzed solution” of a silica compound and water relates to a solution wherein the silica compound is a water soluble silica compound therein, or, wherein the solution is an aqueous solution. Additional information concerning hydrolyzed solutions is included in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378, which has been incorporated by reference. 
     As disclosed in Introduction to Separation Science, Crystallization, by W. R. Wilcox, p. 303-335, edited by Barry L. Karler and Lloyd R. Snyder, published by John Wiley and Soins, 1973, hereby incorporated by reference, “nucleation” rates to the forming of the nucleus of a crystalline structure. The nucleus of a crystal is defined as a certain critical size. Sufficiently large to overcome the influence of surface energy, wherein the crystal grows spontaneously by addition of molecules from the solution. As disclosed herein, “nucleation” also refers to the forming of additional polymeric structures, including the fracturing of larger polymers into smaller polymers. Nucleation may be induced by providing a supersaturated or super cooled solution. Further, nucleation may be induced and increased (1) mechanically (dynamic nucleation) by friction, (2) by high speed fluid motion, (3) by cavitation, (4) by seed crystals, (5) by crystal breeding or secondary nucleation, by crystal fracturing, and (7) by contact nucleation. Temperature control of product prevents retardation in nucleation. In an embodiment of this invention a control chamber, in which the temperature of the chemical to be nucleated is regulated is used as an element in the nucleation process as will be discussed in subsequent sections of this disclosure. The effects of temperature in the nucleation process are discussed in The Kinematics of the Nucleation p. 101-103, by A. C. Zittlemeyer, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1969, and arc entered herein by reference. 
     It is believed that the methods presented in this disclosure may improve or increase the number of solid particles in the hydrolyzed solution to be sprayed at the surface to be cleaned, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency. Several of the recited means of nucleation are used in the percent invention, as will become apparent in the following disclosure. 
     Multiphase, Single Vessel Nucleation Reactor 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a multiphase, nucleation reactor, identified in general by the numeral  10 . A single reactor vessel  20  is preferably enclosed in a protective shroud or case  26 . The reactor vessel  20  is preferably cylindrical in shape and closed at the upper end with a top  14 , and closed at the lower end with preferably a domed shaped plate  15 . The lower part of the vessel  20  is filled with a hydrolyzed solution  21  preferably comprising a silica compound and water. The hydrolyzed solution  21  can be pumped into the vessel  20  through an alternate recharge inlet  56  which connects to a conduit  50  into the bottom of the vessel  20  at the dome plate  15 . Alternately, hydrolyzed solution can initially be injected into the top of the vessel  20  by a vent and recharge port  16 , or alternately can simply be poured into the vessel by removing the top  14  and pouring the solution  21 . The density of the hydrolyzed solution  21  is greater than the density of water. Chemical and physical properties of the solution will he disclosed in a subsequent section. 
     Again referring to FIG. 1 the vessel  20  also contains water  30  which tends to “float” on top of the more dense hydrolyzed solution  21 , A floating partition plate  40  is employed to further insure that the water  30  and hydrolyzed solution remain separate. Attached to the preferably disk shaped partition plate  40  is mercury tube  44  containing an amount of mercury  46  or other suitable material to ballast the partition plate so that it is more dense than the water  30 , but less dense than the hydrolyzed solution  21 . The disk shaped partition plate  40  incorporates a suitable circumferential seal assembly  27 , which promotes a movable seal between the plate  40  and the wall of the cylindrical vessel  20 . The partition plate and mercury tube assembly further comprises a guidance and solution mixing, retardation plate  42  which guides the motion of the partition plate  40  as it moves upward and downward with ally variation in the level of the hydrolyzed solution  2   1 . The plate  42  also serves to prevent excess dilution of the hydrolyzed solution by any water that might leak around the peripheral seal  27  of the partition plate  4 ). 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, water is delivered to the vessel  20  by means of the conduit  22  and fitting  24  to which the output of a high pressure water pump (not shown) is attached. Operating water pump pressure is typically 20,000 psi. With the port  16  closed by a valve (not shown), the water column  30  exerts a large pressure on the partition plate  40  which, in turn, transfers this pressure to the column of hydrolyzed solution  21 . The hydrolyzed solution is ejected, under high pressure, from the vessel  20  through the port  50  which preferably contains a catalytic impact tube cartridge  52  which contains impact planes and fins, The cartridge induces nucleation by means of several processes recited in a previous section thereby forming abrasive crystals within the flowing hydrolyzed solution. After passing through the catalytic impact cartridge  52 , the hydrolyzed solution then flows through a fragmented glass catalytic impact tube cartridge  58  which further induces nucleation as described in the referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5.375.378. The hydrolyzed solution continues to flow, under high pressure through a conduit  60  and preferably through a catalytic fin impact tube cartridge  62  which further promotes nucleation. High pressure low of hydrolyzed solution containing nucleated abrasive particles continues through a conduit  66 , through an elbow  68  and through an outlet  70  which connects to a hydroblaster gun (not shown). A check valve  64  prevents reactor drainage. The reactor  10  supplies a hydrolyzed solution containing nucleated abrasive particles, at a very high pressure, to any suitable hydroblasting apparatus such as apparatus disclosed in previously reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378. 
     It should be understood that the reactor can he operated in a horizontal position as well as the depicted vertical position by simply relocating sonic of the vents and outlets for incompatibility with the hydroblasting equipment. Furthermore, in disclosing the operation of the reactor  10 , it is apparent that it is not necessary to pump hydrolyze solution through a pumping mechanism in order to obtain the high pressure ejection of this solution for cleaning purposes. This is, as discussed previously, a distinct advantage over prior art systems in that pump operating life is not shortened by the action of abrasive particles contained in the nucleated, hydrolyzed solution. 
     Multiphase Multiple Tube Nucleation Reactor 
     The invention can be embodied so as to eliminate the use of a separation plate. This invention, which will he referred to as a multiple tube reaction, exhibits operational advantages is some situations, especially when the orientation of the reactor is varying In addition, one or more tubes can be taken out of service for maintenance or repair, and the remaining tubes call be used to keep the system operational. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates a side view and a top view, respectively, of a miltiphase, multiple tube nucleation reactor identified as a whole by the numeral  100 . Multiple reactor tubes  120  are arranged in a circular fashion about a central axis, as is better shown in FIG.  3 . The tubes are mechanically supported with an upper template  150  and a lower template  152 , which are preferably circular in shape, and affixed to a cylindrical shroud  151 . Eight tubes are shown in FIG. 3, although it should be understood that additional or fewer tubes can be used. Each tube  120  contains both water (not shown) and a heavier hydrolyzed solution (not shown). As in the single vessel reactor, the lighter water tends to “float” upon the heavier hydrolyzed solution. Cartridges are used to separate or partition the water and hydrolyzed solution as will be discussed in a subsequent section. 
     Again referring the FIGS. 2 and 3, water is infected, under pressure, by means of a water pump  125  to the inlet  112  of a “star burst” manifold  110 . The star burst manifold has a series of outlets  111  which preferably correspond in number of the number of tubes  120 , and each of which contains a valve  111 ′. These valves  111 ′ are closed if the outlet  111  is not connected to an inlet  122  of a tube  120  by a flow conduit  114 , or closed if one or more of the reactor tubes  120  are taken out of service for repair or maintenance. When the valves  111 ′ are open, water flows, under pressure, into the top of each tube  120  through the corresponding inlet port  122 . This pressure is transferred to the heavier hydrolyzed solution at the bottom of each tube thereby forcing the solution out of each tube  120  through a lower port  130 , through connected flow conduits  132 , and into a lower star burst manifold  140 . Each tube  120  also contains a fill-vent port  160  with an attached valve (not shown) so that this port can be closed during normal operation of the reactor. Each port  130  also cooperates with a nucleation cartridge  143  through which the hydrolyzed solution flows. The nucleation cartridge is of the types disclosed in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378 and discussed briefly above in this disclosure. As a result, a nucleated hydrolyzed solution is forced, under high pressure, into the lower star burst manifold  140  and out through an outlet port  142  (flow indicated by the arrow  147 ) to feed hydroblasting equipment (not showing) for purposes of abrasive cleaning as previously discussed. 
     As mentioned previously, the reaction tubes  120  do not utilize a partition plate to partition the water and hydrolyzed solution phases within the reactor tubes. Alternately, solution mixing retardation tubes are inserted into the reactor tubes  120  to inhibit mixing of the water and hydrolyze(d solution phases within the reactor tubes. Side views of the cartridges arc shown in FIG. 4 a . The first cartridge  190  contains a series of staggered baffles  192  which tend to reduce the “channeling” of the high pressure water into the hydrolyzed solution and out through the bottom ports  130 . In addition, cartridges  170  comprise plates  174  and a series of capillary tubes  172  thereon. The capillary tubes retard the heavier, more viscous hydrolyzed solution from being forced upward within the reactor tube  120  due the insertion of high pressure water. The top views of the cartridges  190  and  170  shown in FIG. 4 b  illustrate more clearly some aspects of these mixing retardation cartridges. 
     Operating Systems 
     FIG. 5 depicts a working installation of a main frame, multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor hooked up together with a repetitive nucleation reactor injector. The operation, defined as process  1 , is initiated with all valves shown in FIG. 5 in the closed position. The hydroblaster  300  is started but is initially out of gear with the remaining components of the system. A valve  215  on a chemical feed pressure tank  210  is opened to fill the multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100 . A valve  223  is then opened to pressure the chemical feed tank with air provided by an air compressor  220  thereby forcing chemical, preferably sodium silicate, from the feed tank  210 , through the open valve  215 , into the multitude, multiphase reactor  100  through an open valve  153 . After the reactor  100  is full, the valves  215  and  153  arc closed. The air compressor  220  also supplies air pressure to operate a high pressure pump  125  through pilot switch  301  and through a line  299 . 
     The water pump  125  shown in FIG. 5 is started by a pilot switch  301  which is activated when the hydroblaster gun  305  has its trigger pulled. Valves  266  and  112  are opened. When the hydroblaster gun  305  trigger (not shown) is pulled, it stops the gun from pumping water thus the system is pressured up to a high pressure for operating. When the system is pressured up, the pilot switch  301  is opened thus the air flow goes to the water pump  125  to operate it, through air line  298  by way of line  299  from the air compressor  220 . This pressures up the system to 20,000 to 35,000 psi. Valves  142 ,  232  and  214  are then opened thereby teeing a second nucleation unit  200  with preferably sodium silicate passing through a nucleation tip  260 . The hydroblaster  300  is then put into gear thereby putting the nucleation process in the second nucleation unit  200  and the mulitiphase, multitude nucleation unit  100  into operation. After the second nucleation unit  200  is filled preferably with nucleated sodium silicate, it is pressured into the chemical feed tank  210  by opening valves  202 ,  204  and  208  thereby filling the chemical feed tank  210  to start the nucleation cycle over again, but this time with prenucleated chemical which is preferably prenucleated sodium silicate. A check valve  206  prevents flow from the chemical feed tank  210  back into the secondary nucleation unit  200 . The second nucleation process in the second nucleation unit  200  is controlled by the setting of the valve  214 . 
     A high pressure water line  184  from the hydroblaster  300  to the tee  185 ′ furnishes high pressure water for secondary nucleation in the unit  200 . A check valve  184   a  prevents flow from the tee  185 ′ back to the hydroblaster  300 . 
     During the nucleation processes, a blaster gun  305  can be simultaneously put into operation by opening valve  234  which allows nucleated material to flow through the tee fitting  230  directly to the gun  305 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 5, the multitude, multiphase reactor  100  can be used separately from the second nucleation unit  200 . To do this, valve  232  is closed, and valve  225  is opened to feed a venturi nucleation tip combination inlet  312  into the unit  200 . The valves  202  and  204  are opened to recirculate the nucleated sodium silicate back to the feed tank  210  where it again call be recirculated back through the nucleation process, or can be pressured into the multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor to be pressured into the blaster gun. Pressure needed to operate in this mode is controlled by the valve  214  thereby controlling blaster pressure. The pressure to do this is furnished through line  184  coming from the blaster  300  and going through tee  185  and eventually through tip  260  which is a combination of venturi tube  312  and nucleation blaster tip, which again nucleates the product coming from chemical tank  210  repeatedly as the product recirculate through the venturi tube  312 . While all of this repetitive nucleation is going on in the secondary nucleation unit  200 , the multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  can be operated by having valve  232  closed and valves  234  and  142  in the reactor  100  opened to inject into the blaster  305 . The water pump  125  is put into operation by opening air valve  267  and liquid flow valves  266  and  112 . 
     A thermal control chamber can be used to control thermal assisted electrolyte catalyzing nucleation. FIG. 6 depicts an alternate working installation of a mainframe multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  hooked up to a thermal control chamber  316 . 
     This process of nucleation, referred to as process II, actually comprises two sub processes as will be discussed in detail. 
     The first sub process using the system of FIG. 6, defined as process IIA, utilizes the temperature control chamber  316  only if the nucleation temperature can not be controlled by other means. If temperature control is not required, the solution to be nucleated simply flows through coils  315  within the chamber  316 , and through nucleation cartridges  287  and  310 . The control of telpelature in the nucleation process is of great importance in that temperature control of the product prevents retardation in nucleation. This process is discussed in the previously cited Zettlemeyer reference. The second sub process, defined as process IIB, utilizes the mainframe multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  working together with the temperature control chamber  316  to nucleate the desired solution. The operation of the system shown in FIG. 6 for each process will be discussed in detail. 
     Process IIA 
     In process IIA, only the thermal control chamber  116  is used to control a thermal assisted electrolyte catalyzing nucleation process, and is operated alone to nucleate. In process IIA, all valves are initially closed. Hydroblaster  300  is started but is out of gear. Air pressure pump  220  is then started to pressurize the chemical feed tank  210  through open valve  223 . Valves  215 .  284   285  and  286  are then opened thereby filling coils  315  in the thermal control chamber  316  with chemicals from the feed tank  210 . After the coils  315  are filled with preferably sodium silicate the valve  285  is closed. High pressure water pump  125  is now turned on thereby forcing the preferably sodium silicate through the nucleation coils  315 , and through a nucleation cartridge outlet  287 . and eventually out through nucleation tip  310  of blaster gull  305 . A check valve  352  prevents water or any chemical solution from flowing, back into the water pump  125 . After nucleated sodium silicate is put out valve  287  into the blaster gun  305 , the hydroblaster  300  is put into gear and powered up. Refrigeration or cooling processor  329  is now started and valve  295  is opened. Liquid refrigerant is circulated into the chamber  316  through an inlet  351 , and out of this chamber through outlet  331  and back to the refrigeration unit  329 . The refrigerant flows upwardly through the chamber  316  thereby controlling the temperature of the solution flowing within th coils  315 , and thereby controlling the nucleation process of this solutioin. 
     Process IIB 
     As mentioned previously, the nucleation system shown in FIG. 6 can be used in another nucleation process, defined as process IIB. The process is initiated with all valves initially closed. Again, the hydroblaster  300  is started but is out of gear. Valve  215  on the chemical feed tank  210 , as well as valves  286 ,  284 ,  285  and  153  are opened thereby filling both the mainframe multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  and the coils  315  of the thermal control chamber  316  with chemical solution which is preferably sodium silicate. After the coils  315  and the mainframe multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  are tilled, the valve  284  is closed. The water pump  125  is then started ant the valve  121  is opened thereby pressuring up the mainframe multitude, multiphase nucleation reactor  100  and the thermal control chamber  316 . Chemical solution then flows out through the nucleation cartridge outlet  287  into the blaster gun  305 . The hydroblaster  300  is now put into ,ear and powered up. The previously discussed refrigeration process  329  is now initiated, valve  295 , is opened and liquid refrigerant is circulated into the chamber  316  through th inlet port  351 , and out though the outlet port  331  hack to the refrigeration unit  329  thereby controlling temperature of the chemical flowing within the coils  315 . 
     Examples of Hydrolyzed Solutions 
     Sodium silicate is the preferred hydrolyze solution, Potassium silicate can be used in combination with, or as an alternate to, sodium silicate. Potassium is more water soluble than sodium silicate which is advantageous in using the present invention. Potassium silicate is, however, much more expensive than sodium silicate. Weighing the technical, operational and financial factors involved, sodium silicate is considered the preferred hydrolyzed solution for the present invention. 
     The following is an example of a hydrolyzed solution of a hydrolyzed solution of sodium silicate. 
     The following are added to 30 gallons of water and mixed: 
     (1) solid sodium silicate (crystalline solids, NaSiO 3 , and NaSi 4 ) in the amount of approximately 1.0-5.0 wt. % of the water used 
     (2) Approximately 2 to 3 gallons of 40° to 42° sodium silicate solution 
     (3) 5% acetic acid or 5% citric acid is added to lower the pH of the combines solution to approximately 7.0 to 7.3. 
     This mixture performs well for cutting and cleaning hardened plastics, steels and stainless steels. Other examples of mixtures, and the cleansing tasks for which they are optimally designed, are disclosed in the previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,378. 
     Summary 
     This disclosure illustrates the stated objects of the invention, and additional objects and applications. More particularly, the previous description of apparatus and methods of the invention serve to illustrate the versatility of the invention in performing many cleaning tasks economically from an operational and materials viewpoint. There are other embodiments and applications of the invention which will be apparent to practitioners of the art. 
     While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiments the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.

Technology Category: b