| abstract |
A method for treating a hot water-containing fluid stream passing through a conduit, under conditions of temperature and pressure whereupon at least a portion of the water flashes to steam, to inhibit the formation of scale deposited on the conduit and/or dissolve any such scale already formed, and to inhibit corrosion of the conduit wherein there is added to the fluid stream an effective amount of a solution of a water-soluble compound which provides a nitrogen-containing cation capable of flashing to become a gas at high temperatures selected from the group consisting of ammonium halides, ammonium salts of inorganic acids, ammonium salts of organic acids, ammonium salts of alpha hydroxy organic acids, quaternary ammonium halides, quaternary ammonium salts of inorganic acids, quaternary ammonium salts of organic acids, amine salts of inorganic acids, amine salts of organic acids and amides. Optionally the solution or dispersion also contains a water-soluble or dispersible polymer and/or a buffering agent. |