Method and apparatus for reducing scale, corrosion, and paraffin buildup in hydrocarbon piping and for reducing scale and corrosion in water piping

Abstract

A device utilizing a catalytic alloy, preferably the Walker Alloy, in a basket filter configuration and the concept of a filter basket and insert to increase turbulence in a fluid to increase the contact efficiency between the fluid and alloy. The method of running produced fluids over the alloy to reduce or eliminate paraffin buildup and corrosion in hydrocarbon piping and the method of running process water in re-circulation systems to reduce scale and corrosion. The method of using the alloy in salt-water injection wells and similar injection wells to reduce buildup is discussed. A series of alternate embodiments for the fundamental filter device is discussed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fluid conditioner adapted for connection to fluid conduits for receiving and modifying flowing fluids thereby suspending solid materials and inhibiting the formation of precipitates within the fluid conduit downstream of the fluid conditioner comprising: 
 a container, having an inside and an outside;    a lid adapted to be received by said container with said container adapted to receive said lid;    an inlet port affixed to said container and in communication with said inside of said container;    an outlet port affixed to said container and in communication with said inside of said container, and,    a basket placed within said inside of said container 
 whereby said basket causes the flowing fluid passing through said fluid conditioner from said inlet port of said container to said outlet port of said container to follow a convoluted flow path.  
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 1  further comprising sealing means between said basket and said inside of said container.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 1  wherein said basket further has an inside and further comprising an insert placed within said inside of said basket wherein said insert is in direct contact with the flowing fluid passing from said inlet port of said container to said outlet port of said container.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 2  wherein said inside of said container has a circumference and said inlet port has a low side and said outlet port has a high side and said basket has a top and further comprising: 
 a ledge formed within said inside of said container extending about said circumference of said container between said low side of said inlet port to said high side of said outlet port; and,  
 a lip formed circumferentially about said top of said basket 
 wherein said lip fits against said ledge thereby forming said sealing means between said basket and said inside of said container.  
 
 
     
     
         5 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 3  wherein said insert comprises: 
 a plurality of plates having a plurality of fluid apertures bored through said plates; and,  
 a connection shaft connecting between said plurality of plates said connection shaft capable of affixing each of said plurality of plates in a parallel relationship one to the other.  
 
     
     
         6 . The fluid container of  claim 1  wherein said basket is manufactured from a metal alloy capable of modifying the flowing fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 5  wherein said insert is manufactured from a metal alloy capable of modifying the flowing fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid container of  claim 6  wherein said metal alloy is the Walker alloy.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid container of  claim 7  wherein said metal alloy is the Walker alloy.  
     
     
         10 . A fluid conditioner adapted for connection to fluid conduits for receiving and modifying flowing fluids thereby suspending solid materials and inhibiting the formation of precipitates within the fluid conduit downstream of the fluid conditioner comprising: 
 a container, having an inside and an outside and wherein said inside of said container has a circumference;    a lid adapted to be received by said container with said container adapted to receive said lid;    an inlet port, having a low side, affixed to said container and in communication with said inside of said container;    an outlet port, having a high side, affixed to said container and in communication with said inside of said container;    a basket, having a top, placed within said inside of said container;    a ledge formed within said inside of said container extending about said circumference of said container between said low side of said inlet port to said high side of said outlet port;    a lip formed circumferentially about said top of said basket wherein said lip fits against said ledge thereby forming a seal between said basket and said inside of said container;    an insert placed within said inside of said basket wherein said insert is in direct contact with the flowing fluid passing from said inlet port of said container to said outlet port of said container; and, 
 whereby said basket causes the flowing fluid passing through said fluid conditioner from said inlet port of said container to said outlet port of said container to follow a convoluted flow path which includes flowing through said insert.  
   
     
     
         11 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 10  wherein said insert comprises: 
 a plurality of plates having a plurality of fluid apertures bored through said plates; and,  
 a connection shaft connecting between said plurality of plates said connection shaft capable of affixing each of said plurality of plates in a parallel relationship on to the other.  
 
     
     
         12 . The fluid container of  claim 10  wherein said basket is manufactured from a metal alloy capable of modifying the flowing fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The fluid conditioner of  claim 11  wherein said insert is manufactured from a metal alloy capable of modifying the flowing fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid container of  claim 13  wherein said metal alloy is the Walker alloy.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid container of  claim 13  wherein said metal alloy is the Walker alloy.  
     
     
         16 . A method of using a fluid conditioner adapted for connection to fluid conduits having an inlet port and an outlet port and having an internal convoluted flow path wherein the fluid flow turbulently contacts an alloy capable of modifying flowing fluids thereby suspending solid materials and inhibiting the formation of precipitates within the fluid conduit downstream of the fluid conditioner comprising: 
 connecting the fluid conditioner to the conduit such that the direction of the fluid flow passes from the inlet port to the outlet port.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 using the wellhead pressure to force the fluid undergoing modification through the fluid conditioner and through the conduit connected to the outlet port.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 using pump pressure to force the fluid undergoing modification through the fluid conditioner and through the conduit connected to the outlet port.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the fluid undergoing modification is water and the outlet piping is connected to an injection well.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid undergoing modification is hydrocarbon and the outlet piping is connected to a wellhead gathering system.