APPARATUS FOR REMOVAL OF ALKALINE EARTH METAL SALT SCALE AND METHOD

摘要

A method to remove an alkaline earth metal salt scale deposits from a pipe comprises introducing a laser head (4) into a pipe (1), isolating a pipe section to be cleaned (8) adjacent to a scale deposit (2) on an interior wall of a pipe using a packer (6), filling the section of the pipe to be cleaned (8) with gas to displace laser-obstructing materials, activating a laser element in the laser head (4) to heat a surface layer of the scale deposit (2) above a thermal decomposition temperature, and washing the thermally decomposed scale deposit (2) with water. The thermally decomposed scale deposit (2) becomes at least partially soluble and removable as a result of being heated.