Accession Number:

ADA399455

Title:

Demonstration and Evaluation of Magnetic Descalers

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER CHAMPAIGN IL CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Smothers, Kent W.
• Curtiss, Charles D.
• Gard, Brian T.
• Strauss, Robert H.
• Hock, Vincent F.

Report Date:

2001-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

104.0

Abstract:

Mineral scale formation in water distribution piping impedes flow, resulting in pressure and volume reduction and increasing operational costs. Chemical cleaning is both costly and time consuming, and there are health concerns when chemically cleaning potable water systems. Some alternatives to chemicals or ion exchange equipment such as water softeners claim to use electric or magnetic fields to change chemical or physical conditions in the water in such a way as to prevent mineral scale buildup. This study conducted a field test of the performance two magnetic and one electronic descalers to determine if the devices would reduce or prevent the formation of mineral scale under field condition. The devices tested did not prevent mineral scale formation under the conditions of this study. The heat exchange capacity of all three shell and tube heat exchangers was considerably reduced by the formation of mineral scale during the course of the study. This study found no significant difference between the devices and the controls in the amount of scale that formed.

Descriptors:

• *ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
• *WATER TREATMENT
• *MAGNETIC DEVICES
• CORROSION
• BACTERIA
• FIELD TESTS
• HEAT EXCHANGERS
• SCALE
• PREVENTION
• WATER PIPES
• MINERALS
• WATER DISTRIBUTION
• ALGAE

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Civil Engineering
• Electricity and Magnetism

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE