Heat transfer measurement as a criterion for performance evaluation of scale inhibition in MSF plants in Kuwait

Abstract

All Arab Gulf states experience a shortage of fresh water resources. The deficiency is made up for by desalinating seawater, mainly by the multi-stage flash (MSF) evaporation technique. Fouling in MSF distillers has been occupying researchers for many years. Much work has been done and more is yet to come in order fully to understand the role of various components and their interaction including the effectiveness of scale control techniques. Tis work is based primarily upon visual and reported observations of fouling in various parts along the flow path of brine solutions in MSF distillers. The analysis aimed at proposing certain sequences of scale forming reaction steps and to suggest certain experiments that will verify the validity of the proposed reaction mechanism. Scale precipitation inside tubes is not only from initial scale formation under pressure but also due to nucleates recirculating from flash chambers back into the heat gain exchanger tubes because of brine recycling. This work introduces an experimental technique that appears to be reliable and economical for evaluating the performance and identifying limitations of scale inhibition in MSF plants. Data and analysis of results obtained during the series of experiments are presented.