Industrial Cooling Water—Scale Formation

Abstract

AbstractAny source of naturally occurring water used of industrial cooling has been in contact with the earth, soil, and rock formations. As a result, soluble inorganic salts have been taken into solution that can give rise to “scaling” in industrial equipment. The phenomenon is apparent in domestic kettles that have been used to boil so‐called “hard water.” A whitish‐brown deposit forms on the areas within the kettle that are subject to the highest temperatures, for example, the heating element in electric kettles. In cooling water circuits that usually employ water from natural sources such as rivers or lakes, deposition of inorganic salts, or “scaling” as it is often called, can represent a serious problem. The presence of these salts usually results in operating problems. The accumulation of deposits on heat transfer surfaces can lead to severe loss in cooling efficiency if not effectively controlled.