Piping for building cooling systems and hot water systems can be constructed of a variety of materials and vary widely in size from small bore pipes to quite large diameter pipes.  Depending on the pipe size, construction material and fluid dynamics, the Scale-X magnetic fluid conditioner may be installed externally to the process piping or internally to the pipes and/ or vessels and are installed at, or just prior to, identified scaling points, usually just before entry to vessels. The Scale-X MFC is maintenance free.  A typical building air cooling system will have more than one scaling point as shown schematically and may require the application of multiple Scale-X magnetic water conditioners, sometimes referred to as magnetic water descalers, to ensure that the required level of magnetic fluid conditioning is maintained throughout the fluid system.

Cause:

Water supplies contain mineral salts, the predominate one being calcium carbonate and this forms scale build ups in building cooling water systems and hot water systems at such places as heat exchangers and cooling tower slats.  This is due to evaporative concentration of the inorganic mineral salts in the water.  The scale is predominately in the form of calcite, the most common substance treated by magnetic fluid treatment.  Other typical scales in water systems are aragonite, dolomite, gypsum and barium sulphate.   These systems also suffer from the ingress of organic materials that cause sludge to form.
 

Scale-X MFC's can totally eliminate the scale and sludge build ups and, depending on fluid velocity and turbulence, it will slowly remove the existing scale.  Scale inhibitors can be discontinued reducing the cost and the problems associated with discharge and disposal of dangerous chemicals.  The condenser tubes and cooling tower slats stay clean, the sludge and scale stays soft and settles out during low fluid velocity in the basin of the cooling tower or in the clarifier.  For the first few months after application of the Scale-X MFC's the cooling tower slats should be hosed down to remove the softened existing scale until it is totally removed.  The cooling tower basin and the clarifier should be cleaned on a regular basis to remove the settled sludge.

A typical example is contained in the accompanying International Maintenance Management technical paper where magnetic units supplied by PS Australian Promotions Pty Ltd, the mother company of Magnetic Technology, manufacturers of Scale-X, were installed on a building air conditioning system that required the condenser tubes to be de-scaled twice a year on average otherwise the air conditioning system would trip out on high head pressure.  Scale inhibitors were discontinued and after installation of the magnetic units the air conditioning system condenser tubes and cooling tower slats did not require de-scaling again and remained completely clean.  The cooling tower basin was cleaned on a regular basis to remove the settled sludge.

Elimination of Scale Problems in Valves, Pumps, Instrumentation, Etc.... : 

The scale problem can be eliminated from all surfaces, not only in condensers, pipes and cooling towers.  Scale problems in valves, pumps, instrumentation, etc.. can also be eliminated.  The successful elimination of scale problems in control valves using Scale-X MFC's was the subject of a technical article published in Chemical Engineering in Australia, Newsletter of IE Aust.

Reduction in algae and Bacteria:

By eliminating and/or controlling the formation of scale and sludge in these fluid process systems, Scale-X MFC's reduces the nutrients and alters the environment in which harmful bacteria live.  The water stays clean and the sludge and softened scale settle out in the basin of the cooling tower or clarifier as explained in the accompanying document on the refinery cooling tower.  This can result in a significant reduction in and or elimination of the bacteria problem.  Magnetic fluid treatment will assist biocides to work more effectively.   The use of magnetic fluid treatment in controlling bacteria is discussed in more detail in the section on bacteria, algae and Legionella.