THE   TECHNOLOGY
 

 

The principals relating to the interaction of a magnetic field on a moving electric charge passing through the field.

Why does scale form and what is scale
Scale crystals, for example diamagnetic mineral salts such as calcium carbonate (calcite),  carry a charge.  Scale deposition is a result of attraction between electrical charges which concentrate on the sharp edges of the scale crystals.   The sharper the edges the stronger the charge and the larger the crystal  and the stronger the crystal bonding.

Scale deposition is not a chemical problem but an electrical problem.  Obviously an electrical solution is the logical approach to reduce or prevent crystal bonding (scale deposition).

Scale-X applies scientific principles to treat and eliminate scale.
The Scale-X fluid conditioning technology is based on the principles which relate to the interaction between a magnetic field and the charge on the scale crystals as the fluid passes through the magnetic field. The same principals are used in electric generators, that is, the interaction between a magnetic field and a metallic conductor (coil) passing through the field which causes an electric current (electric charge) to flow through the conductor.

Not so well known is the effect of a magnetic field on a fluid flowing through the magnetic field. The American Petroleum Institute (API) funded the Baylor University Department of Chemistry to evaluate the principles of magnetic water treatment. The resulting Baylor University technical paper which was released at the 45th Annual Meeting of the International Water Conference in 1984 stated, "A fundamental law of physics states that the motion of a conductor through a magnetic field will cause a voltage to be produced. This principle of electromagnetic induction was first demonstrated by Faraday, and applies not only to conducting solids such as wires, but also to conducting fluids such as aqueous solutions containing dissolved electrolytes. Magnetic flowmeters provide a well-known application of the generation of a potential using a conducting liquid."

The Periodical ‘Advanced Materials Research’  (Volumes 591 - 593) in the article entitled “Influence of Magnetic Field on Aqueous NaCl Solutions” by Mssrs: Hai Bo Han, Bin Guo and Feng Chai – “the influence of magnetic field on the aqueous solutions of NaCl studied by molecular dynamics (MD) -  the results show that, under the influence of magnetic field, the hydration number of Cl- ions increases and the mobility of hydrated Cl- ions is weakened, while the mean size of water clusters decreases and the mobility of water molecules is enhanced”.  This shows that a magnetic field can effect significant changes in the formation of, and the mobility of crystals and water molecules in an aqueous solution containing the diamagnetic mineral salt sodium chloride NaCl, (or containing any other diamagnetic mineral or organic salt) .

Professor John Donaldson and Dr. Sue Grimes of the Chemistry Department of the City University, London have conducted research into the effects of magnetic fields on flowing fluids. They have stated, "A magnetic field will interact with any substance that carries a charge, however small in any fluid. The nuclei on which the crystals start growing and the growing crystallites are very small and will have charged surfaces. As they pass through the magnetic field, these charged particles encounter considerable forces as the magnetic field interacts with them. The magnetic field acts at the surface of the crystallites modifying the nature of the charges at the surface. This alters the growth of the crystal in general and on specific planes."

The observable effects of applying Scale-X MFCs .
The following information comes from years of industrial applications of Scale-X MFCs and research in the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

The effect of the magnetic field (correctly applied) on the growing scale crystals results in the formation of significantly smaller crystals with rounded and not sharp edges.  The charge on the surface of these crystals is significantly less than without magnetic treatment as it is spread over the whole crystal surface and not concentrated at a sharp edge..  These small crystals are non-molecular bonding and have a tendency against depositing as scale on the walls of the tubes and vessels, leaving their surfaces continually clean.

[The term “non-molecular bonding” used in this web site refers to crystals that have a very weak bonding capacity due to their very small size and weak charge OR a severely weakened bonding capacity resulting from reduction in size of the crystal and its charge and/or a more dispersed distribution of the charge over the crystal surface OR both.  These crystals tend not to adhere to the walls of vessels and pipes surface.]

It is important to note that there is no change in the chemistry of the solution, only a change in the structure of the crystals and strength of the charge.

For more details refer to the accompanying technical papers and journal articles one, two and three

With chemical treatment the plant still requires regular cleaning.
The chemical dosing/solution tries to blanket the concentrated electrical charge to stop crystal bonding by overlaying the charge with a polymer.  This is like a medication which seeks only to treat the symptom but not the cause  -  the Patient remains ill and still requires ongoing medical treatment..!!!  

Chemical scale inhibitors do not stop scale formation and the plant still requires regular ongoing cleaning/de-scaling.

Inorganic diamagnetic scale

In the case of calcite, an inorganic scale, this interaction modifies the charge on the crystals which results in changes to the structure of the scale crystals, both in shape and size, as demonstrated in the photos by Dr Kronenberg of the California State Polytechnic University and Kronenberg lecture notes Q5 answer. Instead of forming the normal large prism-shaped scale crystals with sharp edges which have strong molecular bonding tendencies, very small crystals are formed with rounded edges. These small crystals are non-molecular bonding and have a tendency against depositing as scale on the walls of the tubes and vessels, leaving their surfaces continually clean.  The treated crystals remain in the flowing fluid / water and settle out at low velocity points such as the basin of cooling towers.

Size of untreated scale crystals - verses - size of treated scale crystals


          
        Untreated water               Magnetically treated water
(Magnified 1100 times)             (Magnified 1100 times)

 

Organic diamagnetic scale

The following photographs are taken from the Society of Petroleum Engineers International technical paper SPE 38990 and shows the much smaller paraffin crystals which form when treated with magnetic fields.

The following are some of the observable changes that magnetic fluid treatment of fluids produces. Various examples of these are contained in the accompanying technical reports and papers and industry journals one, two, three and four.

Enlarge  When crude petroleum at 60ºC is magnetically
treated the size of the treated paraffin crystals is 0.004 the
size of untreated paraffin crystals.

Magnetic fluid conditioning observable changes:-

     •  It alters the scale crystallisation process. Treated scale forming crystals  have a different structure and are much smaller in size.
     •  Treated scale stays soft and settles out as a sludge at low velocity points.
     •  Untreated scale crystals have sharp edges and therefore strong bonding and magnetically treated crystals have rounded edges and therefore no-molecular bonding.
     •  Surface tension of water is approximately 10% lower.
     •  Viscosity of crude petroleum is lower and flows easier.
     •  Changes in crystallinity.
     •  Changes in crystal morphology
     •  Changes in solubility
     •  Changes in rate of precipitation
     •  X-ray diffraction patterns of treated and untreated scale show a change in the chemical phase of the precipitates.
     •  Treated scale crystals are non-molecular bonding and have a tendency against depositing as scale on the walls of the tubes and vessels, leaving their surfaces continually clean.
     •  Existing scale is removed over time.
     •  Scale and sludge settles out of the fluid easier and quicker at points of low velocity resulting in a reduction or elimination of the nutrients on which bacteria and algae live.
     •  Biofilm (slime) in air-conditioning an other cooling tower systems can be eliminated resulting in the control and elimination of the Legionella danger as outlined in Maintenance Australia - January 1990.    (Note that the terminology "Magneto Hydrodynamics" is another one of the names used for magnetic water treatment and/or magnetic fluid conditioning)

Enlarge Magnetic fluid conditioning eliminated
the Legionella problem in all 29 cooling towers
without the use of biocides.

 

Tuning the MFCs and the fluid system

All technologies have an operating range of parameters within which they function. Similarly, for magnetic fluid treatment to function, certain parameters must be within a defined range of operating values. Therefore the MFC’s must be tuned to the fluid system parameters. However, in many applications it is necessary to modify the fluid dynamics while in transit through the MFC's to bring them within a range of values that the MFC can be tuned to. Scale-X MFC's are designed on the governing parameters of Scale-X fluid conditioning technology and incorporate these functions, and where necessary, incorporate flow profiling and velocity amplification.

Factors that determine the operational effectiveness of magnetic fluid treatment that must be taken into account and incorporated into the design tuning process are:-

     •  Magnetic field strength
     •  Magnetic field structure
     •  Magnetic field penetration and density
     •  Velocity of the fluid
     •  Fluid turbulence
     •  Proximity to magnetic fields, electric motors and pumps
     •  Fluid flow profile
     •  The intersection of fluid flow/velocity vector and magnetic field gradient
     •  Duration of the time the fluid remains in the magnetic field
     •  Concentration levels of the fluid
     •  The magnetic susceptibility of the fluid
     •  Conditions determining rate of scale formation
     •  Fluid process system temperature and pressure differentials
     •  The pH level of the fluid

The energy for magnetic fluid treatment to work comes from the momentum of the flowing fluid, in other words, from the pump. This is the same as for a generator to produce electricity, the energy to produce the current comes form the turbine driving the generator. The energy does not come form the magnetic field in either case.

Permanent magnets will perform at full capacity for decades. However, the size, shape and materials used in permanent magnets vary greatly. Thus the field structure, strength, density and ability to penetrate the flowing fluid varies greatly. The type of permanent magnets used in each application must be carefully selected to ensure maximum benefits.