Topic // Water Conditioners
Topic:
Water Conservation
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Water Conditioners
Conditioning of "hard water" consumes resources (salt, electricity, water) and produces water pollution. Unfortunately, taking no action on hard water can increase environmental impacts (for example inefficient hot water heater coils). A number of jurisdictions are considering banning salt-water softeners and thus an understanding of the alternatives is important.
Keyword(s)hardness, salt, magnetic
Introduction
In many parts of the world, available fresh water sources are “hard” or contain high concentrations of ions such as calcium. Hard water flowing through appliances tend to build up on metal objects, eventually leading to clogged pipes and reduced efficiency of hot water heat exchangers.
Calcium scale formation on the inside of pipes and water heaters, on sinks, tubs, shower doors and other water contact surfaces is a multi-million dollar problem for individuals and businesses. A thin, 30 mm (1/8th inch) layer of scale is such an effective insulator that it reduces the efficiency of your water heater by 20%. This translates directly to increased energy cost to attain the desired water temperature. Scale also increases the cost of equipment maintenance and shortens equipment life. When these costs are added together, the price of calcium scale is staggering.
THICKNESS OF SCALE IN MM (INCHES) | LOSS OF HEAT TRANSFER EFFICIENCY % |
16 (1/16) | 15 |
32 (1/8) | 20 |
64 (1/4) | 39 |
127 (1/2) | 70 |
191 (3/4) | 90 |
The conventional solution to hard water has been to add salt via a water-conditioning device. This costs the building operator in regular salt instalments, electricity to run the conditioner unit, and water used in the process of adding salt. As well, the wastewater effluent is salt enriched which becomes a pollutant to fresh water.
The alternative to salt water conditioning is maintenance free magnetic water conditioners. Magnetic water softener technology, when specified in the design stage, provide decades of maintenance free operation. Retrofitting a magnetic water softener can also improve water circulation and reduce pumping pressure required by removing scaling within pipes and water appliances.
Magnetic water conditioners ... are operating extensively throughout the world today with tremendous economic effect. Marked reduction in scale formation ... has been verified in practice and confirmed in laboratories.
Excerpt from: U.S. Dept. of Energy Study 1986.& Re-quoted in Popular Mechanics June, 1992
The basic technology has been used in heavy industry for years for control of scale, algae and corrosion. What's new is the use of high-technology ceramics in the magnets ... the magnetic field [changes] the water ... This is a physical change brought about directly, whereas, traditionally, changes have been caused by chemicals.
Pool & Spa News - October, 1987.
Large amounts of Calcium Carbonate were being discharged ... Normal water flow was completely restored ... Cost savings is being reflected...
The Coast Guard Engineer's Digest, Winter 1980.
...a recent discovery indicates that a magnetic field ... is effective in preventing the formation of scales ...
Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Dept. of Defense monitored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Contract No. F44620-72-0053 - January 1973.
Unfortunately, the magnetic technology industry hasn't effectively communicated the benefits of the technology. It is difficult for the consumer to find reliable, independent information on technologies and products. Ironically, numerous industrial processes utilize magnetic technology to prevent build up in pipes including the petroleum and transportation industries.
The most recognized studies of non-chemical water softening alternatives are the following:
Non-Chemical Technologies for Scale and Hardness Control, Federal Technology Alert, 1998.
Non-Chemical Technologies for Scale and Hardness Control
Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy by Battelle Columbus Operations January 1998
Abstract
The magnetic technology has been cited in the literature and investigated since the turn of the 19th century, when lodestones and naturally occurring magnetic mineral formations were used to decrease the formation of scale in cooking and laundry applications. Today, advances in magnetic and electrostatic scale control technologies have led to their becoming reliable energy savers in certain applications.
For example, magnetic or electrostatic scale control technologies can be used as a replacement for most water-softening equipment. Specifically, chemical softening (lime or lime-soda softening), ion exchange, and reverse osmosis, when used for the control of hardness, could potentially be replaced by non-chemical water conditioning technology. This would include applications both to cooling water treatment and boiler water treatment in once-through and recirculating systems.
The primary energy savings from this technology result from decrease in energy consumption in heating or cooling applications. This savings is associated with the prevention or removal of scale build-up on a heat exchange surface, where even a thin film can increase energy consumption by nearly 10%. Secondary energy savings can be attributed to reducing the pump load, or system pressure, required to move the water through a scale-free, unrestricted piping system.
This Federal Technology Alert provides information and procedures that a Federal energy manager needs to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this technology. The process of magnetic or eletrostatic scale control and its energy savings and other benefits are explained. Guidelines are provided for appropriate application and installation. In addition, a hypothetical case study is presented to give the reader a sense of the actual costs and energy savings. A listing of current manufacturers and technology users is provided along with references for further reading.
30-day trial conducted by the Department of Chemical Engineering University of Bath University on Super IMP water softeners and other competitive hard water treatment products.
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