How Scale Forms ?

How Scale Forms ?

The scale that forms inside of pipes and water heaters, or
on tile and shower heads, is waterborne minerals that
precipitate out. The most common scale is Calcium
Carbonate (CaCO3).
In order for Calcium to precipitate out of the water, it
first has to get into the water. This is a process that occurs
in nature as water percolates through the ground.

Well as water source

H2O + CaCO3
H2O

Ca(HCO3)2

Hardness
water

Ca(HCO3)2 <-- CaCO3+ H2O

H2O

H2O

How Scale Forms ?

H2O
H2O
H2O

Pure
Water
(Under
Ground)

CaCO3
MgCO3
Na2CO3
CaSO4
SiO2
Fe2O3

Pure water
penetrate
through the
ground

H2O CaSO
4

CaCO3
MgCO3

70oC

70oC

40oC

40oC

H2O
CaCO3

Fe2O3

H2O NaCO3

Super
Saturated
(Well water)

CaCO3

Water Flow

Water Flow

Nucleation
Precipitation
(Condenser
tube)

Cooling water

Scale Development Process

Crystalisation
Grow

Scale

Nucleation Precipitation
Ca(HCO3)2
Calcium
bicarbonate
Ca(HCO3)2
Water Flow

Nucleation
Precipitation

+ Heat CaCO3 + H2O + CO2

Calcium
carbonate

At the surface of Heat Exchanger, CO2 evaporates out

of water, When the CO2 leaves the water, the
presence of carbonic acid decreases with a resulting
decrease in acidity. The solubility of calcium
carbonate decreases. As the CO2 leaves, so does the
dissolved calcium, and it precipitates out as scale.

How Scale Forms ?

Water is called the universal solvent; it always "wants"

to have substances dissolved in it. The less it has, the
more aggressive it becomes in attacking things that can
dissolve.

water is aggressive to metallic pipe or to substances that

can ionize and dissolve in waternot because of low pH
(6.85 - acidity), but because it is highly pure and has few
dissolved substances in it.

How Scale Forms ?

The capacity for water to hold calcium carbonate in a

dissolved state varies tremendously as water travels from its
natural sources into and through pipe.

There are a number of factors that determine how much

calcium carbonate may be contained in given volume of water.

The most important of these factors are temperature, pH

(acidity), and pressure. As long as water has the capacity to
hold calcium carbonate in solution, scaling is not a problem.
Scaling occurs when water loses it capacity for calcium
carbonate, at which time the calcium crystallizes and attaches
as scale to surrounding objects.

How Scale Forms ?

Several conditions that change the solubility

of Calcium Carbonate in water.

How Scale Forms ?

Conditions
Affecting the Solubility of
Calcium Carbonate

Solubility = The ability to dissolve

Conditions effecting the Solubility of Calcium Carbonate

1. Temperature

Temperature is an important factor. The solubility of

calcium carbonate decreases with increasing temperature.
This means that when water is heated, it has less capacity
for Calcium Carbonate. The effect of this is seen as
scaling in tea pots and water heaters. More hardness
compounds than calcium have inverse solubility. Others
are calcium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide, and silicon
dioxide.

Relation between temperature vs the Solubility of Calcium

Carbonate

Observation : the solubility of calcium carbonate decreases with

increasing temperature

Conditions effecting the Solubility of Calcium Carbonate

2. pH or Acidity

pH or Acidity changes will change the solubility. The lower the

pH, the higher the acidity, the greater the solubility of calcium
carbonate.

Pure water penetrate through the ground. This results in the

ground water dissolving higher concentrations of calcium
carbonate in form of HCO3, H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid) and other
hardness compounds which increase the solubility of CaCO3
resulting calcium remain in water .

At the surface of Heat Exchanger, CO2 evaporates out of water,

When the CO2 leaves the water, the presence of carbonic acid
decreases with a resulting decrease in acidity. The solubility of
calcium carbonate decreases. As the CO2 leaves, so does the
dissolved calcium, and it precipitates out as scale.

pH Definition
pH = acidic and alkalinity level
14

Strong Base (alkaline)

Neutral (Salt)

Strong Acid

Conditions effecting the Solubility of Calcium Carbonate

3. Pressure

Pressure changes will also affect the solubility of calcium

carbonate. When the pressure of water drops, scale can
form. The reason is related to the effect of acidity. Water
under pressure can dissolve more CO2.

Soda pop (soap) keeps its fizz (bubble) when it is under

pressure. Take the cap off, releasing the pressure, and it
goes flat. The acidity decreases. The same happens when
pressure is released from water with dissolved CO2.
Increases in water temperature also force out CO2 with
the same effect as releasing pressure.

How to control the scale

formation?

By :
1. Minimizing cycle of concentration through blow
down control (Yes / No)
2. Adding acid to prevent deposition of pH-sensitive
species (Yes)
3. Softening the water to reduce Ca & Mg hardness
(No)
4. Using scale inhibitors to allow operation under
supersaturated conditions (Yes effectiveness?)