Use of catalytic materials for the mitigation of mineral fouling

The present study investigated the efficacy of a physical water treatment (PWT) technology using catalytic materials to mitigate mineral fouling in a heat exchanger. The fouling experiments were conducted using hard water with an electrical conductivity of 3600 μmhos/cm. The effects of three different velocities (0.3, 0.5, 0.8 m/s) on the performance of PWT using catalytic materials were examined. The present results showed that PWT decreased the fouling resistances by 17% to 38% depending on the flow velocity. Furthermore, SEM photographs revealed that treated cases produced a calcite form of scale, which can be easily detached by flow shear forces.