Scale formation and its effect on the performance of once through MSF plant

✍ Scribed by H.T. El-Dessouky; T.A. Khalifa

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 469 KB
• Volume: 55
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-9164
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(85)80073-4

✦ Synopsis

The paper presents a study of the effect of fouling, due to scale formation, of preheater tubes on the thermal performance of once through multi stage desalination plant . The mathematical model developed was used to find, the decrease in the plant performance ratio, and the increase of the ratio of make up water to the product quantity for a 500 ton/day once through MSF plant of 12 stages .

Preheater tubes was examined microscopically after about ten years of intermittent operation at the once through MSF desalination plant at Matrouh . Although the copper alloys from which the preheater tubes were manfactured remained in a satisfactory condition , some scale deposits were observed .The chemical composition of these deposits varies, however the most common scale consists of calcium sulphate .

Recommended materials for better performance of condenser tubes as well as water pretreatment for preventation of scale formation and corrosion are discussed .