As water travels through the earth, it picks up minerals.Most water supplies contain calcium and magnesium which are the main contributors of hardness in water.Scale that appears when water evaporates is the visible sign of the calcium and magnesium in the water.Over time, the scale can build up and become unsightly and cause problems in areas.In some cases, scale causes significant damage to water-using appliances, fixtures and pipes, resulting in costly repairs and even replacement.
In the process of industrial production, the scale problem has always existed. To solve this problem, there are many ways to choose from. This article will explain the best methods for industrial descaling from three aspects: mechanical cleaning, chemical cleaning and electrochemical cleaning.
1. Mechanical cleaning
The mechanical cleaning method is to clean the equipment by mechanical force to remove scale. This method does not require the use of any chemical reagents and therefore has less impact on the environment. Among them, high-pressure water cleaning and drilling cleaning are more commonly used mechanical cleaning methods.
High-Pressure Water Cleaning: High-pressure water jetting involves using powerful jets of water to dislodge and remove scale deposits. Water is sprayed at high pressure onto the affected surfaces, effectively breaking up and washing away the scale. This method is particularly useful for large surfaces, pipes, or equipment that can tolerate high-pressure water.
2. Chemical cleaning
Chemical Descalers: Chemical descaling agents are designed to dissolve or loosen scale deposits. These chemicals are applied to the affected surfaces or equipment and allowed to react with the scale, making it easier to remove. Acid-based descalers, such as hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, are commonly used for scale removal.
These methods are highly effective at removing scale, but are associated with erosion and damage to equipment and the environment, which can be damaging to equipment if not used properly.
3. Electrochemistry
The electrochemical method is to use the electrochemical principle to decompose the scale. Under certain conditions, scale is broken down by passing an electric current. This method can not only remove scale efficiently, but also has less impact on equipment and has no environmental pollution problem.
However, the electrochemical method requires a higher technical level and equipment, and the cost is higher. At the same time, some scale types are difficult to decompose under electrochemical methods, so more research and technical support are needed.
Choose the appropriate descaling method for different scale types. Mechanical cleaning method, chemical cleaning method and electrochemical method all have their own advantages and disadvantages, which need to be selected and applied according to the actual situation.
