Formation of mineral scales poses significant problem in cooling water system. Deposition of undesirable inorganic salts and other impurities causes scaling. The potential for mineral scale formation continues to be by far the most costly design and operating problem in heat exchange equipments. Fouling and scaling on heat transfer surface reduces the efficiency of heat exchangers. The design of heat exchangers takes into account the decrease of heat transfer by increasing the heat transfer area. Due to scaling, the cross-section flow area reduces and the friction factor increases, which causes an increase in the pressure drop across the apparatus. In addition, the fouling layer has a low thermal conductivity, which increase the resistance to heat transfer and reduces effectiveness of heat exchangers significantly. Thus the operational and technical problems may eventually translate into substantial economic penalties. Continuously Operating heat exchanger test rig was subjected to water containing calcium sulphate salt. Heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop was measured with and without antiscaling agent addition. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop across the heat exchanger improves in presence of antiscaling agent.
Keywords: Scaling, Antiscaling agent, Heat Transfer Coefficient, Pressure drop
