The ED 2000
Anti-Fouling System is a newly developed, newly improved solution to an
age-old problem. In the past, attempts at understanding how these types of
technologies worked have been futile. Today, a clear understanding of how
mineral precipitation fouling forms and how it adheres to heat transfer sites
is the basis for developing a consistent and reliable solution. These critical
steps have been accomplished through an extensive research and development
effort.
The result:
·
A clear understanding of how electronic descaling works,
where it works and where it is not applicable.
·
Patented improvements to insure consistent and reliable
performance.
·
Laboratory validation performed through scientifically
accepted protocol by a well-respected university research team.
·
Field-tested through leading organizations.
·
Effective solution to mineral precipitation fouling that
can be applied to many types of applications
Sold, installed and guaranteed through York International
Corporation.
Recent
developments at Drexel University’s Mechanical Engineering Department have
resulted in a new technology that both prevents and eliminates scales in heat
transfer surfaces. Seven years of
research with scientists in heat transfer and fluid dynamics have improved the
understanding of non-chemical water treatment, specifically, electronic
treatment. A theory of operation has
been developed based on well-founded laws of physics and chemistry and validated
through both lab testing and field-testing.
Professor Young I. Cho, a heat transfer professor, has
supervised this project since its inception in 1992. Cho collected a team to understand and improve what he believes
is the most innovative process the heat transfer community has seen in years.
Cho and his staff have published numerous articles in
well-respected scientific journals in this field. The electronic descaling technology can be found in the International
Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Compact Heat Exchangers for the Process
Industry and the 32nd National Heat Transfer Conference.
Research in the last few years has resulted in a number of
new patents being awarded in both heat transfer and other sciences using the
basis principles of electronic descaling technology. This research is the foundation for a better understanding of
this technology and how it can be successfully applied to solving mineral
precipitation fouling that has plagued industry.
The electronic descaling technology is based on the
“Controlled Precipitation” of scale forming mineral crystals. The fouling problem begins with
supersaturated water that contains excessive amounts of mineral ions such as
calcium and magnesium.
Heat exchanger surfaces are negatively charged, pulling
positively charged mineral ions toward them.
Precipitation occurs when the water makes contact with the metal
surfaces at high temperatures. The
solubility on the ions decreases with increase temperature. These ions stick to metal surfaces as a
result of “electrostatic attraction.”
This is termed “Uncontrolled Precipitation” and is how scaling occurs.
The technology uses a square
wave pulsing current, which creates an induced electric field within the feed
pipe to the heat exchanger. This is
known as “Faraday’s Law.” This induced
oscillating electric field provides the necessary molecular agitation to
charged ions and causes the excess mineral ions to undergo a
precipitation. This precipitation is
deliberately initiated by the molecular agitation away from the heat exchanger
surface and is called “Controlled Precipitation.” A snowball effect begins resulting in larger insoluble crystals
being formed.
As a result, when supersaturated water is treated by the
electronic descaling technology, dissolved mineral ions are converted to
insoluble mineral crystals and are suspended in water and remain in the water
without sticking to the heat exchanger surface. “Controlled Precipitation” reduces the number of dissolved
mineral ions in the water and subsequently eliminates fouling.
Fouling is one problem that continues to frustrate
industrial and commercial uses and costs industry millions of dollars in
chemical clean up, downtime, process duplication and reduced capacity each
year. Proven solutions will certainly
change the face of the heat transfer industry today.