CA1170621A - Magnetic water conditioner apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An improved apparatus for the conditioning of feed water for boilers and heaters employs a cylinder magnet with an axial hole and is either a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet. A nonmagnetic water conduit fits tightly within the axial hole of the magnet and has a smooth interior to obtain laminar, nonturbulent flow. The magnet is axially magnetized and the geometry and environment are selected to maximize the magnetic flux in the axial hole.

Description

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MAGNETIC WATER CONDITIONER APPARATUS

My invention relates to the magnetic treatment of mineralized watcr and has particula~ reference to an improved gcometry of magnets that more effectively treats or conditions watcr to increaso its apparent softness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Feed water for boilers and hot water heaters has been magnetically treated for decades to reduce boiler scale, heater deposits and water pipe deposits. Feed water has been subjected to various configurations of magnetic fields, both steady fields and alternating fields. This magnetic treatment has been effective to greater or lesser degrees in preventing boiler scale and heater deposits and deposits in water pipes.
While the chemistry and electronics of magnetic field effects on dissolved and suspended minerals has not been precisely determined, the magnetic treatment causes the mineral content to remain in suspension rather than deposit out as scale. In the case of boilers the accumulated suspended minerals are continuously or periodically flushed out by flushing the boiler water. This magnetic treatment is generally less expensive than ion-exchange treatment of feed water or additive chemical treatment of feed water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have ascertained that the most effective magnetic treatment occurs when the lines of flux are parallel to the water flow.
I have determined that the most effective magnetic field for water treatment is a steady or permanent field as con-trasted to a fluctuating field or as contrasted to an alterna-ting magnetic field. I have further dctermined that the mostconcentrated field is the most effective. I have devised a magnetic field that is extrcmely conccntrated for the avail-able magnetic material. I have deviscd a hollow cylindrical permanent magnet that is axially polarized and has a water pipc of non-magnetic material passing axially through the cylinder.
Alternatively, [ have constructed a dircct-current coil of hollow . . ~

06 ~1 cylindrical permanent magnet that is axially polarized and has a water pipe of non-magnetic material passing axially through the cylinder. Alternativcly, [ have constructed a direct-current coil of l1ollow cylinder shape which has a non-magnetic conduit passing axially through it. I have determined further that the conduit must fit these magnetic structures as tightly as possible and that the conduit wall should have minimum thickness for the water pressures being used.
I have discovered that if the water exits from the south pole of the magnetic field it gives the maximum "soften-in~" effect to the water; that is, the maximum suspension of mineral in the water and the minimum of deposits. Conversely, if the water exits from the north pole of the magnetic field the water is "hardened" and tends to deposit out more readily and to react with soap. This may be useful as a defoaming treat-ment for water. I suspect that this south pole exiting to soften is not universally true and may be limited to a parti-cular geographical area. Perhaps in the southern hemisphere the polarity to soften water will be reversed. Orientation o my magnetic field with the earth's magnetic field does not appear to be important.
I have found that my magnetic treatment improves potability of "softened" drinking water as compared to water treated with chemicals or ion-exchange to render it softer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various objects, advantages, and features of the in-vention will be apparent in the following description and claims, considered together with the accompanying drawings forming an integral part of this specification and in which:
Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of piping passing through a permanent magnet in vertical section.
Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the magnet and pipe of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a direct-current coil passing around a pipe to create a magnetic field in the pipe.
Fig. ~ is a three-dimension.ll view of the commercial em~odiment of the direct-current coil of Fig. 3.

11'~'0 6 ~1 Fig 5 is a schematic sectional view through the mag-nets of Figs. 1 and 4 showing the concentration of lines of flux in tlle center of the conduit through the magnets.
Fig. 6 is a schematic end view of the magnet of Fig.5 showing the manner in which the lines of flux concentrate in the conduit portion of the magnet.
Municipal water systems are generally the source of water for boilers. No boiler can operate efficiently or depend-ably if its heat transfer surfaces are allowed to foul with scale. Yet, most municipal water systems provide water that contains scale-producing minerals. The major dissolved materials in water are silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, and sodium com-ounds. Metallic constituents occur in various combinations with bicarbonate, carbonate, s~lphate, and chloride radicals. Scaling when calcium or magnesium compounds in the water precipitate and adhere to the internal surfaces of the boiler. These scaling compounds become less soluble as temperatures increase, causing them to separate from solution. The result is overheat-ing of boiler tubes, followed by failure and equipment damage.

2~ This same scaling occurs in the heater and pipes of hot water heater systems. Unless these scaling deposits can be reduced, they result in heater failure and reduced carrying capacity of scaled-up pipes.
Many different types of water treatments are used to reduce the scaling, including sodium zeolite softening, hot lime zeolite softening, split stream softening, demineralizing, and distillation. All of these treatments require extensive capital outlays for various treatment tanks and controls, as well as a continuous supply of chemicals, or in the case of evaporation, a continuous use of fuel.
While the magnetic treatment of water to reduce its apparent hardness has been known for decades, it has not been commercially used for boilers and heaters, because it has been ineffective. I have determined that a properly designed magnetic treatment conditioner or apparatus can be made that is effective for water-softening. The tremendous capital outlays for the usual softening processes may be avoided, as well as the contin-uous expenditures for chemicals and fuels.

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I have experimentcd with ceramic magnets, primarily because they are cheaper by several times than those of alnico, and rarc earth cobalts and mixtures with other metals. These ferrite magnets have a smaller flux density than other more cxpensivc magnet materials, but suitable geometries of ferrite results in vcry satisfactory flux densities. I have found that the ring-shaped loudspeaker magnets, which are axially magnetized, are readily and inexpensively available and, by stacking, any desired length of cylindrical magnet may be quickly formed that is also axially magnetized.
I have also used direct-current coils of hollow-cylinder shape and find that these function effectively to create the desired magnetic field in a pipe passing ~hrough the hollow of the cylinder.
The term "apparent softening" is used to denote the effect on the dissolved material. My apparatus does not remove any dissolved material, and a chemical analysis on a dry basis of water treated by my apparatus would be the same as the un-treated input water. However, ~here is a chemical or electronic change in these scale-producing materials so that they do not deposit out as readily as the materials in raw water. The same analysis applies to my water treatment to increase the "apparent hardness," except in this case scaling is increased and the usefulness is for defoaming and other uses of hard water.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, pipes 11 and 12 are connected by a pipe 13 provided particularly in accordance with the invention. The pipe 13 may be secured to the pipe sections 11 and 12 by any suitable means such as couplings 14. Pipes 11, 12, and 13 form part of a continuous conduit for raw water leading to a boiler or to a water-heating system. Disposed about the pipe 13 prior to its coupling to pipe lengths 11 and 12 arc a plurality of ring-shaped permancnt magnets 16, 17, 18, and 19, which are all axially magnetized, that is, along an axis parallel to the pipe 13. While any suitable permanent magnet material may be used, l presently prcfer, for purposes of manufacturing economy, ceramic magnets.
The pipe 13 is made o-f nonmagnetic matericll and may be metal or plastic or glass or other nonferrous matcrials, ll'i'O~

and I presently pre~er glasx or plastic to eliminate any elec-trical effects Oll the water due to dissimilar metals being present. The interior of the conduit l3 shoulcl be as smooth as commercially feasible to avoid any turbulence in the flow, and in this connect;on the couplings 14 should be of such con-struction as to minimize any turbulence in the flow. Each ring magnet 16, 17, 18, and 19 is oriented with the adjoining magnet or magnets so that there is a continuous magnetic field from north on the left to south on the right as viewed in Fig. 1.
This stac-k of ring magnets develops a magnetic field, which is shown in schematic form in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein a schematic magnet 20 of hollow-cylinder construction has an axial hole 21 through it, and lines of flux 22, 23, 24, and 25 emanate from the ends of the magnet 20 to pass through the hole 21. There it will be noted that the lines of flux 22 emanating from the farthest radial area pass toward the center of the bore 21 and that the next lines 23 emanating from the ends closer to the bore take a path to one side of the center of the bore 21; that the lines 24 that are closer to the bore take a path fairly elose to the bore edge and that the lines 25 emanating elose to the bore follow the interior of the bore 21.
This distribution of lines of flux is shown sehemati-eally in Fig. 6 wherein the outermost lines 22 pass toward the eenter of the bore 21 and the other lines 23, 24, and 25 that are elosest to the bore 21 have their lines of flux away from the center of the bore. The result of this inwardly projeeting series of flux lines 22 through 25 is to give a very intense field in the bore 21 so that a maximum intensity of magnetie field will be exerted upon water flowing through a eonduit placed in the bore 21 of the magnet 20 of Figs. 5 and 6.
Referring now to Fig. 2, this illustrates in full out-line the magnet of Fig. 1 shown in section. Shown in Fig. 2 is a dimension L for the length of the magnet which is designa-ted by the numeral 15. There is also shown a dimension D for the diameter of the magnet 15, and there is shown a dimension C for the outside diameter of the conduit 13 passing through the magnct 15. nepend;ng upon the material from which the mag-net is made, the geometry is so chosen as to maximize the lines , ~

062~ -o-E flux thru tl~c axial holc comparcd to the flux lincs thru thc air on thc outside of the magnet. Also the environment of thc magnet must be selccted not to interfere with this maximi-zation of axial flux, I havc found that -Eor ferritc magnets the magnct lcngth L must be greater than one-Eourth of the diameter D for the best water-conditioning. I have also found that if the length of thc ferrite magnet is more than about two times the diameter, then there is very little added flux strength because o of this added length. The diameter C'of the pipe conduit pass-ing through the magnet, which is the same as the inside diameter of the hole through the magnet, of course, has a bearing on these length and diameter dimensions, and these length and dia-meter ratios apply generally when the conduit dimension C
5 is one-half of D or smaller.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a conduit 30 has a coil of wire 31 wrapped tightly about the conduit 30, and this is energized by a battery 32 passing direct current through the coil, The coil generates a steady màgnetic field which is iden-tical in all respects to the magnetic field of the permanent magnets and generates iines of flux as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Shown in Fig. 4 is the commercial version of the schematic Fig. 3, wherein the conduit 30 has a multilayer coil 33 wrapped around it and this coil 33 will generate a north pole at the left end as indicated by the letter N and a south pole at the right end as indicated by the letter S. The coil is energized by any suitable source of direct current, and there is shown schematically a direct-current generator 34 drivcn by a AC-motor 36 or any other suitable motor, which in turn delivers current to the coil 33 through conductors 37 and 38.
I find that it is important that the conduit through the magnets be straight and even in cross section so that there is no turbulence as the water passes through the magnet. The -flow of water, thercfore, is aligncd with the lines of Elux as shown mos~ graphically in Fig. 5 as thc watcr p3SSCS through thc magnet 20. If thc raw water carrics in it Elo~lting particles, thesc shoulc1 , of coursc, be scrccncd out, and thc conduit 13 of 11~6Z~

~ig. 1 could, for cxamplc, bc madc of transparcnt glass or othcr transp.lrent nonmetallic matcrial so tha~ any iron or iron oxidc particlcs that collect on the intcrior of thc con-duit 13 in the rcgion of thc magnet will bc clearly visible and can thercupon be clcancd.
For creating apparent softening of thc raw water, thc watcr should flow through the magnets from north to south.
lf it is desircd to increase the apparent hardness of the water, then the water should flow through the magnets from south to north. When the flow is from north to south, then the apparent softening also seems to loosen some boiler scale already formed.
I have found that the beneficial effects conferred by magnetic water treatment with my apparatus occur independantly of the rate of water flow through the magnet. I have described my permanent magnet with respect to ferrite materials, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any other material may be used and any other configuration other than rings of permanent magnets may be used. For example, ceramic magnets are made in cylindrical shells or two semicylindrical shells that are cemented together for completion of the cylinder.
These shells or cylinders are magnetized in an axial direction.
If a long solenoid is used, then almost all of the lines of flux will be contained within the axial bore.
If alnico magnets are used the length must be greater compared to diameter than with ceramic magnets. I have describ-cd my invention with respect to presently preferred embodiments thereof as required by patent statutes. I do not limit myself to these embodiments, however, as they are illustrative only of my invention. I include within the scope of the following claims all variations, modifications, and improvements that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Claims (5)

Claims:

1. Apparatus for the magnetic treatment of mineralized flowing water comprising:
a) a magnet of hollow cylinder shape that is axially magnetized with a continuous magnetic field having a north pole at one end and a south pole at the other end;
b) a water conduit axially disposed in the magnet with a close fit and formed of nonmagnetic material;
c) and means for flowing mineralized water through the conduit in a selected direction.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for flowing causes water in the conduit to exit the magnet at the south pole of the magnet to reduce the apparent hardness of the water.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for flowing causes water in the conduit to exit the magnet at the north pole of the magnet to increase the apparent hardness of the water.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet of ceramic ferrite material and has a length more than one-fourth of the diameter and less than twice the diameter.

5. An apparatus for the magnetic treatment of mineralized flowing liquid, comprising:
a magnet assembly of cylindrical shape having an axial hole of uniform cross section, said assembly defined by a plurality of cylindrical magnets, each being axially magnetized and having an axial hole of uniform cross section, said magnets being juxtaposed axially in alternating North-pole-South-pole-North-pole-South-pole relation providing a uniform axial magnetic flux within the axial hole of said assembly;
and a liquid conduit disposed in the axial hole of the magnet assembly and in close fit with said magnets and formed of non-magnetic material;
said magnet assembly having a geometry and environ-ment to maximize the axial magnetic flux in the axial hole of the magnet assembly.