GB2209030A

GB2209030A - Apparatus for eliminating scale and corrosion in water systems

Info

Publication number: GB2209030A
Application number: GB8814617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garth Hermenegild Stocking
Original assignee: GARTH STOCKING ENTERPRISES LIM
Current assignee: GARTH STOCKING ENTERPRISES LIM
Priority date: 1987-06-20
Filing date: 1988-06-20
Publication date: 1989-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-20
Also published as: GB2209030B; GB8814617D0; GB8714516D0

Abstract

Apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems, comprising permanent magnets adapted to provide a magnetic field in the region of water flow, substantially at right angles to the direction of flow of water. The permanent magnets can be located externally of its water system or can be adapted for immersion in the water flowing through the water system by means of a tube. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SCALE AND CORROSION IN WATER SYSTEMS The present invention relates to apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale, and for preventing corrosion, in water systems.

Scale is formed when the particles responsible for hardness of water, for example minerals and salts, are activated by heat. In solution, the magnetic ion is surrounded by water molecules forming a crystalline structure similar to the crystals formed by hydrated minerals and salts. The various magnetic fields of these molecular groups are of sufficient intensity to combine at the heat point of attraction and interwine, forming a solid calcium carbonate deposit, commonly referred to as scale.

The internal surfaces of both domestic and industrial appliances, such as boiler tubes, heating coils, radiatiors, etc. are all prone to the formation of scale.

The formation of scale has a number of disadvantageous effects, including restricting the flow of water through the system and in particular it causes a decrease in the efficiency of the water heating system due to the energy wasted in heating the water via a heat conductance path passing through the scale.

A typical domestic 40 gallon hot water heater over two years old may have at least a 1.5cm build up on the bottom of the tank. A report by the United States Bureau of Standards and European Laboratories has indicated that such a scale build up will lead to an extra fuel cost of 70%. The removal of the scale and the prevention of any further scale formation would therefore result in considerable energy savings and the hot water use recovery time would be substantially shortened.

In addition to the formation of scale, corrosion also acts so as to cause the deterioration of the internal surface of water systems. Corrosion occurs when a solid metal passes into the soluble state by means of ionization. In solution, free gases attack the metal causing oxidation and deterioration.

The formation of rust, which is the product of corrosion and rust discolouration cease when corrosion is eliminated.

Present methods employed for the purpose of preventing scale and corrosion in water systems include introducing the water to a strong electromagnetic field produced by electromagnets. The magnetic field thereby produced upsets the harmony of crystallisation of dissolved minerals or salts and intramoleculr cohesion is broken. This causes a disollution of any existing scale-forming crystals, and prevents the formation of any new crystals. In addition, a thin film of argonite talc is deposited on the interior surfaces of the water system and prevents free gases in the water from attacking the surfaces and so eliminates corrosion.

Other methods include, treating the water with chemicals and regularly acid cleaning and rodding out the surfaces of the water system.

However, the production of a suitable electromagnetic field requires electrical equipment which is relatively expensive to operate and maintain due to the external power sources required and component wear.

Chemical treatment of the water has inherent disadvantages in that the chemicals must be purchased, stored and handled, prior to treating the water and this therefore increases the cost of chemical treatment. The service life of the water system is also reduced due to the damage caused by the chemicals.

The cost of acid cleaning and rodding out is relatively high and this process also leads to a reduction in the service life of the water systems.

The latter two methods also result in a relatively large down time on operating equipment of the water system and the addition of chemicals and acids also results in an increase in water pollution.

It would therefore be advantageous if apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and preventing corrosion within water systems could be provided which does not require an external power source, does not require regular maintenance, is not susceptible to component wear, does not involve chemical treatment of the water and does not involve acid cleaning or rodding out of the system.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems, comprising a permanent magnet adapted to provide a magnetic field in the region of water flow, substantially prependicularly to the direction of flow of water.

The permanent magnet preferably comprises one or more permanent magnetic elements in combination with a mild steel member.

In one embodiment the permanent magnet is located externally to the water system.

Advantageously, the permanent magnet comprises one or more block magnets sandwiched between a pair of elongate mild steel plates. The mild steel plates preferably extend beyond the block magnets so as to form an elongate channel for receiving the water system.

In another embodiment, the permanent magnet is adapted for immersion within the water system itself.

Advantageously, a plurality of magnetically back to back bar magnets are housed within a tube which is itself adapted to be monitored centrally within a watercarrying pipe system.

The monitoring means for the tube can comprises fins extending from the external surface of the tube.

Advantageously, the height of the fins is varied in response to the internal dimensions of the water system in which the tube is housed so that the fins abut against the internal surfaces of the water system providing secure anchorage therein.

Advantageously, the length of the tube can be varied in response to the number of bar magnets located therein and the number of tubes utilised can be varied in response to the dimensions of the water system.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a persepctive view of one embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the bar magnets of the embodiment of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 illustrates the magnetic field lines passing through a water conveying pipe having the apparatus of Fig. 1 attached thereto; and Fig. 6 illustrates the magnetic field lines produced in a water conveying pipe having the apparatus of Fig. 2 located therein.

Fig 1 illustrates an embodiment which is suitable for attachment to the exterior of a pipe of a water system.

Each of a plurality of block magnets 10, formed of sintered anisotropic ferrite, is attached to another block magnet 12, formed with similar dimensions and of the same material, and the composite blocks 28 formed thereof are aligned along one side of and fixedly sandwiched between a pair of elongate mild steel plates The 16. The block magnets 10, 12 are attached such that the north pole face 24 of block 10 abuts the steel plate 14, and the south pole face 18 of block 12 abuts the steel plate 16. The south pole face 22 of each block 10 is therefore attached to the north pole face 20 of each block 12. The width of the composite blocks 28 is less than the width of the steel plates 14, 16 so that an elongate channel 30 is formed between the faces of the steel plates extending from the composite block magnet 28.A plurality of securing screws 26 are provided along the length of the channel 30 so that a pipe of a water system can be securely housed within the channel 30. The strong magnetic field between the regions of the steel plates 14, 16 forming the channel 30, therefore passes through the pipe and through the water contained therein.

In Fig. 2 an elongate copper tube 32 houses a plurality of bar magnets which are located along the full length of the tube 32 and of which two only 46, 46' are illustrated. Adjacent bar magnets are separated by non-magnetic spacers of which one 48 is illustrated, and the row of bar magnets and spacers is secured in position within the tube 32 between cylindrical sealing members 54, 54' situated in the ends of the tube 32 and enclosed thereby by screw caps 44, 44'. Two pairs of thin copper fins 34, 36 and 38, 40 are attached to the exterior of the tube 32, one pair 34, 36 being located at one end of the tube and the other pair 38, 40 being located at the opposite end of the tube. The fins 34, 36, 38, 40 extend perpendicularly from the exterior of the tube in a substantially similar plane.Another pair of copper fins 42, 56 (shown in Fig. 4) are located between the two pairs of fins 34, 36 and 38, 40 and similarly attached perpendicularly to the exterior of the tube. However, the copper fins 42, 56 extend from the exterior of the tube in a plane which is substantialy perpendicular to the plane of fins 34, 36, 38, 40. In this manner, the tube 32 is adapted so that it may be securely disposed inside a water conveying pipe by means of the abutment between the fins and the inner wall of the pipe. The water flowing through the pipe then flows around the exterior of the tube 32.

The plurality of bar magnets are disposed magnetically back to back so that the north pole end 52 of bar magnet 46 and the north pole end 50 of the bar magnet 46' abut a common spacer 48.

The water flows through the water system and around the exterior of the tube 32 in the direction of arrow A and therefore in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the alternate magnetic field lines produced by the alternate north poles and south poles of the magnets which abut common spacers.

In Fig. 3, the component parts of each bar magnet of Fig. 2 are illustrated with reference to one magnet 24'. An elongate bar 66 is formed of mild steel and each of a pair of polymer bonded rare earth magnetic discs 58, 60 for example cobalt, are fixedly secured at each end thereof. The magnetic discs 58, 60 are positioned such that the north pole 62 of the disc 58 and the south pole 64 of the disc 60 abut the ends of the mild steel bar 66. By this means, there is provided a relatively inexpensive manner of forming magnets of high field strength.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus of Fig. 2, in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 2, and illustrates the mutually perpendicular planes of the pairs of fins 34, 36 and 42, 56. The height of the fins 34, 36, 42, 56, and 38, 40 (not shown in Fig. 4) can be varied to suit the internal dimensions of the water system in which the tube is to be secured.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the apparatus of Fig. 1, when secured around a pipe 70 conveying water in the direction indicated by arrow B, causes magnetic field lines F to pass through the pipe 70, and thus through flowing water, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 70 and therefore to the flow of water. The minerals in the water that cause scaling are therefore advantageously affected by the field lines F such that they lose their natural tendency to attach themselves to surfaces over which they flow and thus pass through the pipe, and associated water system, or may precipitate out of the system as a soft drainable mud.

Fig. 6 illustrates the field lines produced by the apparatus of Fig. 2. The back to back location of the bar magnets, causes magnetic field lines P to extend within the pipe 68 conveying water in a direction indicated by arrow A. The magnetic field lines P extend in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 68 and hence to the flow of water. In this manner, as the water flows through the pipe 68, it passes through alternate magnetic fields which are in opposite direction. As before, the minerals are rendered into a soft mud, which is readily removed from the water system by blow down or flushing. Further, an advantageous film-like deposit of the soft minerals is formed and settles on the metal surfaces throughout the water system and forms a barrier against the many corrosive influences in the water.The water that has been affected by the magnetic field lines may also act so as to reduce existing scale. Additional magnetic energy is imparted to the salt molecules in the water, and the harmony of the crystallisation upset and intramolecular cohesion broken. This causes a dissolution of any existing scale forming crystals. The existing scale formation are then slowly dissolved and washed out of the system as water turbulence in the system flushes them away.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2. For example, fins 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 56 could extend from the tube 32 in a variety of planes and directions, and their effect on the flow of water through the water system could vary accordingly.

It is envisaged that the embodiment of Fig. 1 would be more suitable for use in domestic situations where cheapness and ease of fitting of the system to existing pipework is likely to be at a premium, whereas the second embodiment is more suitable for industrial applications where a permanent, in-built scale and corrosion preventing system would be advantageous.

Claims

1. Apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems, comprising a permanent magnet adapted to provide a magnetic field in the region of water flow, substantially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of water.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet comprises one or more permanent magnetic elements in combination with a mild steel member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the permanent magnet is located externally to the water system.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the permanent magnet comprises one or more block magnets sandwiched between a pair of elongate mild steel plates.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are plural block magnets adjacent ones of which are mutually separated by respective air gaps in a direction parallel to the length of the mild steel plates.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the mild steel plates extend beyond the block magnets so as to form an elongate channel for receiving the water system.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the block magnets comprise high strength alloy magnets.

8. Appartus as claimed in any of claims 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the block magnets comprise blocks of sintered anisotropic ferrite.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the elongate channels include fastening means for securing the water system therein.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the water system on which the magnetic field impinges comprises a water carrying pipe.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2,. wherein the permanent magnet is adapted for immersion in the water flowing through the water system.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the magnet comprises a bar magnet.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bar magnet comprises an elongate mild steel bar having a polymer bonded rare earth magnetic disc secured at each end thereof.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the magnetic discs comprise cobalt discs.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claims 12, 13 or 14, further comprising a plurality of said bar magnets disposed in an end to end relationship.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the magnets are disposed in back to back relationship, that is with like poles facing one another.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the bar magnets are secured within a housing, which housing may be secured within the water system.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the housing comprises an elongate tube having fins extending therefrom for abutment with the internal surfaces of the water system.

19. Apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems, comprising one or more permanent magnets positioned externally to said water system such that the magnetic field created thereby passes through the water system generally at right angles to the flow of water.

20. Apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems, comprising one or more magnets located within the water system, and arranged such that the magnetic field created thereby passes through the water in the water system generally at right angles to the flow of water.

21. Apparatus for eliminating and preventing the formation of scale and for preventing corrosion in water systems substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, and Figs. 2, 3 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.