Calcium Carbonate Scale Formation During Subcooled Flow Boiling

Abstract

Scale deposition on the heat transfer surfaces from water containing dissolved salts considerably reduces fuel economy and performance of the heat transfer equipment. In general, this problem is more serious during nucleate boiling due to the mechanisms of bubble formation and detachment. In this study, a large number of experiments were performed to determine the effect of fluid velocity, initial surface temperature, and bulk concentration on the rate of calcium carbonate deposition on heat transfer surfaces during subcooled flow boiling. A physically sound prediction model for the deposition process under these operating conditions has been developed which predicts the experimental data with good accuracy. Two previously published models are also discussed and used to predict the experimental data.