The influence of the magnetic field on the crystallisation form of calciumcarbonate and the testing of a magnetic water-treatment device

By using X-ray analysis and a TEM equipped with a link AN-10000 EDXS analys ing system and an ultra-thin-window Si(Li) detector, different crystal form s of CaCO3 crystals were characterised. These crystals were grown from tap water and model water both with and without a magnetic field. Separate arag onite crystals were formed in the treated water and clusters of calcite in the untreated water. We observed that under the influence of a magnetic fie ld higher than 500 mT, the nucleation and subsequent growth of aragonite co uld be successfully used as a way of preventing scale. The prototype of a m agnetic water-treatment device (MWTD) was constructed for testing in a pilo t plant that treats tap water. It has been in use for more than 2 years and the results look very promising for reducing the need for chemically treat ed water. The weight gains of the heat exchangers, which were used in the t hree parallel pipelines equipped with three different devices against scali ng, were followed. The MWTD designed and built in the US laboratory, showed only a slightly higher weight gain than that achieved with the use of chem icals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.