Physical Conditioner

When water is subjected to temperature change (delta T), pressure change (delta P), friction and turbulence, dissolved minerals, primarily calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), will precipitate out of solution and deposit on heat transfer surfaces of plumbing systems and equipment in the form of a rock-like buildup, commonly called lime/scale. At the molecular level, the negatively and positively charged ions of these minerals are attracted to and bond tightly together with one another, thus forming the lime/scale deposit known as calcite. These minerals deposits act as a great insulator and require more energy to heat or cool water in many different types of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial applications.

As water passes through the Superior Water Conditioner’s® treatment chamber, it is subjected to a series of reversing-polarity, permanent magnetic fields, which interrupts the natural scale forming characteristics of CaCO3 and MgCO3 by temporarily altering their ionic charge identity. Instead of being attracted to one another, the molecules are caused to act like ions of similar charges and repel one another as they precipitate out of solution. This leaves the molecules in a physical state of suspension known as aragonite (an amorphous mud-like or powdery form), which will flow through a plumbing system or drop to a low area within equipment so that it can easily be blown down or bled off. Aragonite can also be removed by other physical means such as centrifugal separation and filtration equipment. Since chemicals are unnecessary in this type of treatment, the purity of the water is not affected in any way, and it can be safely and legally discharged to a sanitary sewer or even to the environment, where allowed.

The presence of aragonite in the water provides an additional benefit in terms of corrosion protection. A thin film of the soft aragonite will adhere to all wetted surfaces of the plumbing system and equipment, keeping free oxygen and other corrosive properties in the water from reaching and attacking the metallic components, thus preventing corrosion. A recent research project (RP-1155), sponsored by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers) clearly demonstrates the benefits and efficiency of physical water treatment in controlling calcium scale accumulations in circulating open loop cooling water systems, and showed an 8% reduction in the surface tension when using physical water treatment. The report also concluded that best results were obtained when permanent, alternating (reversing polarity) magnetic fields were used in the circulating line of the cooling tower and that mineral fouling can be substantially reduced in heat transfer equipment (chiller/condenser) applications with significant energy and water savings.

Advantages

There are four major concerns for all users of water with the purpose of thermal transfer:_ COST EFFECTIVE WATER TREATMENT_ ENERGY SAVINGS_ WATER CONSERVATION_ POLLUTION PREVENTIONThe Superior Water Conditioner® meets all four criteria for effective water treatment through control of lime/scale for thermal transferefficiency. The effect of thermal transfer efficiency on energy costs is well documented and represented by the chart below. (data from the University of Illinois and NIST) The Battelle Report titled "Non-Chemical Technologies for Scale and Hardness Control," sponsored by the Department of Energy and published in 1998, confirms that the elimination of chemicals is only part of the savings realized by the non-chemical process. An estimated calculation indicates a payback of less than one year and an adjusted internal rate return greater than 50%. Non-chemical water treatment technologies were judged life-cycle cost-effective (at one or more Federal sites) in terms of installation cost, net present value, and energy savings.

Non-chemical water treatment can reduce possible costs associated with chemical water treatment:

Transportation, storage, installation, and disposal of 55 gallon drums_ Maintenance and energy for chemical feed pumps_ Maintenance for conductivity meter and solenoid valve_ Water Testing materials and labor_ Heat transfer loss due to scale_ Corrosion of equipment_ Acidizing_ Labor for reporting (new laws requiring monthly reports on hazardous materials stored, used and disposed of)_ Bleeding water to control TDS Using magnetic water treatment reduces pollution, health risks, and equipment damage by eliminating the need for acidizing steam boilers and chillers to remove excessive scale that can remain despite chemical treatment. Blow down of the boilers and bleed-off for cooling towers can be reduced considerably after installing a properly sized and designed magnetic water conditioner. However, it may be helpful to maintain the same blow down as before until all the scale is removed if the boiler or chiller is badly scaled at the time of installation. An interesting article appeared in March 1999 in the Maintenance technology magazine. It points out, in very broad terms, how chemical water treatment salespeople simply skirt the issue of price by avoiding it. A strong point is made about how much a customer "may be paying for 'unpriced services' such as testing, lab services, on-site monitoring, analytical equipment, reagents, supplies, and so forth." We encourageyou to read this short article.

TYPICAL PRODUCT PAYBACK:

Superior Water Conditioners’â numerous benefits and absence of ill side effects merit consideration of these products. The Superior Water Conditioner® system has proven time and time again that it will pay for itself by the elimination of chemical costs alone. Payback is accelerated when all of the aforementioned costs are factored into the analysis!*This payback varies considerably due to the quality of the water, once-through or returned-as-condensate recirculating systems, as well as the effectiveness and cost of the previous chemical treatment. **Depends on months of year used.Less tangible advantages of Superior Water treatment technology include:_ True pollution prevention (up front -- not at the end of the pipe)_ Reduction of injury and cost -- (no hazardous chemicals or waste)_ Better corrosion control -- (outperforms other corrosion inhibitors)The Superior Water Conditioner® technology will help industry meet the environmental requirements of EPA, DNR, DOE and other state and federal regulatory agencies.