This paper presents an analytical model and experimental study of adhesion and fluid shear removal of calcium carbonate scale on polypropylene and copper tubes in laminar and turbulent water flows, with a view toward understanding how scale can be controlled in solar absorbers and heat exchangers. The tubes are first coated with scale and then inserted in a flow through apparatus. Removal is measured gravimetrically for Reynolds numbers from 525 to 5550, corresponding to wall shear stresses from 0.16 to 6.0 Pa. The evolutionary structure of the scale is visualized with scanning electron microscopy. Consistent with the predictive model, calcium carbonate is more easily removed from polypropylene than copper. In a laminar flow with a wall shear stress of 0.16 Pa, 65% of the scale is removed from polypropylene while only 10% is removed from copper. Appreciable removal of scale from copper requires higher shear stresses. At Reynolds number of 5500, corresponding to a wall shear stress of 6.0 Pa, 30% of the scale is removed from the copper tubes. The results indicate scale will be more easily removed from polypropylene, and by inference other polymeric materials, than copper by flushing with water.
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ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences
July 19–23, 2009
San Francisco, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4890-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Shear Induced Removal of Calcium Carbonate Scale From Polypropylene and Copper Tubes
Matt Royer,
Matt Royer
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Jane H. Davidson,
Jane H. Davidson
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Lorraine F. Francis,
Lorraine F. Francis
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Susan C. Mantell
Susan C. Mantell
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Matt Royer
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Jane H. Davidson
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Lorraine F. Francis
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Susan C. Mantell
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Paper No:
ES2009-90006, pp. 727-739; 13 pages
Published Online:
September 29, 2010
Citation
Royer, M, Davidson, JH, Francis, LF, & Mantell, SC. "Shear Induced Removal of Calcium Carbonate Scale From Polypropylene and Copper Tubes." Proceedings of the ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences. ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 2. San Francisco, California, USA. July 19–23, 2009. pp. 727-739. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2009-90006
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