A Novel Approach to Quantify Scale Thickness and Distribution in Stirred Vessels

Abstract

A novel approach is proposed for the numerical evaluation of scale thickness and its distribution in a mixing tank. Whereas a majority of the available literature on scale buildup focuses on the application of chemical antiscalants, few works have been devoted to the prevention of scale formation through the proper design and operation of stirred vessels. The methodology proposed in the current study consists of two major phases: (1) identifying an accelerated process to grow scales on the walls of a laboratory reactor and (2) analyzing the grown scale physically. These objectives were achieved through the fabrication of a reactor that could be disassembled and the scanning of the reactor's surface using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). The proposed approach was used to study the effects of liquid flow velocity and experiment duration on the patterns of scale formed both qualitatively and quantitatively.