Abstract for presentation at Chemeca 2005

Effects of Temperature on the Scaling of Calcium Sulphate in Pipes

  • Mr Tung Hoang, Department of Chemical Engineering and A.J. Parker CRC for Hydrometallurgy , Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U 1987, Pe, Australia
  • Dr Ha-Ming Ang, Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U 1987, Perth 6845, WA, Australia., Australia
  • Dr Andrew Rohl, Interactive Virtual Environments Centre (IVEC), Technology Park, Kensington WA 6151, Australia., Australia

    • Calcium sulphate scaling is a serious problem encountered in many industrial and domestic applications. Supersaturation has been proven to be the major driving force of scale formation, but the solubility of calcium sulphate changes dramatically with temperature. The latter, therefore, is an important factor in the fouling process. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of temperature on the formation of calcium sulphate scales in pipes, using a pipe flow system. Various levels of supersaturation of the calcium sulphate solution have been employed at different temperatures. Results show that higher temperature produces a large increase in the mass of scale and a significant decrease of induction times. The system becomes more complex at high temperatures as different forms of hydrated calcium sulphate may be created at high temperature. The relationship between deposited scale mass and temperature is deduced from experimental data as well as the relation between induction time and temperature.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd