In our role as water technology consultants for the Office of Saline Water, U. S. Department of the Interior, C. W. Rice was asked to develop chemical cleaning techniques for removing calcium sulfate anhydrite (CaSO4) scale deposits from brine heater tubes in high temperature seawater desalination service. Anhydrite scale has limited the maximum operating temperature to about 250°-275°F in distillation desalting plants, thus restricting the overall thermal efficiency possible at increased temperatures. While the control and prevention of anhydrite scaling to permit higher temperature (more efficient) plant operation is under extensive field investigation, the need continues for an effective, economical method to remove anhydrite scale formed in seawater heat exchange equipment. The results of a successful test program to develop an anhydrite descaling process is the subject of this discussion.

Subject
Acids, Water, Tubes, Chelation, Solubility, Calcium, Solvents, Descaling, Acidity, Scale, Boilers, Deposit corrosion, Cleaning
© 1971 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1971
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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