Investigation of the effects of electromagnetic field treatment of hot spring water for scale inhibition using a fibre optic sensor

Abstract

Treatment with an electromagnetic field, one of the potential techniques to inhibit scale deposition from water, has the advantage of not requiring the addition of any chemicals. Field tests using a fibre optic sensor were conducted to evaluate the effect that the treatment of hot spring water in Matsushiro, Japan with an electromagnetic field had on calcium carbonate scale formation. The optical response to scale deposition recorded by the fibre optic sensor decreased as a consequence of the application of an electromagnetic field, and the effectiveness of scale formation inhibition depended on the frequency of the electromagnetic field. This evidence was compared with results from changes in scale mass measured using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method. Mass increases of the scale formed on the quartz crystal surface in hot spring water were inhibited by electromagnetic field treatment. These results were verified performing a column flow test, whereby the flow rate of hot spring water through a column was measured.

Effect of Sweep Frequency Electromagnetic Field on CaCO₃ Scale Formation in Industrial Circulating Water

“…EMF has proved its anti-scaling effectiveness through numerous applications and publications, indicating that EMF is an indispensable technique to control scale [8]. It was proposed that the EMF can accelerate the precipitation of mineral salts in bulk solution and significantly reduce scale formation on pipes, heat exchangers and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems [9][10][11][12]. Efforts to further clarify the function mechanism of EMF are still ongoing for the enrichment of the associated scientific theory and the optimization of industrial applications.…”

“…However, up to date, it has not been fully scientifically demonstrated how the frequency of EMF influences the anti-scaling process. Okazaki et al [9] investigated the electromagnetic field treatment of hot spring water for scale inhibition and found that scale formation was inhibited when the frequencies of the applied electromagnetic field had value of 8 kHz, however, enhanced scale formation was found for frequencies of 4 and 6 kHz. Carnahan et al [13] studied the effects of EMF frequency on salt and water transport in commercial and lab-scale RO membranes.…”

Study on the Flow State of Circulating Cooling Water for the Industrial Heat Exchange Tube in the Electromagnetic Anti-Fouling Process

“…The parameters of solution such as conductivity, pH value, zeta potential of colloidal particles, and surface tension will change with the change of electromagnetic fields, and eventually will directly affect the formation and growth process of fouling . The variable frequency electromagnetic water treatment method acts on different water bodies, and the treatment effect is also different due to different electromagnetic frequencies; therefore, there are still many problems to be studied in this field. , Magnetic field lines can indeed be perpendicular to the water flow direction. Based on the variation of water quality parameters (conductivity, pH value, dissolved oxygen, turbidity) under the influence of the frequency conversion electromagnetic field, the relationship between conductivity, pH value, and magnetic acting time was analyzed by using the correlative degree analysis, balanced adjacent degree method .…”

Low-coherence photonic method of electrochemical processes monitoring

“…Further, analysis of signals in the spectral domain, such methods are largely insensitive to changes in optical transmission (signal intensity fluctuations) occurring in the measurement path. Owing to these and many other advantages, fiber-optic sensors are widely used in science and industry, including biological, chemical and environmental applications 17 – 22 . One of the methods that benefit from fiber-optic implementation is low-coherence interferometry.…”