This paper presents an analytical model and an 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 Pa 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 from copper by flushing with water.
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February 2010
Research Papers
Shear Induced Removal of Calcium Carbonate Scale From Polypropylene and Copper Tubes
Matt Royer,
Matt Royer
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Jane H. Davidson,
Jane H. Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Lorraine F. Francis,
Lorraine F. Francis
Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Susan C. Mantell
Susan C. Mantell
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Matt Royer
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Jane H. Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Lorraine F. Francis
Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Susan C. Mantell
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota
, Minneapolis, MN 55455J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2010, 132(1): 011013 (9 pages)
Published Online: January 4, 2010
Article history
Received:
August 9, 2009
Revised:
September 16, 2009
Published:
January 4, 2010
Citation
Royer, M., Davidson, J. H., Francis, L. F., and Mantell, S. C. (January 4, 2010). "Shear Induced Removal of Calcium Carbonate Scale From Polypropylene and Copper Tubes." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2010; 132(1): 011013. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000573
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