The Influence of Vibration on CaCO₃ Scale Formation in Piping System

^a Vocational Program in Mechanical Engineering, Diponegoro University
^b Department of Chemical Engineering, UNTAG University in Semarang, Semarang Indonesia
^c Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Diponegoro University, Semarang Indonesia

E-mail : rhombo_hedral@yahoo.co.id

Abstract

Carbonate scale is a common problem found in a piping system of industrial process. The presence of mechanical equipment such as turbine, compressor, blower, mixer and extruder produce a mechanical vibration on the piping system which is placed near these equipments. The influence of vibration on the CaCO₃ scale formation in the piping system was experimentally investigated in the present study. The aim of the research was to understand the effect of vibration on the kinetics, deposition rates and the crystals formation in the synthetic solution. The solution was prepared using CaCl₂ and Na₂CO₃ for concentration of calcium of 3.500 ppm, while the induction time, deposition rate, crystal growth were investigated at temperature of 25°C. In generating the vibration force, the mechanical equipment consisting of electrical motor, crankshaft, connecting rod and a vibration table were employed, including four coupons inside the pipe for investigating the scale formed. Frequency of the vibration was set at 0.00, 1.00 Hz and 2.00 Hz, respectively. A dosing pump with two inlets and two outlets was used to circulate the solutions at flowrate of 30 ml/min from each vessel to the coupons. After running for three hours, the induction time was recorded at 17; 10 and 8 minute with vibration frequency of 0.00; 1.00 and 2.00 Hz, respectively. The scale formed was then characterized using SEM/EDX for crystal morphology and elemental analysis. The results show that the deposition rates were 0.9457 and 3.3441 gram/h for the frequency of 1.00 and 2.00 Hz. The carbonate crystals found in coupon and filter were vaterite.