Without inhibitor
With inhibitor
Mobile test system for hot water tests
Phosphates, phosphatic and non-phosphatic silicate combinations
When potable water is rich in carbonate salts, lime tends to precipitate out when the water is heated. This is because the carbon dioxide system
CO 2 / HCO 3 - / CO 3 --
in the potable water strives to return to a state of equilibrium. The scaling that occurs in the system as a consequence of precipitation inhibits the flow of water and heat, as the diagrams show.
Calcium and magnesium, the elements responsible for water hardness in drinking water, are natural and desirable components of water. An adult needs about 800 mg of calcium and 300 mg of magnesium per day. It is also a fact that "hard" water tastes better than "soft" water, which is low on minerals. These advantages are often in conflict with the consumer’s wish for soft drinking water – a wish that is almost always based on the technical advantages of drinking water with a low lime content. Lime causes scaling that interferes with the heating systems of washing machines and the proper functioning of coffee makers, perlator sprays and water boilers.
In areas where hard to very hard drinking water is distributed, the producer of the drinking water is often confronted with consumer demand for softer water. Besides the option of central softening treatment, suitable inhibitors are also capable of preventing undesirable precipitation of hardness salts. METAKORIN has developed a mobile test system for rapidly checking suitable inhibitor combinations. This enables the effect of the inhibitor to be compared with untreated water to demonstrate the degree of effectiveness. The design of the test system largely corresponds to the one described in DVGW-Arbeitsblatt W 512. The system requires no maintenance and can be set up anywhere, provided water and wastewater connections are available. At the end of the test, the provider receives a meaningful assessment with graphic documentation.