LIMESCALE PREVENTION
MARC FLETTNER OUTLINES HOW AQUABION’S S20 AND S15 WATER CONDITIONERS USE SACRIFICIAL ZINC ANODES TO EFFICIENTLY REMOVE LIMESCALE WHILE MAINTAINING DRINKABLE WATER… Preventing limescale buildup in hot-water systems
Aquabion’s S20 and S15 water conditioners use sacrificial zinc anodes that can be plumbed directly into an incoming water supply to remove limescale while maintaining drinkable water.
A hard, chalky substance that builds up in water systems and appliances due to the presence of calcium carbonate deposits in the water supply, limescale is estimated to waste £3bn a year in energy efficiency and premature equipment breakdown in the UK alone. The build-up of limescale has a number of consequences for hot- water systems:
gas storage water heaters, causing them to fail prematurely.
The zinc initially reacts with carbon dioxide to form zinc carbonate, or smithsonite crystals, but as the zinc dissolves it leaves soft needle-like crystals of aragonite, a different form of calcium carbonate to the hard blocks of calcite associated with stubborn limescale. The minerals in the water therefore remain in suspension, rather than sticking onto the surfaces, which means they can be flushed through the system with the water. The anode works both to break down existing limescale encrustations (in certain conditions) and to prevent further deposits. The advantages of using zinc anodes are that the water is drinkable and, once installed, they need no further maintenance until the anode needs replacing. Moreover, because the water is not softened, zinc-anode systems offer protection from corrosion as the zinc carbonate also forms a thin protective layer on the surfaces of the system. For more information, contact: T: +353 (0)1 457 9030 E: paul@plumbit.ie - E: derek@plumbit.ie E: reception@plumbit.ie www.aquabion.com
SOLUTIONS TO LIMESCALE BUILD-UP Products are available to soften hard water, reducing energy costs and preventing component failure. However,
it is important to consider the cost and time involved in these processes, as well as potential side-effects. Using a process known as ion exchange, sodium carbonate can be flushed through the system with the water. One disadvantage of water softeners is that it is not
“The advantages of using zinc anodes are that the water is drinkable and, once installed, they need no further maintenance until the anode needs replacing.”
• It can affect the function of system components, such as pumps, drain valves and spray nozzles, affecting the maintenance and safety performance of the system. • It can reduce the rate of water flow through pipes, requiring replacement of pipes to maintain flow. • It acts as an insulator,
recommended to drink the water. Weekly maintenance can also be time-consuming. One alternative to a water softener is a product based on a sacrificial zinc anode, commonly used on the hulls of ships and pipelines to prevent corrosion. In domestic and industrial water systems, the zinc anode releases zinc ions into the water, which influences the way the calcium carbonate crystallises.
slowing the transfer of heat from the heating element to the water, reducing energy efficiency as it will take longer to heat the water. • Sediment can build up on the bottom of heated water tanks, which can overheat the element in electric storage water heaters and the tank material in
98 | PLUMBING & HEATING MAGAZINE
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