Investigatio of Silica Fouling and Its Prevention by Magnetic Devices: REU Supplement

这项拟议研究的第一个领域涉及以下基本问题： 二氧化硅结垢。 它包括化学动力学的研究， 二氧化硅污垢，瞬时局部和整体污垢的测量 热交换器表面的热阻和分析 模拟盐水的溶解度和硅垢， 多组分溶解盐。 另一个主要的研究课题 涉及通过磁性方法防止二氧化硅结垢。 磁 对二氧化硅结垢的影响将通过一系列 替代手段。 它们包括光学透射率，溶解度， 聚合，热交换器表面上形成二氧化硅垢， 直接测量盐水中的原位剩余磁化强度，所有 旨在揭示磁防磁的基本机理和有效性， 规模设备。 二氧化硅在自然界中是一种丰富的物质， 在地下地热水库中。 当地下水 在地热发电系统中，溶解的二氧化硅将 沉淀出来并存款在热交换器表面上， 隔热污垢层，降低整体热量 换热器效率与严格的经济和技术 后果 本研究旨在研究在什么情况下， 二氧化硅结垢会发生的条件以及为什么会发生。 另 目的是研究二氧化硅污垢的有效性 通过防垢磁场装置防止。 的成功 拟议的研究将大大提高热效率 涉及地下水的交换器，并将加快更大的 在世界范围内利用地热能发电。

The first area of this proposed research addresses the fundamentals of silica fouling. It includes research on the chemical kinetics of silica fouling, the measurement of transient local and overall fouling thermal resistance on a heat exchanger surface and the analytical modeling of the solubility and silica fouling of brines containing multi-component dissolved salts. The other major subject of research pertains to silica fouling prevention by magnetic means. Magnetic effects on silica fouling will be investigated by an array of alternative means. They include optical transmission, solubility, polymerization, silica scale formation on heat exchanger surface and direct measurement of in-situ residual magnetization in brines, all aiming to reveal basic mechanism and effectiveness of magnetic anti- scale devices. Silica is an abundant material in nature and exists in large amounts in underground geothermal reservoirs. When the underground water is utilized, as in geothermal power systems, the dissolved silica will precipitate out and deposit on heat exchanger surfaces, forming a thermal insulating fouling layer and reducing the overall heat exchanger efficiency with severe economical and technical consequences. The present research aims to study under what conditions silica fouling will occur and why it does occur. The other objective is to investigate the effectiveness of silica fouling prevention by anti-scale magnetic field devices. The success of the proposed research will greatly improve the efficiency of heat exchangers involving underground water and will expedite a greater utilization worldwide of geothermal energy for power generation.