The ScaleSafe Product

ScaleSafe is a unique product blended to exhibit superior limescale (calcium carbonate) prevention and corrosion control. It is superior in the prevention of scale deposits caused by hard water minerals.  ScaleSafe utilizes the same principles of preventing scale build-up and corrosion control as polyphosphates. However, this is accomplished without any of the problems which often plague the use of common polyphosphates.

POLYPHOSPHATES & SCALESAFE

Polyphosphates have long been used as an alternative form of hard water treatment. Polyphosphate is a soluble mineral compound which acts as a sequestering agent when added to water. Sequestering is simply the ability or tendency to tie up and hold in solution other minerals such as scale causing calcium and magnesium. The polyphosphates form bonds with scale causing minerals which make them more water soluble. Therefore, the hard minerals act soft and remain in solution, as opposed to depositing scale. Polyphosphates also change the morphology (shape) of the scale causing molecules from a cube-like form to a round-like form which does not allow it to cling and prevents it building up on itself.

The quality of the polyphosphate will determine the ability for it to hold scale causing minerals in solution. Higher quality phosphates such as hexametphosphate and Siliphos perform better than orthophosphate which is a lower form of polyphosphate. The higher forms will alter the shape of the scale causing molecules more than orthophosphate will, thus providing better scale prevention. Also as important polyphosphates, when added to water, will form a protective thin glass-like lining on the inner walls of pipes water fed equipment. This protects the pipes or water fed equipment from corrosion due to low pH, high temperature, or dissolved gases in water.

Glassy Phosphates - Glassy Phosphates are generally used in the description of crystal products such as the hexametaphosphate crystal and while they may exhibit some effectiveness at low temperatures in water conditions that are not too extreme in either iron or manganese, they fail miserably when temperatures exceed 90°F. This was first noted in the 1945 patent filed by Charles S. King describing the crystal. He states that the crystals totally revert when temperatures exceed 90° F which explains the poor results that are obtained in using these products in hot water fed equipment. These crystals have received a bad reputation for not being effective in hot water, which is not surprising since they were not developed to be used in those applications.

Siliphos - While a fine product there are some drawbacks to using Siliphos in certain applications. In hot water applications there is a problem when water is heated over 90°F as the reversion is almost total and instantaneous except for the gray silica residue that does not dissolve. This silica, which is used as a caking agent for the phosphate, forms a residue depositing itself in coffee equipment, boilers, steam generators and other hot water reservoirs. Since this silica is inactive and does not dissolve completely into solution, it forms a gray sludge that must be dealt with.

Method of Dispensing - The ways that polyphosphates are added into the water supply will vary according to the type of polyphosphate used. Hexametphosphate crystals and Siliphos balls are usually added into prefilter housing sumps and are dissolved as water comes in contact. The main problem with this type of introduction is the lack of consistent feed rates. It is also difficult to predict the dissolution rates and the amount of polyphosphate present in the water stream at any given time. Siliphos addresses this concern by combining polyphosphate with silica (used as a caking agent) to control the dissolution rate. However, since silica is not completely soluble in water, a sludge will tend to form of undissolved silica which causes problems in certain water fed equipment.

A consistent feed rate is not easily obtained with either of these products. The rate of dissolution is inconsistent due to exposed surface area changes as the product is used. But of more concern is the device (housing) used to introduce the product into the water stream as few of them meter the product, which causes the feed rate to vary greatly depending upon the concentration of the solution in the housing. Rates can vary from very high (dumping), after periods of inactivity (water standing in housing), to very low during a prolonged constant flow. The end result is an inconsistent feed rate, which makes it all but impossible to accurately calculate the volume of water treated or at what feed concentration. Phosphate treatment found in liquid form is more accurately fed using chemical feed pumps. Unfortunately, these feed pumps need to be set correctly and need electricity to operate.

DRAW BACKS TO STANDARD POLYPHOSPHATE USE

• Standard Polyphosphates are ineffective in hot water applications.
• No accurate feed rates unless electric feed pump is used.
• Dumping when water sits overnight.

ScaleSafe is not temperature sensitive. It is used in high-temp applications such as boilers or steam generators. Remember, ScaleSafe is not just polyphosphate, it is a proprietary blend of different raw ingredients each of which was chosen because of their unique ability to compliment the other in the treatment of a wide range of water conditions- especially high water temperature applications.

ScaleSafe's ability not only to control scale but also control the corrosion that accompanies high temperature applications has made it the choice of many maintenance supervisors.

Because of the unique combination of product and specially designed dispensers we can accurately calculate volume of water treated. Our MDH (Media Delivery Head) and method of caking ScaleSafe, plus utilizing a predetermined surface area exposed to the water allows us to give consistent feed rates over predicted water volumes throughout the life of the cartridge.

ScaleSafe systems require no electricity, maintenance, or guess work. A simple glance at the clear or translucent housing lets one know when the ScaleSafe needs replacement. It is for these reasons that we can say with confidence ScaleSafe is "THE PROVEN SOLUTION".