Corrosion protection and scale prevention for drinking water
Naturally occurring water sometimes has such an ideal composition that neither corrosion (in the pipes, but especially in the boiler) nor hardness deposits occur in the drinking water system – unfortunately, this is rather the exception.
Therefore, if limescale or rust forms in the water system, something must be done about it, as corroded drinking water systems can only be repaired with great effort.
For this purpose, it is state of the art to add special corrosion inhibitors or hardness stabilizers to the drinking water.
Chemicals in drinking water? Isn’t that harmful or unhealthy? Is that even allowed?
These are probably always the first questions that arise when drinking water dosing is discussed. However, the legislator has taken precautions here: only those dosing agents are permitted that are specifically listed in the relevant standards and laws (e.g., the Austrian Food Code, the Drinking Water Ordinance 2001 as amended, ÖVGW and DVGW guidelines).
These are basically various phosphates and silicates as well as alkalis for pH correction; all these substances occur naturally and are also used in other foods.
Some natural waters (e.g. from bedrock areas) have such a high proportion of silicates that they even act as natural corrosion inhibitors.
The pH value, which indicates whether the water is acidic, neutral or alkaline, is often already within the ideal range for natural waters and therefore does not need to be corrected.
Phosphates are natural substances that are essential for bone formation. They are also added to many foods to improve their appearance and shelf life. For example, ham, bologna, and fish fingers contain phosphates in concentrations far higher than those that can be absorbed through phosphate-enriched water.
When dosed correctly and using food-grade raw materials, treating drinking water with corrosion inhibitors is completely harmless and has been successfully used worldwide for many decades.
Our dosing agents naturally meet the high requirements of the legislator – corresponding expert reports are available and can be viewed upon request.
Essentially, two problems can occur in the drinking water sector:
1. Formation of waterstone:
Especially at higher hot water temperatures and water hardness, limescale (= calcium carbonate = lime) forms very quickly, which clogs the pipes and impairs the heat transfer at the heating elements in the boiler area or in the heat exchangers.
To prevent the formation of such limescale deposits, the dosage of special polyphosphates is very effective: Their effect is maintained up to hot water temperatures of 80°C and water hardness of approximately 14°dH, delaying limescale formation for many hours. For harder water, a water softener with integrated corrosion inhibitor dosing should definitely be used.
Our products for hardness stabilization:
2. Corrosions:
These are usually caused by corrosive components in the water – these can include, for example: excess carbonic acid (and the associated low pH value < 7.0), increased levels of chlorides, nitrates and sulfates, extremely low water hardness (below 3°dH).
Drinking water that is initially treated to combat limescale due to its hardness, and which was not aggressive at the beginning, can become aggressive through softening – because the reduction in total hardness releases some of the associated carbonic acid, which then acts as a corrosive agent.
Corrosion can be reduced by adding alkalis (raising the pH value), as well as by adding phosphates and silicates.
The combination of phosphates and silicates (simultaneous application) has proven particularly effective in practice. Especially with prolonged application, it leads to highly effective protective layers that completely halt corrosion.
Our products for corrosion protection are covered by the IMPHOS product line.
A brief word on magnetic and electrical water treatment.
This term encompasses all water treatment systems that aim to prevent limescale buildup or combat corrosion using only magnetic or electrical effects, without chemical additives. Such systems have been known for more than 70 years, but to our knowledge, proof of their effectiveness has yet to be provided.
One can only be absolutely certain that no scale formation (limescale) occurs in a water-bearing system if the hardness-causing substances in the water are actually removed (softening or desalination).
Dr. Ing. Franz Böhm – Your specialist for the treatment and purification of drinking water
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With over 70 years of experience, we offer customized solutions for all water treatment needs, from heating and steam boiler systems to drinking water systems.
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