Scale formation and fouling problems effect on the performance of MSF and RO desalination plants in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Most people working in water desalination recognize that scale formation and fouling problems are facts of their practical life. Seawater and brackish water always have the tendency for scale formation and fouling problems due to dissolved salts and finely suspended solids. Elaborate models are available to simulate these scale and fouling problems to help the design engineer to predict the effects of such problems on the performance of the desalination plants. From the practical point of view, main types of scales in MSF plants are CaCO3, Mg(OH)2 and CaSO4 while in the RO plants biofouling of the membranes is a major problem. The present paper investigates the various models and mechanisms of scale formation and biofouling processes in water desalination plants and discusses proper pretreatment methods and scale control techniques to minimize the drastic effects on the performance of desalination plants in Saudia Arabia. The interaction between scale formation, biofouling and corrosion problems in both MSF and RO desalination plants are discussed and recommendations are given for both design engineers and operators for overcoming such scale and fouling problems in desalination plants.

[1]  K. G. Cooper,et al.  A model for the fouling of M.S.F. plants based on data from operating units , 1983 .

[2]  AhmedM. Al Mudaiheem,et al.  Construction and commissioning of al jobail phase II desalination plant , 1985 .

[3]  B. Yates,et al.  A sub layer model for the deposition of particles from a turbulent flow , 1975 .

[4]  Norman Epstein,et al.  Thinking about Heat Transfer Fouling: A 5 × 5 Matrix , 1983 .

[5]  H.E.GovernorAbdullahM. Al-Golaikah.  Desalination by the saline water conversion corporation of Saudi Arabia , 1984 .

[6]  E. Partridge,et al.  THRESHOLD TREATMENT Elimination of Calcium Carbonate Deposits from Indutrials waters , 1939 .

[7]  Norman Epstein.  FOULING IN HEAT EXCHANGERS , 1978 .

[8]  N. M. Wade.  A review of scale control methods , 1979 .

[9]  R. Reitemeier,et al.  The Inhibiting Action of Minute Amounts of Sodium Hexametaphosphate on the Precipitation of Calcium Carbonate from Ammoniacal Solutions. I. Quantitative Studies of the Inhibition Process. , 1940 .

[10]  D. L. Moen,et al.  Thermal Performance of 10 X 5.2 MIGD MSF plants, Al Jobail Phase II , 1985 .

[11]  Daud S. Khumayyis,et al.  Construction and commissioning of 6 × 23,000 T/D MSF plant, Al Jobail phase 1 , 1983 .

[12]  Abdullah Al-Hamdan,et al.  Performance evaluation of SWCC SWRO plants , 1989 .

[13]  N. Nada,et al.  Economical evaluation of Alkhobar Phase two 50 MIGPD at three different mode of operations , 1985 .

[14]  Owen Rice,et al.  SURFACE-ACTIVE PROPERTIES OF HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE , 1939 .

[15]  Y. I. El-Akeel,et al.  Mineralogy of scales in the brine heater tubes , 1977 .