Dr Denzil RodriguesTechnical Manager, Hydropath Holdings Ltd.

Electronics

Electronics

Electric current travels along whole pipe

The Hydropath signal is a decaying sine oscillation– Around 120 kHz– (2000 times faster than

mains!)

Pulse separation time varies to work in a range of situations

Extremely low power – (Less than 20W)

Electronics

Patented

How do we get a signal into the pipe?

TransformerAC current in primary circuitMagnetic field through ferriteAC current in secondary circuit

Make secondary single loop

Make loop bigger...

Electronics

Alignment of pipe

Position of pipe through unit

Topology (knot theory)

Electronics

=

=

Electronics

Electronics: Comparison with Magnetic

Magnet

Wirewrap(electromagnet)

Magnetic fields (not Electric Fields)– Very weak ( E = c B )– Depends on flow rate (no flow, no protection)– Local (point protection only)

Electronics

Signal Propagates over long distances

AC signal allows current to flow in “open circuit”

Faraday cage effect does not apply

Limescale

Limescale

Calcium and bicarbonate dissolved in waterWater becomes super-saturated when: Temperature increases or pressure decreasesIons precipitate as calcium carbonate: limescale

Ca Calcium

(HCO3)2 Bicarbonate

CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

HH22OO H2O Water

Limescale

Seed CrystalsCrystals need a start point to form (a nucleation site)Crystals prefer to form on existing crystalsNo existing crystal: crystals form all along stringExisting crystal: will grow rather than form new crystals

Prevention of scale

Dissolving existing scale

HH22OOCa + (HCO3)2 CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O

Crystals formCreates Carbon DioxideDissolves existing scale

To dissolve scale, Hydropath requires Hard Water Feed

Before After

Dissolving existing scale

Before

After eight months

Dissolving existing scale

Before – AFTER CLEANING!

After one month

Plate exchangerPlate exchanger

Flocculation

Flocculation

Filters can only remove “big” particlesParticles penetrate into filter material and cause cloggingStick particles together “flocculate”

Enhance filtrationReduce backwashing by a factor of five

Without Hydropath With Hydropath

Flocculation

Hydropath unit

Particles become charged Turbulence mixes up particles; flock formed

Pump

Filter

Filter removes

flock

Bacteria and Algae

NaNa

ClClNaNa

ClCl

ClClNaNa

HH22OO

HH22OO

Osmosis and Bacteria

Semi-permeable membrane

Semi-permeable membrane: passes water, but not salt.Water flows from dilute to concentrated region

NaNa

ClClNaNa

ClCl

ClClNaNa

HH22OO

HH22OO

HH22OO

HH22OO

NaNaClClNaNa

NaNa

ClCl

ClClHH22OO

HH22OO

NaNaClCl

HH22OO

HH22OO

NaNaClCl

HH22OO

HH22OO

NaNaClCl

HH22OO

HH22OO

NaNa

ClCl

Osmosis and Bacteria

Semi-permeable membrane

Semi-permeable membrane: passes water, but not salt.Water flows from dilute to concentrated region

Bacteria cell: semi-permeable membraneIn distilled water, water flows into bacteriaBacteria becomes “too dilute”, dies, bursts(kills even “freshwater” bacteria)

Hydropath and Bacteria

ClClNaNa

NaNa

ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

NaNa

NaNa

NaNa

ClCl

ClClNaNa

NaNa

ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

NaNa

NaNa

NaNa

ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl ClCl

ClCl

NaNa

ClCl

Consider bacteria in salt waterHydropath charges bacteria, creating a wetting layerLayer of very pure water around bacteriaOsmosis forces water into bacteriaBacteria dies

Hydropath and Bacteria

Cooling Towers

Heat increase

Pressure decrease

LimescaleFlocculationBacteria and Algae

Cooling Towers

Black = coldWhite = hotHot coffee on edge of mug

Side-stream Filtering

Side stream filter removes and returns water to same placeSome of the water has already been filtered Need to pass about 10 times the total volume through filter before all water is filtered

Summary

Electronics

Limescale

Flocculation

Bacteria and Algae