Magnetic Water Treatment For Heating, Refrigeration, And Air ...
MAGNETIC WATER TREATMENT FOR HEATING, REFRIGERATION, AND AIR
CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
C., Jack Quinn, P.E., Member ASHRAE Chairman, Manufacturing Technology
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana
INDEPENDENT STUDIES
The UNITED STATES TESTING COMPANY, INC., performed a test to determine the
effectiveness of magnetic water treatment in preventing boiler scale build-up. Upon subjection of
the residual salts from both the treated and non-treated samples to x-ray distraction examination,
a distinctive difference in the crystalline structure of the deposited residues was noted. The two
samples were found to have the same chemical constituents but the x-ray distraction analysis
indicates that the dominant crystal species in the untreated sample is calcium sulfate and calcium
silicate, while in the treated sample the dominate species is a calcium carbonate and calcium
sulfate (non corrosive elements). The samples are therefore physically different.
United States Testing Center Inc. Schmutzer, M.A., and Hull, G.W., "Examination to Determine
the Physical or Chemical Differences Between Untreated and Magnetically Treated Water".
Hoboken, 1969.
The Advance Research Agency of the Department of Defense sponsored research in magnetic
treatment of water reporting that the fact generally agreed upon is that a magnetic field reduces
the kinetics of crystallization processes and the freedom of movement of charged particles. This
limitation of the motion of particles in the field results in an increase in the number of collisions
and the formation of crystallization centers. Magnetic treatment is effective if the liquid is passed
through the flux of a magnet having a sufficiently field and magnetic gradient, providing that the
temperature of the liquid is not to high.
Advanced Research Agency of the Department of Defense, Hibben, Stuart G., "Magnetic
Treatment of Water" 1973.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA tested magnetically treated water
against chemically treated water for corrosion rates of steel corrosion coupons placed in the two
water systems. Reported results were excellent with corrosion rates of 1 to 50 mils per year using
chemical inhibitors, with four mils per year considered to be acceptable, while corrosion rates of
0.0 mils per year were recorded for the magnetic treatment.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA. Kuivinen, David E., "Comparing
Corrosion Rates of Steel Corrosion Inhibitors". Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, 1975.
From 'The Institute of Mineral Fuels of the USSR Academy of Sciences", Dr. V.I. Klassen
reports that no one argues about the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of water. In the Soviet
Union the use of magnetic treatment of water is used extensively and with tremendous economic
effect. These practitioners are making extensive use of magnetic treatment but are in serious
need of scientific assistance. Marked reduction of scale formation in steam boilers has been
verified in practice and confirmed in laboratories but the theory which explains the nature of the
processes is not clearly understood.
Anon, Tekhnika Molodeshi, Vol. 10 pg. 22, 1972
Fedotkin, L.M., Engergetika I Electrifikatsia, Vol. 5, pg. 42
. . . in addition, magnetic treatment does not change the processes in the setting of cement, but
stimulates and intensifies these processes quantively (specifically the initial steps of the
crystallization process and the character of nucleation). For example a magnetic field produces
larger numbers of crystals, shortens the induction period of crystallization and increases the
number of crystals per unit volume of cement suspension.
Grashko, I.M., Belova, L.A., and Lishanskii, B.A., 'operations of the Magnetic Treatment of
Water Used for the Mixing of Cement Concentrates", Izv. Vyyssh. Uchebn. Zavedi Stroit Arkhit,
No. 3 pgs. 87-88, 1982.
LTIazovskiyi, V.A. and Ananliua, 'S.A., "Electrochemical Studies of Cement Suspensions in
:.Magnetically Treated Water", Unobtainable Russian Journal Article.
COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS:
"Several thousand magnetic water conditioners are now rendering great service in buildings of
all sizes, form private homes to hospitals, schools, military buildings, etc. These units will
protect the whole circuit of cold and hot water as well as sanitary installations against scale
formation and corrosion when placed where the water main enters the premises. It is remarkable
to note that algae, such as normally grow on coolers in the open air and in swimming pools, die
rapidly under the effects of the magnetic treatment.'
Vermelren, T., Corrosion Technology (Belgium), July 1958, pg. 215-219. Belgian patents
#460560 (1945) AND #560199 (1960).
"No one argues whether magnetic treatment is effective or not; in the Soviet Union the magnetic
treatment of water is used extensively and with tremendous economic effect."
Klassen, V.I., Ph.D. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Institute of Mineral Fuels, Academy of
Sciences, USSR, Khimiya I Zhizn' (USSR), September, 11969, pg. 24-27 (Translated by The
Clearing House for Federal Scientific & Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, USA).
"The magnetic water treatment phenomenon has been scientifically investigated extremely
thoroughly throughout the world, and has been known for many years ... in nearly every case, in
Great Britain, where magnetic treatment devices have been fitted, the results have been as
favorable as in Europe."
Diamant, R.M.E., M.Sc., Hospital Engineering (Great Britain), October, 1970, pg. 231-232.
"It may sound rather surprising that water can be purified by magnetic treatment but the fact is
unquestionable. The answer as to why a magnetic field affects the properties of waste has not yet
been found; it can only be expected when further research has elucidated the properties of the
water molecule."
Belova, V., Ph.D., Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry,
Academy of Sciences, USSR, Soviet Science Review (USSR), May 1972, pg. 150-156.
'Based upon analyses of existing technical literature on the magnetic treatment of water and its
ability to alter water properties, there are many basic areas where the utilization of this method
has great practical merit, such as elimination of scale; control of encrustation; reduction of salt
deposits; intensification of coagulation and crystallization; improving bactericidal function of
disinfectants; acceleration of reagent diffusion; increasing the efficiency of ion-exchange resin;
removal of fine particles in the purification or recycling of waste water; extraction of valuable
metals from; acceleration of the solidification of cements, increasing the density and strength of
casting molds, etc."
Stevovich, V.A., Liebhold, K., Hibben, S.G., Air Force Office of Scientific Research,
Advanced Research Projects Agency of the united States Department of Defense,
Arlington, Virginia, USA. (Unclassified, 30 JAN 73, Project Code #627OlE3FIO.)
MORE COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS:
"It was concluded that the magnetic unit used in these tests was very effective in controlling
scale and corrosion in water systems, in such diverse applications as a large air conditioner
condenser, syrup evaporators in a sugar mill, cooling exchangers in a large chemical processing
plant in a boiler and a steam generator. Significant savings in time, cost and equipment were
effected in all cases."
Raisen, E., Ph.D., The Control of Scale and Corrosion in Water Systems Using Magnetic Fields.
Paper #117, CORROSION'84.
Magnetic Water Treatment - Quinn
REFERENCES
"A study of the influence of magnetics on corrosion control showed that magnetic treatment
inhibits the rate of corrosion . . ."
Reimers, R.S., de Kernior, P.S., Culpepper, V.C.. Tulane University.
'This work has shown that voltages and currents reproduced when conducting solutions are made
to flow through a magnetic treatment device in which the magnetic field is orthogonal to the
fluid flow. Although many earlier papers dealing with Magnetic Water Treatment Devices have
discussed the theory of magnetohydrodynamic voltage generation, none has ever demonstrated
that this voltage could be measured and none has considered what the consequences of the
induced voltage and concomitant current might be for scale control."
Bush, K.W., Busch, M.A., Parker, D.H., Darling, R.E., McAtee, J.L., Jr., Laboratory Studies
Involving Magnetic Water Treatment Devices. Paper #251, CORROSION'85.
'Despite adverse evaluation by some water technology experts and inconsistent performance in
field tests, a variety of magnetic water treatment devices (MTDS) employing permanent magnets
continues to be promoted for the prevention of scale and other de-posits in water-using systems .
. . The studies reported here by the Baylor Water Research Group are unique. For the first time,
researchers in an American laboratory have been able to conclusively demonstrate that
something fundamental does in fact happen when water is circulated, to just through a magnetic
field, but through an actual magnetic water treatment device ... In summary, the potential
benefits which could be derived from a non-chemical method of water conditioning of this type
include reduced energy requirements, water conservation, reduction or elimination of chemical
feed and control requirements, and reduced pollution."
Evaluation of the Magnetic Water Treatment
American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., API Publication 960, September, 1985.
1. Atkin W., Physical Chemistry, Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 1978, p. 761.
2. Schmutzer, M. A., and Hull, G. W., "Examination to Determine the Physical or Chemical
Differences Between Untreated and Magnetically Treated Water," United States Testing Center,
Inc., Hoboken, 1969.
3. Hibben, Stuart G., "Magnetic Treatment of Water,' Advanced Research Projects Agency of the
Department of Defense, 1973.
4. Kuivenen, David E., 'Comparing Corrosion Rates of Steel Corrosion Coupons in Magnetically
Treated Water and in a Water System Utilizing Corrosion Inhibitors," National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, 1975.
5. Klassen, V. E., "Magnetic Water: Between Scylla and Charybdis," "Institute of Mineral Fuels
of the USSR Academy of Sciences," Moscow, 1969,25-27.
6. Rubin, Alan J., "To Determine if Magnetic Water Treatment is Effective in Preventing Scale,"
Ohio State University, 1973.
7. Reimers, Robert S., deKernion, P.S. and Leftwich, D. B., 'Sonics and electrostatics- An
innovative Approach to Water and Waste Treatment,' Proceedings of Water Reuse Symposium,
Vol. 2 AWWA Research Evaluation, Denver, Colorado, March 1979, pp 1350-1416.
8. Skorobogator, V. I., "Mechanism of the Action Of Ultrasound, Magnetic and Electric Fields
on a Scale Forming Liquid," IZV. Vyssh Ucheb Zared,Energy Vol. 13 (5), 1970, 58-62.
