Development of a magnetic activator to protect an electric water heater against scale formation

The paper is dedicated to the research and development of a magnetic activator for the prevention of scale formation in electric water heaters, which is a pressing problem in regions with hard water, typical for Сentral Kazakhstan. During the operation of water heaters, salt deposits on heating elements lead to increased energy consumption and reduced efficiency. The developed activator uses powerful neodymium magnets that change the structure of the hardness salts in the water, preventing their deposition in the form of scale. Research has shown that the use of a magnetic activator can reduce water hardness by 15–20 %, resulting in a significant reduction in scale formation. In particular, under normal operating conditions, the thickness of the scale layer can reach 2–4 mm, but with the use of the magnetic activator this indicator is reduced to less than 1 mm. Descaling the heating elements not only extends the life of the water heater, but also reduces energy costs. Energy consumption is reduced by 10–15 %, as water heaters with less scale work more efficiently without requiring additional energy for heating. The paper also discusses the design features of the magnetic activator, the principles of its operation and the results of laboratory and field tests. Economic analysis has shown that the installation of the magnetic activator pays for itself within 1–2 years due to the reduction in limescale and energy costs. This makes it an attractive solution for private households as well as for industrial companies that use water heaters in their production process, as the proposed magnetic activator is an effective solution for protecting water heaters from the negative effects of hard water