Contribution to the Study of Hot Water Scaling Phenomenon in the South of Touristic Area in Agadir City

Abstract

This work aims to study the phenomenon of scaling observed in the hot water pipelines in the southern seaside touristic installations of Agadir city. This phenomenon has led to the formation of solid deposits and adherents to the internal walls of the facilities of the hot water. This deposit is at the origin of several technical, economic and environmental problems. It causes a decrease in the lifetime of boilers and a reduction of thermal exchanges and consequently a decrease in the energy efficiency of heating systems. In the present study, the samples of scale have been carried out at different points of hot water pipelines. The characterization of different scale samples recovered was conducted by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), elemental analysis (CHNS-O), infrared spectrometry (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Analytical results showed that scale samples collected on different sites in touristic hot water system are mostly formed by calcium carbonate. Thermodynamic conditions in the site were favourable to the aragonite variety formation.