Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MAGNETIC WATER CONDITIONER APPARATUS
My invention relates to the magnetic treatment of
mineralized watcr and has particula~ reference to an improved
gcometry of magnets that more effectively treats or conditions
watcr to increaso its apparent softness.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Feed water for boilers and hot water heaters has
been magnetically treated for decades to reduce boiler scale,
heater deposits and water pipe deposits. Feed water has been
subjected to various configurations of magnetic fields, both
steady fields and alternating fields. This magnetic treatment
has been effective to greater or lesser degrees in preventing
boiler scale and heater deposits and deposits in water pipes.
While the chemistry and electronics of magnetic field effects
on dissolved and suspended minerals has not been precisely
determined, the magnetic treatment causes the mineral content
to remain in suspension rather than deposit out as scale. In
the case of boilers the accumulated suspended minerals are
continuously or periodically flushed out by flushing the boiler
water. This magnetic treatment is generally less expensive
than ion-exchange treatment of feed water or additive chemical
treatment of feed water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have ascertained that the most effective magnetic
treatment occurs when the lines of flux are parallel to the
water flow.
I have determined that the most effective magnetic
field for water treatment is a steady or permanent field as con-
trasted to a fluctuating field or as contrasted to an alterna-
ting magnetic field. I have further dctermined that the mostconcentrated field is the most effective. I have devised a
magnetic field that is extrcmely conccntrated for the avail-
able magnetic material. I have deviscd a hollow cylindrical
permanent magnet that is axially polarized and has a water pipc
of non-magnetic material passing axially through the cylinder.
Alternatively, [ have constructed a dircct-current coil of hollow
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cylindrical permanent magnet that is axially polarized and
has a water pipe of non-magnetic material passing axially through
the cylinder. Alternativcly, [ have constructed a direct-current
coil of l1ollow cylinder shape which has a non-magnetic conduit
passing axially through it. I have determined further that
the conduit must fit these magnetic structures as tightly as
possible and that the conduit wall should have minimum
thickness for the water pressures being used.
I have discovered that if the water exits from the
south pole of the magnetic field it gives the maximum "soften-
in~" effect to the water; that is, the maximum suspension of
mineral in the water and the minimum of deposits. Conversely,
if the water exits from the north pole of the magnetic field
the water is "hardened" and tends to deposit out more readily
and to react with soap. This may be useful as a defoaming treat-
ment for water. I suspect that this south pole exiting to
soften is not universally true and may be limited to a parti-
cular geographical area. Perhaps in the southern hemisphere
the polarity to soften water will be reversed. Orientation
o my magnetic field with the earth's magnetic field does not
appear to be important.
I have found that my magnetic treatment improves
potability of "softened" drinking water as compared to water
treated with chemicals or ion-exchange to render it softer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Various objects, advantages, and features of the in-
vention will be apparent in the following description and claims,
considered together with the accompanying drawings forming an
integral part of this specification and in which:
Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of piping passing
through a permanent magnet in vertical section.
Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the magnet and
pipe of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a direct-current coil
passing around a pipe to create a magnetic field in the pipe.
Fig. ~ is a three-dimension.ll view of the commercial
em~odiment of the direct-current coil of Fig. 3.
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Fig 5 is a schematic sectional view through the mag-
nets of Figs. 1 and 4 showing the concentration of lines of flux
in tlle center of the conduit through the magnets.
Fig. 6 is a schematic end view of the magnet of Fig.5
showing the manner in which the lines of flux concentrate in
the conduit portion of the magnet.
Municipal water systems are generally the source of
water for boilers. No boiler can operate efficiently or depend-
ably if its heat transfer surfaces are allowed to foul with
scale. Yet, most municipal water systems provide water that
contains scale-producing minerals. The major dissolved materials
in water are silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, and sodium com-
ounds. Metallic constituents occur in various combinations with
bicarbonate, carbonate, s~lphate, and chloride radicals. Scaling
when calcium or magnesium compounds in the water precipitate
and adhere to the internal surfaces of the boiler. These
scaling compounds become less soluble as temperatures increase,
causing them to separate from solution. The result is overheat-
ing of boiler tubes, followed by failure and equipment damage.
2~ This same scaling occurs in the heater and pipes of
hot water heater systems. Unless these scaling deposits can be
reduced, they result in heater failure and reduced carrying
capacity of scaled-up pipes.
Many different types of water treatments are used to
reduce the scaling, including sodium zeolite softening, hot lime
zeolite softening, split stream softening, demineralizing, and
distillation. All of these treatments require extensive capital
outlays for various treatment tanks and controls, as well as a
continuous supply of chemicals, or in the case of evaporation, a
continuous use of fuel.
While the magnetic treatment of water to reduce its
apparent hardness has been known for decades, it has not been
commercially used for boilers and heaters, because it has been
ineffective. I have determined that a properly designed magnetic
treatment conditioner or apparatus can be made that is effective
for water-softening. The tremendous capital outlays for the
usual softening processes may be avoided, as well as the contin-
uous expenditures for chemicals and fuels.
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I have experimentcd with ceramic magnets, primarily
because they are cheaper by several times than those of alnico,
and rarc earth cobalts and mixtures with other metals. These
ferrite magnets have a smaller flux density than other more
cxpensivc magnet materials, but suitable geometries of ferrite
results in vcry satisfactory flux densities. I have found that
the ring-shaped loudspeaker magnets, which are axially magnetized,
are readily and inexpensively available and, by stacking, any
desired length of cylindrical magnet may be quickly formed that
is also axially magnetized.
I have also used direct-current coils of hollow-cylinder
shape and find that these function effectively to create the
desired magnetic field in a pipe passing ~hrough the hollow
of the cylinder.
The term "apparent softening" is used to denote the
effect on the dissolved material. My apparatus does not remove
any dissolved material, and a chemical analysis on a dry basis
of water treated by my apparatus would be the same as the un-
treated input water. However, ~here is a chemical or electronic
change in these scale-producing materials so that they do not
deposit out as readily as the materials in raw water. The same
analysis applies to my water treatment to increase the "apparent
hardness," except in this case scaling is increased and the
usefulness is for defoaming and other uses of hard water.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, pipes 11 and 12 are
connected by a pipe 13 provided particularly in accordance with
the invention. The pipe 13 may be secured to the pipe sections
11 and 12 by any suitable means such as couplings 14. Pipes 11,
12, and 13 form part of a continuous conduit for raw water
leading to a boiler or to a water-heating system. Disposed
about the pipe 13 prior to its coupling to pipe lengths 11 and 12
arc a plurality of ring-shaped permancnt magnets 16, 17, 18, and
19, which are all axially magnetized, that is, along an axis
parallel to the pipe 13. While any suitable permanent magnet
material may be used, l presently prcfer, for purposes of
manufacturing economy, ceramic magnets.
The pipe 13 is made o-f nonmagnetic matericll and may
be metal or plastic or glass or other nonferrous matcrials,
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and I presently pre~er glasx or plastic to eliminate any elec-
trical effects Oll the water due to dissimilar metals being
present. The interior of the conduit l3 shoulcl be as smooth
as commercially feasible to avoid any turbulence in the flow,
and in this connect;on the couplings 14 should be of such con-
struction as to minimize any turbulence in the flow. Each ring
magnet 16, 17, 18, and 19 is oriented with the adjoining magnet
or magnets so that there is a continuous magnetic field from
north on the left to south on the right as viewed in Fig. 1.
This stac-k of ring magnets develops a magnetic field, which is
shown in schematic form in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein a schematic
magnet 20 of hollow-cylinder construction has an axial hole 21
through it, and lines of flux 22, 23, 24, and 25 emanate from
the ends of the magnet 20 to pass through the hole 21. There
it will be noted that the lines of flux 22 emanating from the
farthest radial area pass toward the center of the bore 21 and
that the next lines 23 emanating from the ends closer to the bore
take a path to one side of the center of the bore 21; that the
lines 24 that are closer to the bore take a path fairly elose
to the bore edge and that the lines 25 emanating elose to the
bore follow the interior of the bore 21.
This distribution of lines of flux is shown sehemati-
eally in Fig. 6 wherein the outermost lines 22 pass toward the
eenter of the bore 21 and the other lines 23, 24, and 25 that
are elosest to the bore 21 have their lines of flux away from
the center of the bore. The result of this inwardly projeeting
series of flux lines 22 through 25 is to give a very intense
field in the bore 21 so that a maximum intensity of magnetie
field will be exerted upon water flowing through a eonduit
placed in the bore 21 of the magnet 20 of Figs. 5 and 6.
Referring now to Fig. 2, this illustrates in full out-
line the magnet of Fig. 1 shown in section. Shown in Fig. 2
is a dimension L for the length of the magnet which is designa-
ted by the numeral 15. There is also shown a dimension D for
the diameter of the magnet 15, and there is shown a dimension
C for the outside diameter of the conduit 13 passing through
the magnct 15. nepend;ng upon the material from which the mag-
net is made, the geometry is so chosen as to maximize the lines
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o-E flux thru tl~c axial holc comparcd to the flux lincs thru
thc air on thc outside of the magnet. Also the environment of
thc magnet must be selccted not to interfere with this maximi-
zation of axial flux,
I havc found that -Eor ferritc magnets the magnct
lcngth L must be greater than one-Eourth of the diameter D for
the best water-conditioning. I have also found that if the
length of thc ferrite magnet is more than about two times the
diameter, then there is very little added flux strength because
o of this added length. The diameter C'of the pipe conduit pass-
ing through the magnet, which is the same as the inside diameter
of the hole through the magnet, of course, has a bearing on
these length and diameter dimensions, and these length and dia-
meter ratios apply generally when the conduit dimension C
5 is one-half of D or smaller.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a conduit 30 has a coil
of wire 31 wrapped tightly about the conduit 30, and this is
energized by a battery 32 passing direct current through the
coil, The coil generates a steady màgnetic field which is iden-
tical in all respects to the magnetic field of the permanent
magnets and generates iines of flux as illustrated in Figs. 5
and 6. Shown in Fig. 4 is the commercial version of the
schematic Fig. 3, wherein the conduit 30 has a multilayer coil
33 wrapped around it and this coil 33 will generate a north
pole at the left end as indicated by the letter N and a south
pole at the right end as indicated by the letter S. The coil
is energized by any suitable source of direct current, and
there is shown schematically a direct-current generator 34
drivcn by a AC-motor 36 or any other suitable motor, which in
turn delivers current to the coil 33 through conductors 37 and
38.
I find that it is important that the conduit through
the magnets be straight and even in cross section so that there
is no turbulence as the water passes through the magnet. The
-flow of water, thercfore, is aligncd with the lines of Elux
as shown mos~ graphically in Fig. 5 as thc watcr p3SSCS through
thc magnet 20. If thc raw water carrics in it Elo~lting particles,
thesc shoulc1 , of coursc, be scrccncd out, and thc conduit 13 of
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~ig. 1 could, for cxamplc, bc madc of transparcnt glass or
othcr transp.lrent nonmetallic matcrial so tha~ any iron or
iron oxidc particlcs that collect on the intcrior of thc con-
duit 13 in the rcgion of thc magnet will bc clearly visible
and can thercupon be clcancd.
For creating apparent softening of thc raw water,
thc watcr should flow through the magnets from north to south.
lf it is desircd to increase the apparent hardness of the water,
then the water should flow through the magnets from south to
north. When the flow is from north to south, then the apparent
softening also seems to loosen some boiler scale already formed.
I have found that the beneficial effects conferred by
magnetic water treatment with my apparatus occur independantly
of the rate of water flow through the magnet. I have described
my permanent magnet with respect to ferrite materials, but it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any other
material may be used and any other configuration other than
rings of permanent magnets may be used. For example, ceramic
magnets are made in cylindrical shells or two semicylindrical
shells that are cemented together for completion of the cylinder.
These shells or cylinders are magnetized in an axial direction.
If a long solenoid is used, then almost all of the lines of
flux will be contained within the axial bore.
If alnico magnets are used the length must be greater
compared to diameter than with ceramic magnets. I have describ-
cd my invention with respect to presently preferred embodiments
thereof as required by patent statutes. I do not limit myself
to these embodiments, however, as they are illustrative only
of my invention. I include within the scope of the following
claims all variations, modifications, and improvements that
fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.
