Domestic Water Supply Systems Lime Deposits
Reference data and engineering information about domestic water supply systems lime deposits for water systems applications.
Overview
Engineering reference data for Domestic Water Supply Systems Lime Deposits in water systems.
Key Formulas
Hydrostatic Pressure
Pressure due to water column.
Flow Rate
Area × velocity.
Variables
| Symbol | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Pa | |
| Flow rate | m³/s | |
| Head/depth | m |
Temperature Effects on Lime Deposition
Lime deposits in water supply systems increase significantly with temperature due to the inverse relationship between temperature and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) solubility. As water temperature rises, dissolved calcium and magnesium (responsible for water hardness) precipitate out of solution more readily, forming scale deposits inside pipes, boilers, and other equipment.
Practical Example: Deposits from Hard Water
Based on the provided data for hard water with 170 mg/liter of dissolved calcium and magnesium:
- Water Temperature: 60 °C
- Annual Consumption: 2000 m³/year
- Estimated Lime Deposit: ~5 kg/year
This calculation illustrates the practical impact of water hardness on system maintenance and efficiency. The deposit rate would be lower at cooler temperatures and higher at temperatures exceeding 60 °C.
Note: The relationship between temperature and precipitation can be approximated. For a given hardness level, the rate of calcium carbonate scale formation often increases exponentially with temperature, particularly above 50°C.