Effect of hydrodynamics on the deposition of CaSO4 scale on stainless steel

Laboratory experiments were conducted using a rotating cylinder electrode apparatus to study the effect of solution hydrodynamics on the deposition of calcium sulfate scale on stainless steel substrate. The results indicate that the solution hydrodynamics has a significant bearing on the deposition rate of calcium sulfate. The results are in agreement with the theoretical prediction of a diffusion controlled process. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed the secondary nucleation growth of prismatic needle- or rod-like crystals branching out randomly over the already existing primary crystals of CaSO₄ on the SS-316 substrate.