Questions & Answers

Below you will find a selection of useful Questions with corresponding Answers. If you have any questions that are not covered here, please contact ION Enterprises direct.

Questions:
1. Does the ION Scalebuster comply with water regulations?
The manufacturers have taken every step to ensure that ION Scalebuster meets the most stringent codes of practice for materials and their use in potable water. Laboratory tests in Korea have shown that ION Scalebuster has actually caused reductions in the levels of micro-organisms in pipework systems. The product is W.R.A.S. and TÜV certificated and has been tested to a pressure of nearly 15,000 p.s.i.

2. Will ION Scalebuster affect water pressure and flow rates?
The internal configuration of ION Scalebuster is designed to create turbulence. However, this causes minimum pressure drop and is unlikely to affect water flow.

3. Is the ION Scalebuster dependant on water flow rates?
Unlike many other products, ION Scalebuster is less dependent on flow rates and offers excellent benefits across a broad range of flow conditions.

4. Does turbulent flow affect the performance of the ION Scalebuster?
No. The design of the ION Scalebuster creates turbulence within its structure in order to improve the ION treatment effects.

5. Why does existing scale deposits clear?
The ION Scalebuster by precipitating scale from the water makes the water less saturated and able to dissolve old deposits.

6. How quickly will the ION Scalebuster clean a system?
The time taken will depend on several factors; the thickness of scale deposits and the distance of effected area from the ION Scalebuster. The actual volume of water passing through ION Scalebuster will determine the length of time taken to clean scale and corrosion deposits from the system. However, once installed, ION Scalebuster will commence its job immediately provided that a water flow is still possible.

7. Why does corrosion cease?
The effect of the galvanic cell provides a reducing effect on corrosion sites. A stable form of oxide is created which provides a protective covering whilst the ION Scalebuster is in use. The patent of the ION Scalebuster allows for use of materials in its construction that will not lead to corrosion within the device. It is a known fact for instance that stainless steel totally immersed in water suffers with crevice & pitting corrosion caused by the chloride ions found in water. The ION Scalebuster does not use any stainless steel for the construction of its turbulence chambers.

8. Why use the ION Scalebuster as apposed to a chemical conditioner?
Chemical methods are losing popularity since their use adds unwanted pollutants to the water table/ground water. For instance, the use of phosphates has now been banned in the production of washing powders in some major industrialised countries since their use promotes the growth of algae and other oxygen depleting organisms. Without oxygen, lake and rivers stagnate. Even water softeners add to the total sodium present in drinking water where recycling of water is the custom.

9. Why are there savings of chemicals in swimming pools/cooling towers after ION Scalebuster?
By removing scale deposits, there are fewer habitats for residual bacteria. Also, the flocculation of organic colloids makes filtration much more effective reducing the quantity of chlorine needed for sterilisation.

10. Will ION Scalebuster soften the water?
Not in the strict sense of the word “soften”. However, because some of the dissolved hardness is precipitated from the water, soap and detergent economies are made possible. A “soft” feel to water is often noticeable.

11. Is the taste of water affected?
ION Scalebuster does improve the taste of water by “masking” unpleasant flavours such as chlorine. These are thought to become trapped in precipitated solids.

12. What causes the chlorine taste to diminish from water after treatment by ION Scalebuster?
Free chlorine is absorbed into the precipitated particles.

13. How long will ION Scalebuster last?
This depends on the quality of the water passing through the ION Scalebuster. Numerous ION Scalebuster devices are still operating efficiently without maintenance or repair in both domestic and commercial situations after 9 years of use. Naturally, in aggressive waters where Scalebuster is used to prevent corrosion, a lower life expectancy of the anode could result.

14. Will it save energy?
Yes. Because ION Scalebuster will remove existing scale build up on heating services, such as hot water heaters, hot water pipes and tanks, less energy is required to heat the water. A thickness of scale of only an eighth of one inch can add 25% to energy costs.

15. Why is ION Scalebuster better than Magnetic Units?
The ideal magnetic unit is designed to create magnetic lines of force at right angles to water flow. This, according to Faraday's laws, creates an electrical e.m.f. which causes changes within the water molecules. Unfortunately, too slow a flow can limit the e.m.f. produced and too fast a flow creates turbulent flow, which can affect the design criteria. ION Scalebuster is much more versatile by being less dependent on flow conditions and also has the benefit of protecting against corrosion due to its patented special zinc anode incorporating a dry electrical connection.

16. Why is the combination of zinc, cavitations and dielectric in the ION Scalebuster so important?
ION Scalebuster is the No1 water conditioner because of the combination of effects likely to cause precipitation of scale from the water. Cavitation produces violent pressure changes which break up bicarbonate molecules; zinc provides the necessary particle nuclei, the dielectric produces static effects.

17. Will ION Scalebuster work anywhere?
The ION Scalebuster was designed originally to be used specifically in potable water. However, it is becoming more sought after now as an effective way to treat process waters. In Canada, 52 cooling towers are equipped with ION Scalebuster treatment systems. These are working in a clean, bacteria-free environment, saving water and reducing chemical use to an absolute minimum. Posco, the giant Korean steel company recently purchased two 14" diameter units to protect their water system from corrosion and scale. Both potable and process waters can be filtered more effectively by using ION Scalebuster and this is demonstrated by its use in swimming pool circulation.

18. What is the ISB hologram for?
This unique way of labeling ION Scalebuster was designed by De La Rue and has also been used for the protection of bank credit cards etc. Attempts have been made to copy ION Scalebuster, which have resulted in customers purchasing products that fail to meet ISB manufacturer's Codes of Practice, warranties and certificates of conformity regarding the use of materials etc. Only the genuine ION Scalebuster is labeled with the ISB Hologram and purchasers are advised to check that their ION Scalebuster is identified in this manner.

19. Is ION Scalebuster effective for hot water systems?
ION Scalebuster is becoming a firm favorite for protecting domestic hot water systems against corrosion.
In Germany, Thyssen have purchased many hundreds of units to protect their managed apartment blocks and residential premises. In hot water circulation systems, slightly different circumstances dictate that for best performance, continuous filtration is used to remove precipitated solids. Recommendations for proper installation are readily available through our network of international distributors.

20. Where should ION Scalebuster be situated in relation to equipment?
Ideally the ION Scalebuster should be located at least a few yards from the equipment to be protected by the device. This allows the growth of precipitated particles of scale to take place before the water reaches heat-producing and scale-forming areas.

21. How long does the effect last?
Compared with other devices, ION Scalebuster has been developed with the size of precipitated particles being a prime consideration. Large particles have a much smaller surface area than their equivalent mass made up of relatively smaller particles. For this reason, they are much slower to re-dissolve in the water and subsequently the treated water has long-lasting effects. Water treated using ION Scalebuster is likely to continue to do its job of removing old scale deposits from pipework for much longer than competitive products, which produce much smaller particles. The manufacturers were the first to use laser particle analysis to determine precisely what physical effects their product caused. Until 1993 when this method was used, various spurious and unscientific descriptions were used to describe water conditioners as if some sort of "magic" effects were created.
The University of Rostock in Germany, concluded after a detailed examination of the product in 2002: -
"It could be shown that the ION Scalebuster induces an increase of the particle concentrations by the factor 1.6 to 2.2 in the model cycle. At the same time, an increase of the particle size from 10 µm2 to 250 µm2 was able to be proven by means of the particle size spectrum"

22. Why is it necessary to earth the ION Scalebuster?
The changes, which take place in the ION Scalebuster, relate mainly to the precipitation of carbonates arising from the breakdown of dissolved bicarbonates. When any change takes place in the chemical structure of a substance that results in at least a temporary change in its constituents, there is a corresponding change in electrical charge. If this charge is not allowed to neutralise which in the case of the ION Scalebuster is by means of grounding the charge to a suitable earthing connection, then the desired changes may be restricted or limited in duration.

23. Why do the minerals in solution precipitate after ION Scalebuster?
The action of the ION Scalebuster causes the breakdown of the bicarbonates in solution precipitating less soluble carbonates.

24. Can precipitated particles collect together?
In normal "straight through" systems, the particles are normally swept through and dispersed without being noticed. In systems that are circulating or contain settlement areas then some measures may be needed to make sure that these are removed either by filtration or flushing. In the main, the subject never arises. Domestic kettles, for instance, may need a weekly gentle brush and rinse to expel any soft residues. This is accepted by customers to be small price to pay for the removal and prevention of hard, caked scale deposits. Our distributors can advise on all installation details.

25. What causes flocculation of the smaller particles?
Alteration of the static balance within the ION Scalebuster neutralises charged particles which do not the repel one another. This is due to the Patented construction of the Zinc anode & PTFE turbulence chambers.

26. How can you tell if it is working?
By the scale which will quickly build up again on heating surfaces.

27. Why can ion exchange softeners save salt consumption?
By removing dissolved salts from the water as precipitated carbonates, they are no longer present as ions in solution. This means that the volume of water which a given size of softener will treat between regenerations can be extended. Savings on salt usage would mean that a large hotel can save £,000's per year and also reduce contamination of ground water as well as water consumption. In some areas of U.S.A., salt based water softeners are already being banned due to the salt fouling potable water reserves.