Reduced energy consumption in water and heating installations by surface treatment of heating coils, heat exchangers etc. made of scale resistant materials

Scale formation of heat exchangers of various types results in greatly reduced heat transfer, and in addition scale formation causes a need for enhanced pumping performance due to constricted components. Also, scale formation of heating coils in hot water tanks and washing machines leads to prolonged heating time and increased heat loss due to greatly reduced heat transfer. Surface treatment of component parts by applying the PVD evaporation technique, plasma CDV, plasma nitriding or perhaps ion implantation may influence the wetting of the component surfaces, including the scaling formation property. On the basis of experience with coatings applied in order to control the wetting, it should be possible to develop surfaces that are scale resistant or which have a preventive effect against lime etc. For instance PVD coatings with chromium nitride have proved to have a positive effect in some cases.