T he basic principal of the treatment is the interaction of a magnetic field with flowing water which changes the properties of the water, and in particular decreases the tendency of the water to form scale. A completely satisfactory explanation for the phenomenon is not known, the process has been questioned and remains on the fringes of conventional water treatment where explanation of the physical and chemical phenomenon is well understood, or the explanations offered are generally accepted even if imperfect. The promise offered by magnetic water treatment is a relatively low cost method of water treatment for scale prevention which is simple and environmentaly sound in practice.
I was asked to investigate the subject and it came as something of a surprise to me, that although the scientific basis was not at all well understood, the technology was being quite actively investigated and used in many countries. In view of the substantial interest in this matter it is hard to dismiss magnetic water treatment, as one may be tempted, and I feel we should remember the role of science is to investigate the unknown with an open mind, and to advance theories which can be tested and used to refine phenomenon into successful technology. In this case I believe we are seeing a somewhat blinkered advance of technology into the area of magnetic water treatment, and the impetus for this is the undoubtedly large volumes of water which are conditioned daily for various uses .

After reviewing 133 articles on magnetic water treatment located by a search of the worlds chemical literature, the Professor concluded "From the various abstracts provided in this review it would appear that the magnetic treatment of water is a somewhat neglected area, especially when the potential applications are considered. A thorough investigation and explanation of the fundamental phenomenon has not yet emerged.
However there were common features which recurred in the works reviewed. Basically the effect of water flowing across a magnetic field was to cause nucleation of the impurities present at levels above normal saturation. Consequently these impurities precipitated in the bulk of the water rather than the containment surfaces. Normally the containment surfaces would provide the conditions for deposition of scale, and virtually all of the scale would deposit on these surfaces. Magnetic water treatment was thus seen as a means of precipitating scale forming substances in the solution bulk rather than on the working surfaces of pipes, boilers etc.
How the precipitation of scale forming substances is caused was less clear.
It is evident that one should not dismiss magnetic water treatment. It is very important for the orderly evelopment of magnetic water treatment that fundamental studies are pursued until a consistent, verifiable theory is advanced...

Following are extracts from a paper by Prof. I J Lin, Haifa University, Israel.

Magnetic treatment of water (MTW) is commonly used in various sectors of industry as a preventive means against scale accumulation in water-supply piping, cooling towers and solar heating installations.
 

Research is continuing on irrigation crops, under laboratory and field conditions, and resulting increases in yields to 30% .MTW irrigation is now practiced in Israel, and has been found to improve harvest quality and increase yields by 13% to 20% in melons and tomatoes, and maize in the Arave region of Southern Israel.

The mechanism underlying its action is not yet clear. It could be attributed to improved dissolution capacity, which would account for the observed 50% to 300% increase in the soluble fraction of the soil compared with untreated water.
Another hypothesis suggests a direct effect on physiological processes in the plant cells, while still another (more recent) states that plant responses are secondary, and that the immediate effect concerns certain soil microflora and fauna..

In a trial carried out by the Department of Botany at the University of Michigan using two hundred tomato plants, the following observations were noted "One hundred were watered with "magnetised water" and the remaining one hundred plants watered with untreated water (equal amounts) daily, for a period of two weeks. At the end of this period, actual measurements (green and dry weights) showed that the tomato plants watered with the "magnetised water" had grown on the average of 30% more compared with the untreated tomato plants. There are many other areas in which the magnetic treatment of water has distinct benefits, and is best summed up in the following conclusion to a researcher's technical paper on magnetic treatment of water .

"Based on analysis of existing technical literature on the magnetic treatment of water and its abilities to alter water properties, there are many basic areas where the utilization of this method has great practical merit, such as elimination of scale due to high temperature, control of encrustation on equipment, reduction of salt deposits in piping systems, intensification of coagulation and crystalisation processes, improvement of the bactericidal function of disinfectants, acceleration of reagent diffusion, increasing the efficiency of ion-exchange resins, removal of fine particles in the purification or recycling of waste water, increase in crop yields, extraction of valuable metals from ores by flotation concentrate, acceleration of the solidification of cement (it has been confirmed that magnetically treated water increases the solubility of fast setting cement, and considerably increases the hardness of concrete), increasing the density and strength of casting moulds, etc.

Another paper states "Many researchers quote very favourable results of this "Magnetic" method for industrial application in eliminating scale, preventing salt encrustation on the walls of oil wells, increasing the life of pipes in the oil, coal and mining industries, since it sharply reduces corrosion and depositation of organic and inorganic compounds (such as paraffin) in pipes. Magnetic treatment of water increases by 40% to 80% its ability to remove the dust in pits, mines and ore-concentrating plants..

Yet another paper concludes "The success of Magnetic Treatment Devices (MTD's) as a method of bacteriological, viral and algae control is well documented, with positive results reported using a MTD to control Legionnaires Disease Bacteria - Leglonella Pneumophila, as reported in "Maintenance Australia", 1990.
Another paper reports Increasing the shelf  life of milk by passing it through a MT D and controlling the population of micro organisms in milk.

 These are just some instances where the use of Magnetic Water Treatment has produced many benefits. From the customers point of view it is a "one off" purchase with absolutely no ongoing costs, and the installation is permanent, the magnets lose only 5% of their power in 100 years.

In many installations, the units are buried, with no harmful effects.

Fluid Reactor  should not be confused with Water Softeners.

 Water Softeners use the Ion Exchange process to remove minerals (Calcium, Magnesium and lower levels of Iron) from the water, and being an exchange process replaces these minerals with an equal amount of Sodium. ie for every molecule of Calcium, Magnesium and Iron removed from the water a molecule of Sodium is released into the water.
Therefore the "harder" the water to be softened is, the amount of regeneration salt required increases, resulting in higher levels of Sodium in "Softened" water.

With Fluid Reactor, the water is changed in character at a molecular level, with nothing being removed from, or added to the water.
Because of the Patented Negative Defusing Action and strength and directional focus of the magnetic field there is no restrictions on flow rates through the Fluid Reactor

MAGNETIC WATER TREATMENT FOR HEATING, REFRIGERATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

C., Jack Quinn, P.E., Member ASHRAE Chairman, Manufacturing Technology
Indiana University-Purduo University Fort Wayne, Indiana

INDEPENDENT STUDIES

The UNITED STATES TESTING COMPANY, INC., performed a test to determine the
effectiveness of magnetic water treatment in preventing boiler scale build-up. Upon subjection of the residual salts from both the treated and nontreated samples to x-ray distraction examination, a distinctive difference in the crystalline structure of the deposited residues was noted. The two samples were found to have the same chemical constituents but the x-ray distraction analysis indicates that the dominant crystal species in the untreated sample is calcium sulfate and calcium silicate, while in the treated sample the dominate species is a calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate (non corrosive elements). The samples are therefore physically different.

United States Testing Center Inc. Schmutzer, M.A., and Hull, G.W., "Examination to Deterraine the Physical or Chemical Differences Between Untreated and Magnetically Treated Water". Hoboken, 1969.

The Advance Research Agency of the Department of Defense sponsored research in magnetic treatment of water reporting that the fact generally agreed upon is that a magnetic field reduces the kinetics of crystallization processes and the freedom of movement of charged particles. This limitation of the motion of particles in the field results in an increase in the number of collisions and the formation of crystallization centers. Magnetic treatment is effective if the liquid is passed through the flux of a magnet having a sufficiently field and magnetic gradient, providing that the temperature of the liquid is not to high.

Advanced Research Agency of the Department of Defense, Hibben, Stuart G., "Magnetic Treatment of Water" 1973.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA tested magnetically treated water
against chemically treated water for corrosion rates of steel corrosion coupons placed in the two water systems. Reported results were excellent with corrosion rates of 1 to 50 mils per year using chemical inhibitors, with four mils per year considered to be acceptable, while corrosion rates of 0.0 mils per year were recorded for the magnetic treatment.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA. Kuivinen, David E., "Comparing Corrosion Rates of Steel Corrosion Inhibitors". Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, 1975.

From 'The Institute of Mineral Fuels of the USSR Academy of Sciences", Dr. V.I. Klassen reports that no one argues about the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of water. In the Soviet Union the use of magnetic treatment of water is used extensively and with tremendous economic effect. These practitioners are making extensive use of magnetic treatment but are in serious need of scientific assistance. Marked reduction of scale formation in steam boilers has been verified in practice and confirmed in laboratories but the theory which explains the nature of the processes is not clearly understood.

Anon, Tekhnika Molodeshi, Vol. 10 pg. 22, 1972

Fedotkin, L.M., Engergetika I Electrifikatsia, Vol. 5, pg. 42 in addition, magnetic treatment does not change the processes in the setting of ce-ment, but stimulates and intensifies these processes quantively (specifically the initial steps of the crystallization process and
the character of nucleation). For example a mag-netic field produces larger numbers of crystals, shortens the induction period of crystalli-zation and increases the number of crystals per unit volume of cement suspension.

Grashko, I.M., Belova, L.A., and Lishanskii, B.A., 'operations of the Magnetic Treatment of Water Used for the Mixing of Cement Concentrates", Izv. Vyyssh. Uchebn. Zavedi Stroit Arkhit, No. 3 pgs. 87-88, 1982.

LTIazovskiyi, V.A. and Ananliua, 'S.A., "Electrochemical Studies of Cement Suspensions in
:.Magnetically Treated Water", Unobtainable Russian Journal Article.

COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS:

"Several thousand magnetic water conditioners are now rendering great service in build-ings of all sizes, form private homes to hospitals, schools, military buildings, etc. These units will protect the whole circuit of cold and hot water as well as sanitary installations against scale formation and corrosion when placed where the water main enters the pre-mises. It is remarkable to note that algae, such as normally grow on coolers in the open air and in swimming pools, die rapidly under the effects of the magnetic treatment.'

Vermelren, T., Corrosion Technology (Belgium), July 1958, pg. 215-219. Belgian patents #460560 (1945) AND #560199 (1960).

"No one argues whether magnetic treatment is effective or not; in the Soviet Union the magnetic treatment of water is used extensively and with tremendous economic effect."

Klassen, V.I., Ph.D. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Institute of Mineral Fuels, Academy of Sciences, USSR, Khimiya I Zhizn' (USSR), September, 11969, pg. 24-27 (Translated by The Clearing House for Federal Scientific & Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, USA).

"The magnetic water treatment phenomenon has been scientifically investigated ex-tremely thoroughly throughout the world, and has been known for many years ... in nearly every case, in Great Britain, where magnetic treatment devices have been fitted, the results have been as favorable as in Europe."

Diamant, R.M.E., M.Sc., Hospital Engineering (Great Britain), October, 1970, pg. 231-232.

"It may sound rather surprising that water can be purified by magnetic treatment but the fact is
unquestionable. The answer as to why a magnetic field affects the properties of waste has not yet been found; it can only be expected when further research has eluci-dated the properties of the water molecule."

Belova, V., Ph.D., Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry,
Academy of Sciences, USSR, Soviet Science Review (USSR), May 1972, pg. 150-156.

'Based upon analyses of existing technical literature on the magnetic treatment of water and its ability to alter water properties, there are many basic areas where the utilization of this method has great practical merit, such as elimination of scale; control of encrusta-tion; reduction of salt deposits; intensification of coagulation and crystallization; improv-ing bactericidal function of disinfectants; acceleration of reagent diffusion; increasing the efficiency of ion-exchange resin; removal of fine particles in the purification or recyclin-of waste water; extraction of valuable metals from; acceleralion of the solidification of cements, increasing the density and strength of casting molds, etc."

Stevovich, V.A., Liebhold, K., Hibben, S.G., Air Force Office of Scientific Research,

Advanced Research Projects Agency of the united States Department of Defense,

Arlington, Virginia, USA. (Unclassified, 30 JAN 73, Project Code #627OlE3FIO.)

MORE COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS:

"It was concluded that the magnetic unit used in these tests was very effective in controlling scale and corrosion in water systems, in such diverse applications as a large air conditioner condenser, syrup evaporators in a sugar mill, cooling exchangers in a large chemical processing plant in a boiler and a steam generator. Significant savings in time, cost and equipment were effected in all cases."

Raisen, E., Ph.D., The Control of Scale and Corrosion in Water Svstems Using Magnetic Fields. Paper #117, CORROSION'84.

Magnetic Water Treatment - Quinn

REFERENCES

"A study of the influence of magnetics on corrosion control showed that magnetic treat-ment inhibits the rate of corrosion . . ."

Reimers, R.S., de Ker-nior, P.S., Culi)eipi)er, V.C.. Tulane Universitv.

'This work has shown that voltages and currents reproduced when conducting solutions are made to flow through a magnetic treatment device in which the magnetic field is or-thogonal to the fluid flow. Although many earlier papers dealing with Magnetic Water Treatment Devices have discussed the theory of magnetohydrodynamic voltage genera-tion, none has ever demonstrated that this voltage could be measured and none has con-sidered what the consequences of the induced voltage and concomitant current might be for scale control."

Bush, K.W., Busch, M.A., Parker, D.H., Darling, R.E., McAtee, J.L., Jr., Laboratory Studies Involving Magnetic Water Treatment Devices. Paper #251, CORROSION'85.

'Despite adverse evaluation by some water technology experts and inconsistent perfor-mance in field tests, a variety of magnetic water treatment devices (MTDS) employing permanent magnets continues to be promoted for the prevention of scale and other de-posits in water-using systems . . . The studies reported here by the Baylor Water Research Group are unique. For the first time, researchers in an American laboratory have been able to conclusively demonstrate that something fundamental does in fact happen when water is circulated, to just through a magnetic field, but through an actual magnetic water treatment device ... In summary, the potential benefits which could be derived from a non-chemical method of water conditioning of this type include reduced energy requirements, water conservation, reduction or elimination of chemical feed and control requirements, and reduced
pollution."

Evaluation of the Magnetic Water Treatment

American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., API Publication 960, September, 1985.

1. Atkin W., Physical Chemistl:y, Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 1978, p. 761.

2. Schmutzer, M. A., and Hull, G. W., "Examination to Determine the Physical or Chemical
Differences Between Untreated and Magnetically Treated Water," United States Testing Center, Inc., Hoboken, 1969.

3. Hibben, Stuart G., "Magnetic Treatment of Water,' Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense, 1973.

4. Kuivenen, David E., 'Comparing Corrosion Rates of Steel Corrosion Coupons in Magnetically Treated Water and in a Water System Utilizing Corrosion Inhibitors," National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, 1975.

5. Klassen, V. E., "Magnetic Water: Between Scylla and Charybdis," "Institute of Mineral Fuels of the USSR Academy of Sciences," Moscow, 1969,25-27.

6. Rubin, Alan J., "To Determine if Magnetic Water Treatment is Effective in Preventing Scale," Ohio State University, 1973.

7. Reimers, Robert S., deKernion, P.S. and Leftwich, D. B., 'Sonics and electrostatics- An innovative Approach to Water and Waste Treatment,' Proceedings of Water Reuse Svmposium, Vol. 2 AWWA Research Evaluation, Denver, Colorado, March 1979, pp 1350-1416.

8. Skorobogator, V. I., "Mechanism of the Action Of Ultrasound, Magnetic and Electric Fields on a Scale Forming Liquid," IZV. Vyssh Ucheb Zared,Energy Vol. 13 (5), 1970, 58-62.