Electrochemical antiscaling treatment using a fluidized bed

A new kind of electrochemical antiscaling device using a fluidized bed constituted of 1 mm in diameter 316 stainless steel balls was investigated. The presence of the fluidized bed between the two electrodes substantially increased the antiscaling power of the device of nearly 90%. The balls act as bipolar electrodes where the anodic and cathodic electrochemical reactions responsible of the antiscaling properties also took place, allowing a treatment in the entire volume of the water. The influence of current density, operating time and height of the fluidized bed (or electrode surface area) on the efficiency of the device was studied.