Field trials of hybrid acid-additive treatment for control of scale in MSF plants

Field trials of the additive-only (Albrivap-G) treatment and the hybrid (acid+Albrivap DSB) treatment were carried out on an MSF unit at 112.8°C top brine temperature. The main objectives were to reduce the abnormally high frequency of acid cleaning with the existing additive treatment, and to test the techno-economic viability of the hybrid treatment. The economics and the corrosion and thermal performance of the hybrid treatment were outstanding: the period of operation between consecutive acid cleanings was increased from 19 days to at least 164 days (5 1 2 months) and the frequency of acid cleaning was thereby reduce from seven to at most one per year of 5 1 2 operating months. The cost of scale control treatment was reduced by 50% while energy cost of the extraction steam was reduced by 11% resulting in considerable savings in the operating cost of the 3-unit MSF plant.