(571d) Investigating the Effect of Temperature on Calcium Sulfate Scale Formation Using a Novel Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) Laser Setup.

In the oilfield industries, the rate and extent of calcium sulfate scale formation, a prevalent issue affecting operational efficiency and costs, varies significantly with temperature. My research involves investigating the extent and dynamics of this variation using a novel continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) setup integrated with laser techniques. Calcium sulfate is one of the most problematic and hardest scales posing substantial challenges across diverse industrial sectors, including water treatment, oil production, and mineral processing. To address these challenges, a CSTR system is implored to replicate scale formation under meticulously controlled temperature conditions. Concurrently, laser techniques are harnessed for real-time monitoring and characterization of the scaling process, offering unprecedented insights into its dynamics. Using a temperature range of 0 to 100℃ within the CSTR, the experiment scrutinizes the influence of temperature on both the rate and magnitude of scale formation. My results underscore a pronounced escalation in scale accumulation alongside a notable reduction in induction time as temperature increases, from about 4 hours at room temperature to just 4 minutes at 100℃. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was done on the collected scale crystal samples and temperature-induced alterations in crystal morphology were noticed revealing significant crystal degradation with increase in temperature. These findings furnish indispensable insights for optimizing process parameters and devising robust scale mitigation strategies in various industrial applications. By comprehensively understanding the interplay between temperature and calcium sulfate scale formation, industries can proactively mitigate scale-related challenges, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing costs.