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Apparatus and method for removing hardening calcium-containing and similar minerals from water, in which raw water is passed through a passage, having a reduced cross-sectional area, in an elongated core of a suitable alloy. The passage is provided with closely-spaced parallel walls which have been

Apparatus and method for removing hardening calcium-containing and similar minerals from water, in which raw water is passed through a passage, having a reduced cross-sectional area, in an elongated core of a suitable alloy. The passage is provided with closely-spaced parallel walls which have been polished to an image reflective smoothness and etched to create a multiplicity of randomly-positioned microscopic channels and a multiplicity of complementary mesas having smooth, flat tops. The reduced cross-sectional area causes a pressure drop in accordance with Bernoulli\s Principle, which causes carbon dioxide to come out of solution, the presence of which inhibits precipitation of calcium carbonate and forms carbonic acid to attack existing scale. The small size and shape of the mesas allow calcite crystals to begin to grow but permit them to break off after a certain size has been attained. The freed calcite crystals then provide nuclei for crystals to grow from the supersaturated solution.

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Apparatus for treating water to remove hardening minerals, comprising an elongated core having a longitudinal passage of reduced cross-sectional area formed therein having closely-spaced parallel surfaces, said surfaces having formed therein a multiplicity of microscopic randomly-located channels fo

Apparatus for treating water to remove hardening minerals, comprising an elongated core having a longitudinal passage of reduced cross-sectional area formed therein having closely-spaced parallel surfaces, said surfaces having formed therein a multiplicity of microscopic randomly-located channels forming complementary protuberances having highly polished, flat tops, said core being constructed to receive water into said passage on one end thereof, to accelerate the flow of water through the channels to a Reynolds Number exceeding 2000, and to discharge water from said passage on the other end thereof, said core being comprised of a nickel-silver alloy containing less than 10 percent zinc and greater than 15 percent nickel, said parallel surfaces in said core being prepared by polishing followed by etching to form a copper nickel grain structure that is parallel to said surfaces and capable of causing crystals of said hardening minerals to grow only perpendicular to said surfaces and said flow of water. Method of removing hardening minerals from water comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongated core having a longitudinal passage of reduced cross-sectional area formed therein having closely-spaced parallel surfaces, said surfaces having formed therein a multiplicity of microscopic randomly-located channels forming complementary protuberances having highly polished, flat tops, said core being constructed to receive water into said passage on one end thereof, to accelerate the flow of water through the channels to a Reynolds Number exceeding 2000, and to discharge water from said passage on the other end thereof, said core being comprised of a nickel-silver alloy containing less than 10 percent zinc and greater than 15 percent nickel, said parallel surfaces in said core being prepared by polishing followed by etching to form copper nickel grain structure that is parallel to said surfaces and capable of causing crystals of said hardening minerals to grow only perpendicular to said surfaces and said flow of water; (b) polishing the parallel surfaces to a mirrored finish; (c) etching said polished parallel surfaces with an acid chosen from the group comprising ferric acid and chromatic acid; and (d) passing water containing hardened minerals through said passage at a rate at which the Reynolds Number exceeds 2000 to remove said hardening minerals.