French Creek Software | Scale & Corrosion Software Tools

The French Creek Software calculation engine featuring a complex ion association model.

We all have favorite, or at least familiar indices which assist in the assessment of the scale potential of a water, and which provide some insight into the impact of concentrating or heating a water, or of mixing waters in various ratios.

The common indices provide an excellent starting point for evaluating a water chemistry and scale potential. Prior to the advent of cost effective personal computers, sophisticated indices were beyond the reach of most water chemists.

Traditional indices and calculation methods that are practical for manual use are simplifications, including numerous assumptions.  These cause misleading interpretations, and limit the applicability of the indices to a single brine, or similar waters.

French Creek brings main frame calculation power for water treatment to the level of the PC, eliminating (or at least greatly minimizing) the need for simplification and sometimes misleading assumptions.

The old standards provide insight into scale potential for single scales. Though they are limited to simple estimation methods, and do not take into account phenomena such as "Common Ion Effects." Sophisticated indices such as ion association model saturation levels account for these effects and can be calculated for most foulants.

Ion association model indices also provide a more realistic view of scale potential than the old standbys. They base their calculations upon free ion concentrations rather than the total analytical values used for most indices. In natural waters, calcium (for example) is not typically found as 100% free calcium.

A portion of the calcium may be bound to sulfate, another portion of the total may be tied up by bicarbonate, hydroxide or other species with which it associates. Ions in water are typically associated with other ions.

Indices calculated based upon total ion present (e.g. total analytical calcium) can be misleading. In high TDS waters, they can grossly over estimate the driving force for scale formation and growth.

The ion association model indices overcome this shortcoming by estimating the concentration of free ions, and calculating indices using the free concentration rather than the total. Ion association model indices improve the realism, and the accuracy, of scale prediction in this manner.

French Creek uses an ion association model in all our programs to extend the applicable ionic strength for calculations, and to provide consistent, reproducible indices for common, and not so common, scale forming species.

Putting to use a sophisticated ion association model, as well as more widely used indices, French Creek revolutionized the evaluation of water related problems and their solutions for cooling water, reverse osmosis, oil field brines & water flood operations, potable water and other related systems.