🔍 Key Concepts

• Heat exchanger fouling and scale formation mechanisms in seawater systems • Effect of temperature on mineral precipitation in cooling water • Typical causes of scale vs. causes of mechanical damage or loss of flow in heat exchangers

💭 Think About

• Which choice would make dissolved minerals in seawater more likely to come out of solution and deposit on the tubes? • Which options mainly describe mechanical problems (damage, leaks, punctures) rather than a chemical condition that promotes scale? • How does changing the seawater temperature through the cooler affect its ability to cause or prevent scale formation?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option directly involves higher seawater temperature inside the heat exchanger. • Eliminate options that primarily cause physical damage or loss of filtration but do not inherently increase mineral precipitation. • Recall that scale formation generally increases with temperature until very high temperatures where other effects may occur.