Mineral deposits in the water portion of a cooled condensor act as?

Mineral deposits in the water portion of a cooled condenser act as scale. Scale is a hard, crusty deposit that can build up on the surfaces of heat transfer equipment, such as condensers, boilers, and heat exchangers. It is formed when dissolved minerals in water are precipitated out of solution and deposited on the surfaces of the equipment. Scale can reduce the efficiency of heat transfer equipment, leading to increased energy costs and decreased productivity.