Mitigation of marine biofouling on tubes of open rack vaporizers using electromagnetic fields.

This study quantitatively evaluates the antifouling action of the continuous physical treatment with electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of seawater used as heat exchanger fluid in an open rack vaporizer (ORV) pilot plant to reduce the growth of biofouling on external rib-tube surfaces. The results demonstrate that the biofilm adhered on the treated rib-tubes was reduced by 33% in thickness and by 44% in dissolved solids regarding the biofilm adhered on the untreated control rib-tubes. The lower conductivity and Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ionic content in the effluent of the treated seawater confirmed that the EMFs accelerated the process of ionic calcium nucleation and precipitation as calcium carbonate.

Influence of flow velocity on biofilm growth in a tubular heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater.

The influence of flow velocity (FV) on the heat transfer process in tubes made from AISI 316L stainless steel in a heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater was evaluated based on the characteristics of the resulting biofilm that adhered to the internal surface of the tubes at velocities of 1, 1.2, 1.6, and 3 m s(-1).

The effect of electromagnetic fields on biofouling in a heat exchange system using seawater.

This article discusses the antifouling action of a continuous physical treatment process comprising the application of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to seawater used as the refrigerant fluid in a heat exchanger-condenser to maintain the initial 'clean tube' condition. The results demonstrated that the EMFs accelerated the ionic nucleation of calcium and precipitation as calcium carbonate, which weakened the growing biofilm and reduced its adhesion capacity. Consequently, EMFs induced an erosive effect that reduced biofilm formation and fouling.

Mitigation of biofouling using electromagnetic fields in tubular heat exchangers-condensers cooled by seawater.

Electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment is presented as an alternative physical treatment for the mitigation of biofouling adhered to the tubes of a heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater. During an experimental phase, a fouling biofilm was allowed to grow until experimental variables indicated that its growth had stabilised. Subsequently, EMF treatment was applied to seawater to eliminate the biofilm and to maintain the achieved cleanliness.

Study of the activity of quaternary ammonium compounds in the mitigation of biofouling in heat exchangers-condensers cooled by seawater.

The effectiveness of two quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) (non-oxidising biocides) to reduce the growth of biofilm adhering to the tubes of a heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater was evaluated. Their effectiveness was compared to that of a conventional oxidising biocide (sodium hypochlorite [NaOCl]) under the same testing conditions. Each biocide was applied intermittently (6 h on, 6 h off) in a first shock stage (1.