EFFECTS OF NUTRIENTS ON THE BIOFOULING CHARACTERISTICS IN RECIRCULATING COOLING WATER SYSTEM

摘要

The limitation of water resources has led to demands for the development of alternative water resources such as underground water, seawater, rainwater and municipal wastewater. Currently, with regard to the petroleum industry, the reuse of refinery wastewater after advanced treatment to the recirculating cooling water system has gained considerable attention. However, by contrast with fresh water, there are abundant organic substrates and inorganic ions in refinery wastewater, which easily induce biofouling formation in the recirculating cooling water system. Biofouling in general is defined as the accumulation of deposits associated with the growth of living organisms such as microorganisms (bacteria and algae) and macro-organisms (sponge species, etc.), both of which are very common, especially in industrial cooling towers. Biofouling can cause equipment damage through corrosion, down time, decreased energy efficiency due to increased hydraulic pressure (pumping costs), local clogging of cooling towers and increased heat transfer resistance .