Experimental Investigation of Seawater Biofouling for Enhanced Surfaces.

摘要

An experimental study is carried out to determine biofouling characteristics for enhanced surfaces. As a part of the OTEC biofouling project, two types of heat-transfer enhanced surfaces are used; spirally indented and fluted tubes. The experimental program is carried out at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. The results are compared to plain-surface fouling data and key differences are identified. The experimental results show that for enhanced surfaces, the rate of fouling is comparable to that for plain surfaces. Moreover, the rate of chlorination required for maintaining the fouling resistance within an acceptable value is more-or-less the same. Manual brush cleaning and chlorination for removal of film of fouled surface is possible, provided excessive fouling buildup is not allowed. The interactive effects of thermal-hydraulic phenomena and fouling mechanisms are examined. The literature data are evaluated along with the present results to explain the fouling behavior of enhanced surfaces. 17 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.