New electrical control methods to prevent power plant fouling

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:149790

Mazzola, M S; Grothaus, G; Walch, M; Jones-Meehan, J; Halpin, M S

Heat exchangers and other power plant related equipment represent critical operational and maintenance concerns Scale formation and biofouling in power plant steam condenser tubes, in service water piping, and in process-liquid piping (manufacturing) are wide spread phenomena.` Biofouling and the resultant corrosion can be major factors in reducing the operating capacity of these systems. Since overrating these systems to account for the degradation -in performance can be selt- defeating, especially with heat exchangers, there is a need for improved prevention technology. The choice of prevention technology is determined not only by economic factors such as maintenance costs and file efficiency, but also by environmental concerns related to the methods used to remediate the fouling. Chemical treatment, either for removal by acid treatment or for prevention by water chemistry control, is a typical remedy. Research into nonchemical methods for prevention of biofouling is justified by the costs associated with current methods and policies. As a result, a recent TVA-sponsored workshop noted several emerging electrical technologies as candidates for the control of biofouling, including the zebra mussel, in both electric utility and ship board systems. These technologies can be separated into remediation methods (i.e., removal of existing fouling) and prevention methods. (KAR) P. 2.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab. Detachment, Stennis Space Center, MS (United States)
• OSTI ID: 149790
• Report Number(s): AD-A--296666/1/XAB; NRL/PP--7333-93-0027
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
MUSSELS
POWER PLANTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT