Five OTEC biofouling and corrosion experiments at Keahole Point, 1976 to 1980

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5426917· OSTI ID:5426917

Munchmeyer, F C; Berger, L R; Liebert, B E

Five groups of experiments are summarized which were conducted on simulated OTEC heat exchangers at Keahole Point, Hawaii in order to evaluate the effects of biological fouling and corrosion on the seawater side of a heat exchanger tube. Sites and field apparatus, heat transfer, water quality, biology and corrosion aspects of the OTEC experiments are discussed. Six candidate tube materials were exposed during the experiments and preliminary answers to corrosion questions were found. Two results are, first, that 5052 aluminum tubes did not pit, and second, that their rate of corrosion was slow enough to suggest a 30-year design life when the tubes are cleaned with a bristle brush. (LEW)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5426917
• Report Number(s): ANL/OTEC-BCM-026; ON: DE82008086
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
ALUMINIUM
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
BUOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CORROSION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IX
FOULING
HAWAII
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
PITTING CORROSION
SERVICE LIFE
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER QUALITY