OTEC biofouling, corrosion, and materials study from a moored platform at Punta Tuna, Puerto Rico - 1. - fouling resistance

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Ocean Sci. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6346426

Sasscer, D S; Morgan, T O; Rivera, C; Tosteson, T R; Zaidi, B R; Revuelta, R; Iman, S H; Axtmayer, R W; de Vore, D; Ballantine, D L

A biofouling test of 404 days was conducted on evaporator tubes of an ocean thermal energy conversion plant of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research. The fouling resistance (R/sub f/), total surface carbon and nitrogen content, ATP, and the wet film thickness (WFT) were determined throughout the test. Visual observations of the fouling film were made by light sectioning and scanning microscopy, and at the end of the test, a study was made of the macrofouling of the flow system. The results of these tests indicate that a base layer of bacteria and exudated polysaccharides enhance microbial adhesion and thereby create an environment conducive to rapid film growth. Fouling rates (dR/sub f//dt) for aluminum were generally higher than for titanium but they were linear for both materials and did not exceed 0.3(10/sup -4/)ft/sup 2/-hr-/degree/F/Btu-day for either material during the 13-month study. Excellent correlation was found to exist between R/sub f/ and WFT, which supports the hypothesis that it is the stagnant film of water entrapped by bacteria which is largely responsible for the insulating properties of the biofilm. The macrofouling study identified 61 species of benthic invertebrates representing ten phyla growing in those parts of the flow system, where flow was less than 3 fps but no macrofouling where the flow velocity significantly exceeded 3 fps. 24 refs.

• Research Organization: Univ of PR, Mayaguez
• OSTI ID: 6346426
• Journal Information: Ocean Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Ocean Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 6:4; ISSN OSEND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALUMINIUM
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL FOULING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CORROSION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FILMS
FOULING
GREATER ANTILLES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INVERTEBRATES
ISLANDS
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
MOORINGS
NORTH AMERICA
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
PUERTO RICO
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUBES
USA
WEST INDIES