Marine biofouling and its control with particular reference to condenser-cooling circuits of power plants - An overview

Abstract

Biofouling has been a major problem to ships, offshore platforms, marine intakes, data buoys and to almost all marine technology ventures. With the emergence of multi-megawatt power plants during the last three decades more and more nuclear and thermal power stations are turning to the sea to meet their cooling water needs. The use of sea water for condenser cooling has brought the problem of marine biofouling into power-plant mtake and discharge conduits as well as heat exchangers. The problem is paticularly severe in tropics and even more so in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plants wherein the sell, water flows through evaporator as well as condensers. While many approaches are followed for control of biofouling involving chemical, antifouling paints. foul-release coalings, electric charges, velocity and heat, there is no method which can totally prevent It The paper reviews the state of the art in this area largely based on experience from a power station at Kalpakkam, south of Chennai.