On-line biofouling control in the plate heat exchanger system through osmotic shock

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Cost effective control of biofouling is a challenging task in the hazardous environment, especially in the nuclear power plants and desalination plants. Biofouling control of plate heat exchangers was investigated extensively using osmotic shock and the effectiveness of the method was evaluated using microbiological data. Microbiological analysis were carried out in the inlet and out let sea water and compared before and after the osmotic shock. Prevention of scale deposits in the plate heat exchanger system can benefit particularly nuclear power plants and desalination plants and avoid unexpected production shut-downs resulting in substantial improvement to power production in nuclear power plants. The water quality data showed significant fouling control and improvement in the plate heat exchanger operation. The plate heat exchanger system was examined for two different duration (5 and 10 days) and two different temperature regime in order to test system efficiency and to prevent the biofilm formation. A detailed analysis of the entire treatment process was correlated with the microbiological observation and functioning of the system.</span>