This study quantitatively evaluates the antifouling action of the continuous physical treatment with electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of seawater used as heat exchanger fluid in an open rack vaporizer (ORV) pilot plant to reduce the growth of biofouling on external rib-tube surfaces. The results demonstrate that the biofilm adhered on the treated rib-tubes was reduced by 33% in thickness and by 44% in dissolved solids regarding the biofilm adhered on the untreated control rib-tubes. The lower conductivity and Ca2+ and Mg2+ ionic content in the effluent of the treated seawater confirmed that the EMFs accelerated the process of ionic calcium nucleation and precipitation as calcium carbonate. The precipitation of ions dissolved affected the inter-molecular interactions among extracellular polymers, thereby weakening the biofouling film matrix and reducing its adhesion capacity. The drag of small particles by the flow of seawater had an erosive action and decreased the biofouling film thickness. Consequently, the antifouling methods treatment with EMFs allowed reduce the negative effect that the biofouling have for the heat transfer equipment used in the regasification process and keep the highest techno-economic operating conditions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
November 25 2015
Mitigation of marine biofouling on tubes of open rack vaporizers using electromagnetic fields
Alfredo Trueba;
Alfredo Trueba
1Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Ship Construction, University of Cantabria, C/ Gamazo 1, 39004 Santander, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Luis M. Vega;
1Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Ship Construction, University of Cantabria, C/ Gamazo 1, 39004 Santander, Spain
E-mail: vegalm@unican.es
Search for other works by this author on:
Sergio García;
Sergio García
1Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Ship Construction, University of Cantabria, C/ Gamazo 1, 39004 Santander, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Félix M. Otero;
Félix M. Otero
1Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Ship Construction, University of Cantabria, C/ Gamazo 1, 39004 Santander, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Ernesto Madariaga
Ernesto Madariaga
1Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Ship Construction, University of Cantabria, C/ Gamazo 1, 39004 Santander, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2016) 73 (5): 1221–1229.
Article history
Received:
July 30 2015
Accepted:
November 10 2015
Citation
Alfredo Trueba, Luis M. Vega, Sergio García, Félix M. Otero, Ernesto Madariaga; Mitigation of marine biofouling on tubes of open rack vaporizers using electromagnetic fields. Water Sci Technol 4 March 2016; 73 (5): 1221–1229. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.597
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Impact Factor 2.430
CiteScore 3.4 • Q2
13 days submission to first
decision
1,439,880 downloads in 2021
191
Views
3
Citations