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Traditionally undesired growth of organisms in heat
exchanger inlets, a.o. in use in process industries, is
prevented by using biocides. MICANTI has developed a
technology to prevent biofouling in an ecological way.
The direct costs of biofouling
consist of the costs for preventing the growth of
organisms and the increase of energy needed for higher
flow rates to keep the heat transfer on the right level
(faster flow, higher flow resistance). Very often the
design of the heat exchangers will be chosen larger and
more expensive, to take into account the decreased heat
exchange due to fouling.
Other costs resulting from biofouling,
like material damage due to corrosion and wear, failed
equipment or bad quality of the production, are not so
easy to calculate, because of their indirect effect.
However, it is clear that biofouling is a key component
in equipment deterioration. |
