Biofouling Control Using Ultrasonic and Ultraviolet Treatments

ABSTRACT: Experiments were conducted at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii to determine the effectiveness of non-chemical techniques to control biofouling. The two techniques investigated were ultrasonic and ultraviolet. The colonization of microorganisms attracts higher order organisms; therefore, deactivation of microorganisms to prevent colony should reduce the fouling propensity. The major objective of the present investigation was to develop a biofouling model and analyze the experimental data to show the effects of reducing the microorganism activation in the incoming water. The results show that reducing the microorganism activation in the incoming water increases the induction period of low fouling rate, but the growth is not affected.