The time during which newly installed or cleaned heat transfer surfaces remain free of fouling deposits thick enough to diminish heat transfer coefficients or energy efficiency is often called the “induction period,” a term disguising lack of knowledge of the microfouling events actually occurring. Using novel flow cells to conduct water of fresh, brackish, and oceanic quality, natural and treated with antifouling chemicals, over test surfaces of different clean and coated metals, it has been observed that the initial pattern of fouling deposits is remarkably similar in all circumstances. Rapid adsorption of protein-dominated films is followed by attachment of rodlike bacteria, bacterial exudation, colonization by a second wave of prosthecate microorganisms, additional secretion, and growth of debris-trapping filamentous appendages. Although inappropriate to extrapolate the noted rates of these processes to in-plant heat exchangers at present, this sequence of microfouling events seems universal enough to characterize the induction period of all water-side biofouling phenomena.
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Surface Microfouling During the Induction Period
R. E. Baier,
R. E. Baier
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
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A. E. Meyer,
A. E. Meyer
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
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V. A. DePalma,
V. A. DePalma
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
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R. W. King,
R. W. King
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
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M. S. Fornalik
M. S. Fornalik
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
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R. E. Baier
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
A. E. Meyer
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
V. A. DePalma
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
R. W. King
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
M. S. Fornalik
Advanced Technology Center, Calspan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y. 14225
J. Heat Transfer. Aug 1983, 105(3): 618-624 (7 pages)
Published Online: August 1, 1983
Article history
Received:
December 14, 1981
Online:
October 20, 2009
Citation
Baier, R. E., Meyer, A. E., DePalma, V. A., King, R. W., and Fornalik, M. S. (August 1, 1983). "Surface Microfouling During the Induction Period." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. August 1983; 105(3): 618–624. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3245630
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