OBSERVATIONS ON MICROFOULING APPLICABLE TO OTEC SYSTEMS

Solid surfaces exposed to seawater become populated with bacteria in as little as four hours. Subsequent colonization by a variety of microorganisms produces a complex microfouling layer including their extracellular metabolities and cellular breakdown products, water-borne detrital material, and metal corrosion products (on metal surfaces). The presence of such a primary film on a heat exchange surface may well hinder heat transfer and may be critical to an OTEC system already operating at a low theoretical Carnot efficiency. Furthermore, the metabolic activity within this microcosm may enhance corrosion processes. The succession of periphytic microorganisms was observed for a variety of surfaces, including glass, stainless steel, brass and copper-nickel alloys, submerged in natural seawater. The nature of the periphytic community was influenced more by the composition of the substratum than by the nature of the background planktonic microbiota. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the OTEC Biofouling and Corrosion Symposium, Oct 77, Seattle, WA.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Miami, Miami

  Department of Microbiology
  Miami, FL  United States  33124
• Authors:
  • Gerchakov, S M
  • Marszalek, D S
  • Roth, F J
  • Sallman, B
  • Udey, L R
• Publication Date: 1977-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 42 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biodeterioration; Brass; Copper alloys; Corrosion; Energy conversion; Fouling organisms; Glass; Heat exchangers; Heat transfer; Laboratory tests; Marine engineering; Microorganisms; Nickel alloys; Oceans; Seawater; Stainless steel; Temperature gradients; Test facilities; Thermal power generation
• Candidate Terms: Seawater corrosion
• Old TRIS Terms: Corrosion mechanisms; Ocean environments
• Subject Areas: Energy; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00174486
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: N00014-76-C-0076
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM