396
N. T. Mathew et al.
sustainable online biofouling mitigation techniques. Other online biofouling mitigation techniques include physical and mechanical methods. These methods do not
involve the usage of chemical agents, but their applicability is limited and depends
on various factors like the type and geometry of the heat exchanger, intensity of the
fouling, operations conditions and so on (Müller-Steinhagen et al. 2011). Some examples of online mechanical methods consist of the usage of different cleaning projectiles (for example, sponge balls, and wire brushes) and tube inserts (for example,
twisted tapes, coils, and wire matrix inserts) (Müller-Steinhagen et al. 2011). The
examples of physical methods of online biofouling mitigation include the application
of electric fields, sonic technologies, magnetic fields, ultraviolet light, and surface
modifications using surface coatings (Trueba et al. 2015). Several quantitative efforts
are currently ongoing to further develop and improve the online biofouling mitigation
techniques so that they are more environment-friendly and at the same time economical. The successful implementation of such green initiatives in the market requires
the combined and collaborative efforts of researchers, heat equipment manufacturing
companies and also heat exchanger users [offshore industries].
25.5 Conclusion
The results from the literature review and the qualitative interviews conducted show
that heat exchanger biofouling contributes to major environmental issues like global
warming and climate change. From an economic perspective, marine biofouling
increases both operational expenditure and maintenance expenditure in offshore
industrial processes. Although the use of chemical agents is effective in fouling
mitigation, it affects marine life and also causes significant health and safety issues
to humans through air, land and water pollution. Hence, this paper highlights the need
to develop and adopt new solutions for biofouling prevention in heat exchangers that
are eco-friendly but at the same cost-effective. Further research, both qualitative
& quantitative is needed to identify such sustainable biofouling prevention techniques, their effectiveness in preventing biofouling, and how these techniques could
be introduced in the heat exchanger industry.
Acknowledgements The research study has been carried out as part of a joint research project
coordinated by NEPTUNE Consortium and co-financed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Program under
Grant Agreement 691554. The work has been done within the Division of Production Systems at
the Chalmers University of Technology. The support is gratefully acknowledged.
N. T. Mathew et al.
sustainable online biofouling mitigation techniques. Other online biofouling mitigation techniques include physical and mechanical methods. These methods do not
involve the usage of chemical agents, but their applicability is limited and depends
on various factors like the type and geometry of the heat exchanger, intensity of the
fouling, operations conditions and so on (Müller-Steinhagen et al. 2011). Some examples of online mechanical methods consist of the usage of different cleaning projectiles (for example, sponge balls, and wire brushes) and tube inserts (for example,
twisted tapes, coils, and wire matrix inserts) (Müller-Steinhagen et al. 2011). The
examples of physical methods of online biofouling mitigation include the application
of electric fields, sonic technologies, magnetic fields, ultraviolet light, and surface
modifications using surface coatings (Trueba et al. 2015). Several quantitative efforts
are currently ongoing to further develop and improve the online biofouling mitigation
techniques so that they are more environment-friendly and at the same time economical. The successful implementation of such green initiatives in the market requires
the combined and collaborative efforts of researchers, heat equipment manufacturing
companies and also heat exchanger users [offshore industries].
25.5 Conclusion
The results from the literature review and the qualitative interviews conducted show
that heat exchanger biofouling contributes to major environmental issues like global
warming and climate change. From an economic perspective, marine biofouling
increases both operational expenditure and maintenance expenditure in offshore
industrial processes. Although the use of chemical agents is effective in fouling
mitigation, it affects marine life and also causes significant health and safety issues
to humans through air, land and water pollution. Hence, this paper highlights the need
to develop and adopt new solutions for biofouling prevention in heat exchangers that
are eco-friendly but at the same cost-effective. Further research, both qualitative
& quantitative is needed to identify such sustainable biofouling prevention techniques, their effectiveness in preventing biofouling, and how these techniques could
be introduced in the heat exchanger industry.
Acknowledgements The research study has been carried out as part of a joint research project
coordinated by NEPTUNE Consortium and co-financed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 Program under
Grant Agreement 691554. The work has been done within the Division of Production Systems at
the Chalmers University of Technology. The support is gratefully acknowledged.