Fundamentals of anti-fouling problems

For many years the fouling of marine sea water cooling systems including pipe work and heat exchangers has been a problem for vessel owners and operators throughout the world.If left untreated, marine fouling can sometimes accumulate to such an extent that the performance of the cooling systems become completely blocked, causing potential catastrophic failure of the machinery which relies on these systems for cooling. This is especially the case on sea water circuits which are not always in use or where the velocity of the water through the system is low.The types of fouling can be identified by three main categories; Hard Fouling Barnacles, muscles etc. Soft Fouling Plants, animal organisms etc. Slimes Aerobic, anaerobic micro-organisms etc.As a result of this fouling, corrosion also takes place with an increased rate due to the presence of bacterial and hard fouling causing premature failure of the pipe work and/or coolers.Corrosion occurs on all surfaces, ferrous or non-ferrous, which are in contact with seawater and can be difficult and costly to control or repair.There are many variable factors that influence both fouling and corrosion in seawater systems which include, but are not limited to:· Seawater flow rates· temperature fluctuations· salinity· ferrous and non-ferrous pipe work surfaces· bimetallic contacts· local pH or oxygen variations· linings and or coatingsOne of the most effective methods for overcoming the buildup of marine fouling together with the reduction of corrosion rates in seawater cooling systems is combined in the proven performance of the Cupral Anti-Fouling System.