Industrial Cooling Systems and Antibiofouling Strategies: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The biofouling on cooling systems surfaces is one of the major problems in industrial processes because it causes operational drawbacks that interfere in the process performance. The application of biofouling control methods is essential in cooling system operation to minimize biofilm formation on the equipment surfaces, thus maintaining energy demand, increasing operational performance, and providing cost savings. In this context, this work presents a literature review on strategies to control biofilm on surfaces using chemical and physical methods, improving the understanding of the biofouling formation mechanism, and the adverse effects on industrial cooling system equipment. This review examines the chemical and physical methods efficiently employed as antibiofouling strategies for cooling systems, theoretical framework, recent research findings, antimicrobial mechanisms involved, advantages, limitations, feasibility, and operational range. A comparison between chemical and physical methods is highlighted, as are gaps in the literature concerning antibiofouling strategies for the surfaces of cooling systems.

Key ingredients and recycling strategy of personal protective equipment (PPE): Towards sustainable solution for the COVID-19 like pandemics

“…Furthermore, it decays to produce salt and less toxic results, which are nonreactive to alcohol/ammonia. On the other side, H 2 O 2 is generally utilized as the disinfectant tool in a nonchlorine-based processing method [138] . This works to oxidize and denature proteins and lipids, creating the membrane's disorganization by expanding the saturated H + ions.…”

Synergistic Benefits of Micro/Nanostructured Oil-Impregnated Surfaces in Reducing Fouling while Enhancing Heat Transfer

“…Instead, a range of both physical and chemical methods have been investigated and applied to minimize the negative impacts of fouling on heat exchanger performance. 1,11,12 These approaches have their respective sets of advantages and drawbacks. 12 Among the chemical treatment methods, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is most commonly applied as it is a low-cost treatment with high antimicrobial efficiency, but this method results in ecologically damaging emissions that can form carcinogenic byproducts.…”

“…1,11,12 These approaches have their respective sets of advantages and drawbacks. 12 Among the chemical treatment methods, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is most commonly applied as it is a low-cost treatment with high antimicrobial efficiency, but this method results in ecologically damaging emissions that can form carcinogenic byproducts. 11,12 Other more environmentally benign chemical treatments such as chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ) can also be applied to prevent biofouling in heat exchangers, but their efficacy is limited to specific temperature ranges and/or shorter time intervals.…”

Experimental Characterization of Liquid Flows in Cooling Tower Packing

“…Knowledge of flows in cooling towers and, more particularly, in packing is essential not only for understanding their operation and evaluating their performance but also for studying all the biochemicophysical phenomena that could occur. Hydrodynamics have a direct impact on chemical and biofouling that reduce the cooling efficiency and therefore industrial plant performances, inducing economic consequences …”

“…Hydrodynamics have a direct impact on chemical and biofouling that reduce the cooling efficiency and therefore industrial plant performances, inducing economic consequences. 1 Various studies on different aspects of wet counterflow cooling towers have been carried out over the past decades. Kloppers and Kroger 2 and Erens 3 wrote complete overviews of the phenomena involved in industrial packings.…”