MICROFOULING PROBLEM AND THE FUTURE OF THE OCEAN THERMAL-ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC) PROGRAM

The Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) concept is looked upon as a potentially important, renewable source of electric power for the future, deserving of study and possible development. In the closed cycle system which has been selected for study, warm surface ocean water is used to evaporate a working fluid to a vapor that drives a low-pressure gas turbine which powers electrical generators. Microfouling in the form of a so-called ″slime layer″ invariably develops on all solid surfaces exposed to seawater. Such films have been reported to significantly affect the performance of heat exchangers by acting as insulators. Estimates of film thickness have been correlated with degradation of heat exchange capacity and have clearly suggested that microfouling is a major obstacle to the successful development of the OTEC concept into a useful adjunct to the worlds energy supply.