On-line monitoring of biofilm and TRO by a new ENEL's system

To improve the chlorination treatments of steam condenser cooling sea water, ENEL has recently set up an innovative electrochemical system which monitors, online, the biofilm growth and the concentration of effective TRO (total residual oxidane) diffusing toward the sensor surface. This system utilises a probe installed in a suitable way in the sea water cooling circuit and processes its response to evaluate the changes of kinetics of the electrochemical processes of metal surfaces induced by bacteria settlement. The system was tested at Vado Ligure power station (Italy) . The results are discussed in this work. The results point out that this new device will be useful to optimise the biocide treatments under most different conditions.