Parameter estimation of biofouling deposition models on seawater-cooled heat exchangers

The growth of biofilms in seawater-cooled heat exchangers limits the heat exchange of their surfaces, with high impact in the design and maintenance operations. The principal aim of this work has been to study the fit of different biological growth models to the development of biofilms in heat exchangers, with incorporation of the tube surface roughness effects as a main parameter. This study was carried out by rewriting the equations of models with parameters of biological significance. The obtained results have allowed to apply the modified models as a useful tool to predict the biofouling growth. The prediction of the behavior of the biofouling films with different roughness tubes have been compared to the experimental data, with high correlation coefficients.