SEAWATER TREATMENT

THE CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE FOULING OF SEAWATER SYSTEMS

The type of organism responsible for the fouling of sea water cooling systems are
principally mollusc (e.g. mussels), crustacean (e.g. barnacles), bacteria and plant life.
The implementation of local and international control measures for prevention of
pollution has resulted in a substantial increase in problems associated with fouling. This
is due to reduced toxic effluent from industry and marine traffic, which has greatly
encouraged growth in rivers , estuaries and coastal waters.

While it has been customary to apply chlorine, either using liquid sodiumhypochlorite or
electro-chlorination or heavily toxic anti-foulants, this practice has proved to be an
imperfect solution to the problems. Although chlorine may effectively kill marine growth,
it will not remove it from the system.

In addition, chlorine dosage levels

and dosing frequency must be
strictly controlled where aluminium,
brass and cupronickel alloys are
involved , since the presence of
chlorine will cause filming of the
alloys which, if damaged, will lead
to corrosion through large potential
differences between filmed and
bare surfaces.

It is essential that metal surfaces

are kept clean of both organic and
inorganic deposits, since
deposition corrosion can occur.

The presence of organic material, whether alive or dead, on metal surfaces not only
reduces flow and heat transfer efficiency, but will also encourage corrosion.

SCALING

The build up of water scale in heat exchangers is often caused by shell fragments. In
most cases, pieces of shell, capable of partially choking a tube, can only have come
from mollusc and crustacean growing upstream in the system. The seawater inlet
strainers are usually too fine for them to come from outside. Only the tiny “embryo” can
be drawn in during spawning, whilst a vessel is in coastal areas. It is worth noting that
one adult mussel releases thousands of eggs!

The ones that develop in the ideal environment of the seawater system, are those which
cause partial blockage of tubes.
This is closely followed by further build ups of particles such as sand. At the same time,
local overheating occurs and scale starts to build up rapidly.

Therefore, the use of an effective marine growth treatment program will also greatly
reduce the frequency of scaling in heat exchangers.

WHAT CAN BE DONE AGAINST FOULING ?

The development of a suitable product to provide protection against all types of marine
fouling scaling and associated corrosion had to fulfil the following requirements:
- effectiveness against large marine animals such as mollusc, crustacean and
marine worms
- broad biocidal activity against bacteria and similar small organism
- ability to disperse organics and other deposits
- compatibility with materials of circuit construction
- environmental acceptability

The formulation of Aquality Caretreat 5 SeaWater, a di-amine based product in liquid

form, was selected as meeting these requirements.

Apart from its broad spectrum activity against seawater organism, the product has the
additional property of being an excellent general purpose dispersant. With its affinity for
metals, it will lift inorganic or organic deposits, maintain systems cleanliness, and give
a level of corrosion protection by its filming action.

Sea trials on vessels operating on short sea routes, followed by further trials on large
tankers engaged on Arabian Gulf / North European and Mediterranean voyages,
confirmed the effectiveness of the product.

Aquality Caretreat 5 SeaWater

- Prevents fouling of entire sea water system

- Prevents scaling of heat exchangers
- Protects against corrosion
- Excellent dispersant
- Environmentally safe
- Easily applied liquid
- Economic dosing requirements

Approvals

- Formulation has been approved by U.K. Department of the Environment for use in
sea water systems incorporating evaporators producing potable water
- The product does not contravene I.M.O. regulations concerning overboard
discharge
 SWT (Sea Water Treatment) DOSING EQUIPMENT
Aquality has designed SWT dosing equipment for use on board as well on sailing
yachts as motor yachts. As a standard the dosing systems are equipped with two (2)
outlets for the dosage of the product on to two seawater inlets or chests.

The systems run a fully automated dosing and control program and can be operated
from the yachts automation system.

On request custom build systems, with up to five (5) outlets can be supplied.

SWT-2 SY/MY 1000

300 200 300

POW ER ON V ALVE PS VALV E SB LOW L EVEL

UN I T R ESET
O FF/O N 24 / 48 h. PS -PS/S B-SB ALARM
300

400

DOSING PUMP
0
1
Signal from fault indicating relay
dosingpump

230 VAC Power supply pump

IN OUT
230 VAC Power supply PS Valve

230 VAC Power supply SB Valve

Signal Fault indicating relay Dosingpump

Signal Dosingpump Running

Power supply to Dosingpump 230 VAC

Signal low Level Alarm

Power supply to Valve SB 230 VAC
Power supply to Valve PS 230 VAC
MAINS Power supply 230 VAC 50 /60 Hz

External Release

Suction assembly

DOSIN G PU MP

LS
Suction ass em bly

SWT-2 SY/MY 1000 DOSING SYSTEM

LS
FIRE FIGHTING

CROSSOVER

SWT-2 SY 1000 DOSING SYSTEM

SEACH EST SEACHEST

SWT-2 SY 1000 plus DOSING SYSTEM

AQUALITY CARETREAT 5 SeaWater Dosage Rates

Deep Sea Vessels

Aquality Caretreat 5 SeaWater should be 1000

DOSAG E IN LTRS per HOUR , REL ATIVE TO
m3/hr

metered into the sea chests or strainers at the S EAWATER CIRCULATION P UMP CAPACITY in m3/ hr.

rate of 6 ml/m3 of seawater flow over a period of 900

an hour every forty-eight hours. 800

Coastal Vessels 700

Aquality Caretreat 5 SeaWater should be 600

metered into the sea chests or strainers at the

rate of 6-18 ml/m3 of seawater flow over a 500

period of an hour every twenty-four hours.

400

Depending of the contents of the Seawater 300

coolingwater system, the dosing frequency or

dosing time can be altered for the specific 200

vessel.
100

At port operation the coolingwater flow will be

much increased, so the dosing rate has to be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

increased. On request this action can be ltrs/hr

automated.