Limiting Biofouling of Tidal Turbines through Surface Engineering

2016年，英国使用可再生能源发电的比例为28%，超过了煤炭和核能[1]。潮汐能很可能在英国可再生能源能力的持续增长中发挥关键作用。潮汐发电最常用的是水平轴涡轮机，由混凝土基座和支撑涡轮机叶片的塔架组成。潮汐涡轮机面临着贻贝生物污染的问题。定居开始于涡轮机结构的静态部件，并最终扩散到运动叶片，这显著限制了效率。海洋生物的定居遵循一个顺序，即表面被逐渐变大的生物体占据[2]。文献综述将研究这种殖民序列的性质，对其他生物的依赖性，以及有利于附着的表面条件。然后，将有可能确定新的，无毒的表面处理限制贻贝生物污损。选择的方法将采取两种形式：限制（i）贻贝定殖的表面，或（ii）前体生物定殖的表面，同时不限制涡轮机的效率。该项目的实验室活动将包括评估各种被确定为潜在合适的表面。处理将应用于钢和混凝土表面，并根据接触角、表面积、微观结构和摩擦系数进行表征。将通过暴露于模拟海水来评估耐久性。将通过模拟进行长期业绩预测。在确定了合适的表面后，将尝试改进配方和应用技术以提高性能。然后将在现场对可行的表面处理进行评估。钢和混凝土样本将进行表面处理，并与未经处理的对照品一起部署在海洋环境中。贻贝的建立通常需要大约12个月的时间，之后将检索标本并在覆盖范围方面进行评估。

In 2016 the share of the UK's electricity generated using renewable sources was 28%, exceeding those of coal and nuclear energy [1]. It is likely that tidal power will play a key role in the continued growth of the UK's renewable energy capability. Tidal power generation most commonly uses horizontal axis turbines, consisting of a concrete base and a pylon supporting the turbine blades. Tidal turbines face the problem of biofouling by mussels. Colonisation starts on the static components of the turbine structure, and eventually spreads to the moving blades, which significantly limits efficiency.Colonisation by marine life follows a sequence where the surface is occupied by progressively larger organisms [2]. A literature review will examine the nature of such colonisation sequences, dependencies on other organisms, and surface conditions favouring attachment. It will then be possible to identify novel, non-toxic surface treatments for limiting mussel biofouling. Approaches to selection will take two forms: surfaces which limit (i) mussel colonisation, or (ii) colonisation by precursor organisms, whilst not limiting turbine efficiency.The project's laboratory-based activities will involve evaluation of a variety of surfaces identified as being potentially suitable. Treatments will be applied to steel and concrete surfaces and characterised in terms of contact angle, surface area, microstructure and coefficient of friction. Durability will be evaluated through exposure to simulated seawater. Projection of longer-tem performance will be conducted through modelling. Where suitable surfaces are identified, refinement of formulations and application techniques will be attempted to enhance performance.Viable surface treatments will then be evaluated in the field. Steel and concrete specimens will be treated with surface treatments and deployed in marine environments alongside untreated controls. Mussel establishment typically takes around 12 months, after which specimens will be retrieved and evaluated in terms of coverage.