SBIR Phase I: Real Time Biofouling Monitor

生物污染是指微生物活性膜（生物膜）在表面的生长，对许多水系统的短期和长期性能都有不利影响。生物膜的热阻降低了热交换器的效率，随着生物膜污染管道系统的收缩，压力增加和流量减少，微生物影响腐蚀（MIC）导致系统寿命缩短。开环海水或淡水系统特别值得关注，因为排放水中的杀菌剂污染物水平受到监管。实时监测生物膜的发展可以优化生物污染控制策略，从而降低系统运行和维护成本，减少环境污染。在第一阶段的工作中，Sensor Research and Development Corporation打算展示在一种新型配置中利用石英晶体微天平（QCM）的成熟技术实时监测海水生物膜生长的可行性。该显示器预计将是低成本，紧凑和坚固；允许其广泛应用于许多应用中的生物污染控制。实时生物污垢监测仪将在系统整体性能下降之前提供管道和冷却系统表面生物膜发展的信息，从而允许控制策略，最大限度地减少杀菌剂的使用，最大化系统性能，并提供系统参数在可接受范围内的信心。市场包括：船用冷却系统，包括海水和淡水；利用海水或淡水冷却的岸上发电厂；水产养殖海水系统；以及食品工业加工系统。

9860746 Biofouling, the growth of microbiologically active films (biofilms) on surfaces, adversely affects both the short and long term performance of many aqueous systems. Efficiency of heat exchangers is degraded by the thermal resistance of biofilms, increased pressure and decreased flow accompany the constriction of piping systems fouled with biofilms, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) contributes to the reduction of system lifetimes. Open-loop seawater or fresh water systems are of particular concern because biocide contaminant levels in discharge water are subject to regulation.Monitoring biofilm development in real time would allow for optimization of biofouling control strategies, which would reduce system operating and maintenance costs and reduce environmental pollution.In this Phase I effort, Sensor Research and Development Corporation intends to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the mature technology of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a novel configuration to monitor the growth of seawater biofilms in real time. The monitor is expected to be low cost, compact, and rugged; allowing for its widespread use in the control of biofouling in many applications. A real time biofouling monitor will provide information on the development of biofilms on the surfaces of piping and cooling systems prior to the manifestation of overall system performance degradation, thereby allowing for control strategies that will minimize biocide use, maximize system performance, and provide confidence that system parameters are within an acceptable range. Markets include: shipboard cooling systems, both seawater and freshwater based; on-shore power plants utilizing seawater or freshwater cooling; aquaculture seawater systems; and food industry processing systems.