Biofilm Minutes - Power Plants

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In a heat exchanger, a major component of any power plant, a 20 microns thick bacterial layer (biofilm) can cause a 30% decrease in thermal efficiency: biofilm, indeed, is up to 4 times more insulating than calcium carbonate scale. Moreover, biofilm can increase inorganic fouling, producing sticky substances that increase particles adhesion. For these reasons, large amounts of chemical substances (biocides) are used to limit microbiological growth in such systems.

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