SBIR-STTR Award

Interphase Materials Inc. (Interphase) proposes the application of its patent pending antibiofouling surface treatment (AST) for the safe prevention of biofouling in OHIO class submarine seawater piping and heat exchanger systems (SPSs). Interphase will explore the feasibility of applying its AST to these systems. Interphase AST prevents biofouling by stopping organism attachment as opposed to killing them with toxic compounds. This approach eliminates the need for expensive electrocatalytic chlorine generation systems to be stored on the submarine and be continually powered. Additionally, because it is a non-leaching technology the potential environmental impacts of biofouling prevention are dramatically decreased. Interphase will assess the effects of the AST on heat transfer and biofouling as well as outline a system for the application of the AST to new and in use SPSs. Based on this data, Interphase will provide an anticipated cost benefit provided by utilizing the AST as opposed to current electrocatalytic chlorine generation protocols or simply leaving the seawater system untreated. Interphase AST has the potential to solve the current biofouling on OHIO class submarines through a surface treatment that prevents fouling without the need for constant power or expensive maintenance.

Benefit:
Anticipated Benefits/Potential Commercial Applications of the Research or Development This technology has potential benefits not only for the OHIO class submarines, but by providing a technology that can effectively prevent biofouling without the need to release toxic substances there are multiple potential applications. Firstly, this technology could be applied to other submarines and vessels, both military and commercial that utilize costly electrochemical chlorine generators or leave their SPSs untreated resulting in expensive cleaning. Additionally, power, chemical, petroleum, and wastewater treatment plants rely on heat exchangers cooled with untreated water, which could benefit from the application of the AST technology. Lastly, current practices for preventing fouling on vessel hulls requires leaching of toxins from coatings that require frequent reapplication to maintain protection. The proposed technology could safely prevent biofouling on a vessel hull as well. This straight forward surface treatment technology has the potential to solve many of the current issues associated with the prevention of biofouling in that it relies on surface chemistry to prevent the attachment of the organisms as opposed to leaching harmful toxins to kill the creatures. This decreases application frequency, eliminates the need for costly chlorine generation systems, and has the potential to be applied to the systems in a minimally invasive way.

Keywords:
nonleaching, nonleaching, nontoxic, Monolayer, surface treatment, antibiofouling, Surface Chemistry, flush through application, catalytic

In this Phase II contract, Interphase Materials will further validate the efficacy of its antibiofouling surface treatment (AST) in preventing biofouling on OHIO-class submarine seawater cooled heat exchangers (HX). The AST is a molecularly thin surface treatment that binds to the substrate, protecting the surface from organism attachment. An intensive field study will be conducted, incorporating AST application on both pristine and previously fouled HXs. Heat transfer properties and biofouling accumulation on these HXs will be monitored carefully over the course of several years in water conditions relevant to the NAVY. This will allow Interphase to provide the NAVY with an accurate model of fouling reduction and thus savings granted through AST application in a warm seawater environment, as well as an estimated timeline for AST reapplication. Concurrently with these field studies, a lab scale test will evaluate the ASTs longevity when exposed to abrasive fluid flow. The team, including Hepburn and Sons LLC, will also begin discussions with technical warrant holders and preparation of the documentation necessary for NAVY implementation on an in-service vessel, so that the transition from Phase II to Phase III may occur seamlessly.

Benefit:
The AST is an excellent replacement for electrocatalytic chlorine generator (ECG) systems, currently used on other vessels to prevent biofouling accumulation, because it is a surface treatment, not a water treatment. The AST simply requires application during a vessel docking to prevent organism fouling. This is a key benefit over ECG systems that have high upfront costs, require frequent maintenance, take up valuable vessel space, and result in environmental concerns. The AST has the potential to provide biofouling protection for the duration of several deployment cycles dramatically decreasing the hydrolancing cleaning required by systems not protected by an ECG. Additionally, the AST may improve heat transfer and decrease corrosion of the HX through its unique surface chemistry. If the antibiofouling properties are confirmed, the AST technology will be useful to all NAVY vessels utilizing seawater cooling systems. AST implementation on NAVY vessels could result decreased maintenance costs, improved vessel performance, and decreased environmental emissions. This technology also has potential applications in the power generation and HVAC industries similarly improving the efficiency of HX systems. Biofouling in these industries, like vessel seawater cooling systems, is an unresolved issue that if solved could result in dramatic efficiency improvements and cost savings.

Keywords:
antibiofouling, Molecularly thin layer, Water-based surface treatment, Field study, Improved efficiency, heat exchanger, OHIO-class submarine, Substrate protection