PREVENTING FOULING OF SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT

摘要

The build up of solid ferric oxide and ferric sulfide slime on submersible pumps and similar equipment operating in a water environment due to the presence of iron bacteria is prevented by fitting a sacrifical anode (7) and a cathode (14) adjacent the inlet of the equipment, applying an electrolysing current to the electrodes to produce a bactericidal solution of salts from the cathode (T1), operating the equipment for a short period (T2) to draw the bactericidal solution into the equipment. A second cycle of electrolysis (T3) is then carried out to leave the equipment immersed in a bactericidal solution whilst it is not operating. The electrolysis - pumping - electrolysis cycle is controlled by a microprocessor based control unit.