Control of biofouling in water pipes using guided waves

Abstract

Biofouling of invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels presents an ongoing problem in industries which draw freshwater from infested sources. In particular, many intake pipes used in the water and power industries are now inhabited by rapidly growing mussel colonies, which are well suited to infiltrate and settle on pipe walls. Left untreated, mussel fouling can cause substantial reductions in flow, blockages, and damage to downstream equipment, incurring significant economic costs. Many potential treatments have been considered but as of yet, no consensus has been reached on a comprehensive antifouling strategy. A growing body of research suggests that zebra mussels are sensitive to sound and vibration. Lab experiments have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the settlement of mussels or even induce mortality with high enough sound amplitudes.

This project explores the feasibility of using sound and vibration to control mussel fouling in long-range water pipelines. Specifically, the dispersive properties of guided waves in pipes are utilized to achieve high response amplitudes at targeted locations, with time reversal focusing employed to maximise the response. The work begins by analysing a rigid duct model, neglecting pipe wall dynamics to study the acoustic system in isolation. The effectiveness of time reversal focusing is assessed. Next, the Wave Finite Element method is used to model fluid-structure interaction, with a focus on energy distribution, long-range power transfer, and optimal excitation frequencies.

Finally, a numerical experiment is performed with a model of a commercial inertial actuator coupled to the pipe. Results are compared with the literature on mussel antifouling. The model suggests that inhibitory levels of sound and vibration can be attained at significant distances from the source by using time reversal focussing. To conclude, implications of the work are discussed for the feasibility of mussel antifouling with sound and vibration.

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