Efficiency Enriched Seawater Intake Through Innovative Inspection and Cleaning Techniques
Authors: AlSuwaidi Saeed , Al Ani Ayman 
Published: November 2024

Seawater is needed for chemistry, energy, and desalination. These devices collect massive amounts of seawater for desalination, cooling, and processing. These industries’ performance and cost-effectiveness depend on seawater intake system reliability. In hostile marine environments, seawater intake systems face biofouling, silt, and corrosion.

Biofouling plagues seawater intake systems. Wet intake screens and lines support bacteria, plants, algae, and animals. BIOFouling jams screens and prevents water flow. It also causes corrosion and increases maintenance, reducing intake system performance. Mechanical cleaning, biocides, and antifouling coats treat biofouling. These solutions may work temporarily but harm the environment. Biocides can harm unintended sea creatures and render biofouling resistant. Sediment buildup troubles ocean intake systems. Intake channels and lines can acquire sea sand, silt, and organic garbage. Deposition reduces water flow cross-sectional area, making the device less efficient and more energy-intensive to pump. Sediment and wear can damage motor parts and increase maintenance expenses. Hard dredging and hand flushing may not remove all silt. Saltwater and air in the marine environment erode seawater intake system metals. System corrosion increases maintenance costs by weakening buildings and requiring additional repairs. Two strategies to prevent rust are coatings and cathodic protection. These methods require continual monitoring and maintenance. Due to these issues, we need better techniques to evaluate and clean seawater entry systems to improve performance and longevity. Technology makes solving and maintaining these issues straightforward. This study discusses robotic inspection systems, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaning, and built-in tracking. Robotic inspection devices improve seawater intake system care. These self-driving or remotely operated automobiles can navigate difficult terrain and provide real-time intake structure data thanks to their high-resolution cameras and sophisticated sensors. Robotic examinations pinpoint biofouling, silt, and corrosion maintenance sites. This reduces hand checks in dangerous spots and improves maintenance accuracy and speed. Innovative biofouling solutions include eco-friendly cleansers. These marine compounds degrade naturally and are harmless for all life. They eliminate biofilms and organic debris without harming other organisms. Cleaning products are evaluated in the lab and field to ensure efficacy and environmental safety. Maintenance with eco-friendly cleaning products is better for the environment than biocides. Ultrasonic cleaning safely removes biofilms and sediments from seawater-absorbing systems. Ultrasonic waves move debris, and water removes it. This method cleans surfaces well and reduces handwashing. Ultrasonic cleaning can be done regularly or continually depending on intake system needs. Combine it with other maintenance methods for optimum results. Integrating robotic scans, chemical sensors, and ultrasonic devices gives a complete intake system view. Advanced data analytics and prediction algorithms can detect biofouling, silt buildup, and corrosion early. Real-time monitoring and planning for planned maintenance via integrated monitoring systems improves efficiency and prevents breakdowns. Seawater intake systems will last longer and operate better with this precaution. These new inspection and cleaning methods have several benefits. Their reliability and efficiency ensure the seawater intake system functions effectively in critical industrial applications. Second, by using fewer chemicals and extending life, they reduce environmental impact. Third, they reduce manual inspections and cleanings in risky sea conditions, making personnel safer. Finally, they reduced repairs, replacements, downtime, and staff expenditures. Problems with seawater entrance systems require imaginative inspection and cleaning. Robotic inspection, eco-friendly cleaning chemicals, ultrasonic cleaning, and integrated tracking systems have made good progress in this field. This prevents biofouling, silt buildup, and corrosion, making seawater intake systems more efficient and durable. This study will examine these new methodologies, their results, and their effects. It will also examine seawater intake system maintenance changes.