The formation of biofilms on heat exchange surfaces
was studied using water with Pseudomonas fluorescens
as a contaminant and also a mixture of these bacteria
and kaolin particles. In every case increasing the
fluid velocity resulted in a decrease in the final
amount of deposit and in the deposition rate . The
effect of the fluid velocity was interpreted using a
mathematical model and it was found that cell
adhesion and reproduction were the fundamental
processes controlling the deposition rate .
The presence of inorganic particles in the
deposit enhanced the biofilm growth rate . This result
was explained by the differences in the structure of
the fouling layers
