17-05: A Study on Bio-fouling Characteristics of Contemporary Trickle and

The development and marketing of contemporary modular trickle and splash fills has yielded a perception that any “wire frame model” type fill offers similar resistance to fouling as classic splash bar fills. However laboratory testing and real world experiences have shown that these fills exhibit similar responses to bio-fouling problems as film fills with respect to product design and flute geometry. A systematic laboratory method of evaluating weight gain due to bio-fouling and sediment accumulation illustrates the effects that these different design elements have on the actual fouling resistnace of this type of fill.