Dictionary - Definition of FOULING

"Fouling" is a common misspelling or typo for: foiling, fourling, foulings.

Date "Fouling" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1596. (references)

Fouling

Heat exchanger in a steam power plant, fouled by macro fouling

Condenser tube with residues of biofouling (cut open)

Condenser tube with calcium carbonate scaling (cut open)

Brass tube with corrosion traces (cut open)

Cost relations between the individual types of fouling

Fouling refers to the accumulation and deposition of living organisms (biofouling) and certain non-living material on hard surfaces, most often in an aquatic environment. This can be the fouling of ships, pilings, and natural surfaces in the marine environment (marine fouling), fouling of heat-transferring components through ingredients contained in the cooling water or gases, and even the development of plaque on teeth or deposits on solar panels on Mars, among other examples. This article is mostly devoted to the fouling of heat exchanger systems, although many of the points made are applicable to other varieties of fouling. In the cooling technology and other technical fields, a distinction is made between macro fouling and micro fouling. Of the two, micro fouling is the one which is usually more difficult to prevent and therefore more important.

Macro fouling

Macro fouling is caused by coarse matter of either biological or inorganic origin, for example industrially produced refuse. Such matter enters into the cooling water circuit through the cooling water pumps from sources like the open sea, rivers or lakes. In closed circuits, like cooling towers, the ingress of macro fouling into the cooling tower basin is possible through open canals or by the wind. Sometimes, parts of the cooling tower internals detach themselves and are carried into the cooling water circuit. Such substances can foul the surfaces of heat exchangers and may cause deterioration of the relevant heat transfer coefficient. They may also create flow blockages, redistribute the flow inside the components, or cause fretting damage.

Examples

Manmade refuse
Detached internal parts of components
Algae
Mussels
Leaves, parts of plants up to entire trunks

Micro fouling

As to micro fouling, distinctions are made between:

Scaling or precipitation fouling, as crystallization of solid salts, oxides and hydroxides from water solutions, for example
- Calcium carbonate (calcite, aragonite usually at t > ~50 °C, or rarely vaterite)
- Calcium sulfate (anhydrite, hemihydrate, gypsum)
- Barium sulfate
- Magnesium hydroxide (brucite)
- Silicates (serpentine, analcite, acmite, gyrolite, noselite, gehlenite, amorphous silica, cristobalite)
- Aluminium oxide hydroxides (boehmite, gibbsite, corundum)
- Aluminosilicates
- Copper (metalic copper, cuprite)
Particulate fouling, i.e., accumulation of particles, typically colloidal particles, on a surface
- iron oxides and iron oxyhydroxides (magnetite, hematite, lepidocrocite, maghemite, goethite)
Sedimentation fouling by silt and other relatively coarse suspended matter
Corrosion fouling, i.e., in-situ growth of corrosion deposits, for example magnetite on carbon steel surfaces
Chemical reaction fouling, for example decomposition or polymerization of organic matter on heating surfaces
Biofouling, like settlements of bacteria and algae
Composite fouling, whereby fouling involves more than one foulant or fouling mechanism.

Precipitation fouling

Temperature dependence of the solubility of calcium sulfate (3 phases) in pure water.

Through changes in temperature, or solvent evaporation or degasification, the concentration of salts may exceed the saturation, leading to a precipitation of salt crystals. Precipitation fouling is a very common problem in boilers and heat exchangers operating with hard water and often results in limescale.

As an example, the equilibrium between the readily soluble calcium bicarbonate - always prevailing in natural water - and the poorly soluble calcium carbonate, the following chemical equation may be written:

$\mathsf {Ca(HCO_3)_2} \Longrightarrow \mathsf {CaCO_3}\downarrow + \mathsf {CO_2}\uparrow + \mathsf {H_2O}$

The calcium carbonate that has formed through this reaction precipitates. Due to the temperature dependence of the reaction, and increasing volatility of CO₂ with increasing temperature, the scaling is higher at the hotter outlet of the heat exchanger than at the cooler inlet. In general, the dependence of the salt solubility on temperature or presence of evaporation will often be the driving force for precipitation fouling. The important distinction is between salts with "normal" or "retrograde" dependence of solubility on temperature. The salts with the "normal" solubility increase their solubility with increasing temperature and thus will foul the cooling surfaces. The salts with "inverse" or "retrograde" solubility will foul the heating surfaces. An example dependence of the solubility on temperature is shown in the figure. Calcium sulfate is a common precipitation foulant of heating surfaces due to its retrograde solubility.

Particulate fouling

Fouling by particles suspended in water ("crud") or in gas progresses by a mechanism different than precipitation fouling. This process is usually most important for colloidal particles, i.e., particles smaller than about 1 μm in at least one dimension (but which are much larger than atomic dimensions). Particles are transported to the surface by a number of mechanisms and there they can attach themselves, e.g., by flocculation or coagulation. Note that the attachment of colloidal particles typically involves electrical forces and thus the particle behaviour defies the experience from the macroscopic world. The probability of attachment is sometimes referred to as "sticking probability", which for colloidal particles is a function of both the surface chemistry and the local thermohydraulic conditions. Being essentially a surface chemistry phenomenon, this fouling mechanism can be very sensitive to factors that affect colloidal stability, e.g., zeta potential. A maximum fouling rate is usually observed when the fouling particles and the substrate exhibit opposite electrical charge, or near the point of zero charge of either of them. With time, the resulting surface deposit may harden through processes collectively known as "deposit consolidation" or, colloquially, "aging".

Chemical reaction fouling

Chemical reactions may occur on contact of the chemical species in the process fluid with heat transfer surfaces. In such cases, the metallic surface sometimes acts as a catalyst. For example, corrosion and polymerization occurs in cooling water for the chemical industry which has a minor content of hydrocarbons. Systems in petroleum processing are prone to polymerization of olefins or deposition of heavy fractions (asphaltenes, waxes, etc). High tube wall temperatures may lead to carbonizing of organic matter. Food industry, for example milk processing, also experiences fouling problems by chemical reactions.

Corrosion fouling

Corrosion deposits are created in-situ by the corrosion of the substrate. They are distinguished from fouling deposits, which form from material originating ex-situ. Corrosion deposits should not be confused with fouling deposits formed by ex-situ generated corrosion products. Corrosion deposits will normally have composition related to the composition of the substrate. An example of corrosion fouling can be formation of an iron oxide or oxyhydroxide deposit from corrosion of the carbon steel underneath.

Biofouling

Main article: Biofouling

Biofouling or biological fouling is the undesirable accumulation of micro-organisms, algae and diatoms, plants, and animals on surfaces, for example ships' hulls, or piping and reservoirs with untreated water. This can be accompanied by microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC).

Bacteria can form biofilms or slimes. Thus the organisms can aggregate on surfaces using colloidal hydrogels of water and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) (polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, etc). The biofilm structure is usually complex.

Bacterial fouling can occur under either aerobic (with oxygen dissolved in water) or anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. In practice, aerobic bacteria prefer open systems, when both oxygen and nutrients are constantly delivered, often in warm and sunlit environments. Anaerobic fouling more often occurs in closed systems when sufficient nutrients are present. Examples may include sulfate-reducing bacteria (or [[sulfur-reducing bacteria), which produce sulfide and often cause corrosion of ferrous metals (and other alloys). Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Acidithiobacillus), on the other hand, can produce sulfuric acid, and can be involved in corrosion of concrete.

Composite fouling

Composite fouling is common. This type of fouling involves more than one foulant or more than one fouling mechanism working simultaneously. The multiple foulants or mechanisms may interact with each other resulting in a synergistic fouling which is not a simple arithmetic sum of the individual components.

Fouling on Mars

NASA Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) experienced (presumably) abiotic fouling of solar panels by dust particles from the Martian atmosphere. Some of the deposits subsequently spontaneously cleaned off. This illustrates the universal nature of the fouling phenomena.

Quantification of fouling

The most straight-forward way to quantify fairly uniform fouling is by stating the average deposit surface loading, i.e., kg of deposit per m² of surface area. The fouling rate will then be expressed in kg/m²s, and it is obtained by dividing the deposit surface loading by the effective operating time. The normalized fouling rate (also in kg/m²s) will additionally account for the concentration of the foulant in the process fluid (kg/kg) during preceding operations, and is useful for comparison of fouling rates between different systems. It is obtained by dividing the fouling rate by the foulant concentration. The fouling rate constant (m/s) can be obtained by dividing the normalized fouling rate by the mass density of the process fluid (kg/m³).

Deposit thickness (μm) and porosity (%) are also often used for description of fouling amount. The relative reduction of diameter of piping or increase of the surface roughness can be of particular interest when the impact of fouling on pressure drop is of interest.

In heat transfer equipment, where the primary concern is often the effect of fouling on heat transfer, fouling can be quantified by the increase of the resistance to the flow of heat (m²K/W) due to fouling (termed "fouling resistance"), or by development of heat transfer coefficient (W/m²K) with time.

If under-deposit or crevice corrosion is of primary concern, it is important to note packing of confined regions with deposits or creation of occluded "crevices". The non-uniformity of deposit thickness (e.g., deposit waviness) can also be important if underdeposit corrosion of material (e.g., intergranular attack, pitting, stress corrosion cracking) is of concern.

Progress of fouling with time

Deposit on a surface does not always develop steadily with time. The following fouling scenarios can be distinguished, depending on the nature of the system and the local thermohydraulic conditions at the surface:

Induction period. Sometimes, a near-nil fouling rate is observed when the surface is new or very clean. This is often observed in biofouling and precipitation fouling. After an "induction period", the fouling rate increases.
Linear fouling. The fouling rate can be steady with time. This is a common case.
Falling fouling. Under this scenario, the fouling rate decreases with time, but never drops to zero. The deposit thickness does not achieves a constant value. The progress of fouling can be often described by two numbers: the initial fouling rate (a tangent to the fouling curve at zero deposit loading or zero time) and the fouling rate after a long period of timing (an oblique asymptote to the fouling curve).
Asymptotic fouling. Here, the fouling rate decreases with time, until it finally reaches zero. At this point, the deposit thickness remains constant with time (a horizontal asymptote). This is often the case for relatively soft or poorly adherent deposits in areas of fast flow. The asymptote is usually interpreted as the deposit loading at which the deposition rate equals the deposit removal rate.
Accelerating fouling. Under this scenario, the fouling rate increases with time; the rate of deposit buildup accelerates with time (perhaps until it becomes transport limited). Mechanistically, this scenario can develop when fouling increases the surface roughness, or when the deposit surface exhibits higher chemical propensity to fouling than the pure underlying metal.

Fouling modelling

Fouling of a system can be modelled as consisting of several steps:

Generation or ingress of the species that causes fouling ("foulant sourcing")
Foulant transport with the stream of the process fluid (by advection)
Foulant transport from the bulk of the process fluid to the fouling surface (most often by molecular or eddy diffusion)
Induction period, i.e., a near-nil fouling rate at the initial period of fouling (observed only for some fouling mechanisms)
Foulant crystallization on the surface (or attachment of the colloidal particle, or chemical reaction, or bacterial growth)
Deposit dissolution (or re-entrainment of particles)
Deposit consolidation on the surface
Deposit spalling

Deposition consists of transport to the surface and subsequent attachment. Deposit removal is either through deposit dissolution, particle re-entrainment or deposit spalling. Fouling results from foulant generation, foulant deposition, deposit removal, and deposit consolidation.

For the modern model of fouling involving deposition with simultaneous deposit re-entrainment and consolidation, the key fouling process can be can be represented by the following scheme:

$\left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{deposit}\\ \text{accumulation} \end{array} \right]= \left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{deposition} \end{array} \right] - \left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{re-entrainment of}\\ \text{unconsolidated deposit} \end{array} \right]$

$\left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{accumulation of}\\ \text{unconsolidated deposit} \end{array} \right]= \left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{deposition} \end{array} \right] - \left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{re-entrainment of}\\ \text{unconsolidated deposit} \end{array} \right] - \left[\begin{array}{c} \text{rate of}\\ \text{consolidation of}\\ \text{unconsolidated deposit} \end{array} \right]$

Following the above scheme, the basic fouling equations can be written as follows (for steady-state conditions with flow, when concentration remains constant with time):

$\left\{\begin{array}{c} {dm/dt}=kC\rho - \lambda_r m_r(t) \\ {dm_r/dt}=kC\rho - \lambda_r m_r(t) - \lambda_c \cdot m_r(t) \end{array} \right.$

where: m is the mass loading of the deposit (consolidated and unconsolidated) on the surface (kg/m²); t is time (s); k is the deposition rate constant (m/s); ρ is the fluid density (kg/m³); λ_r is the re-entrainment rate constant (1/s); m_r is the mass loading of the removable (i.e., unconsolidated) fraction of the surface deposit (kg/m²); and λ_c is the consolidation rate constant (1/s).

This system of equations can be integrated (taking that m = 0 and m_r = 0 at t = 0) to the form:

$m(t) = {{kC\rho} \over {\lambda}} \left( t \lambda_c + {{\lambda_r} \over {\lambda}} \left( 1 - e{-\lambda t} \right) \right)$

where λ = λ_r + λ_c.

This model reproduces either linear, falling, or asymptotic fouling, depending on the relative values of k, λ_r, and λ_c. The underlying physical picture for this model is that of a two-layer deposit consisting of consolidated inner layer and loose unconsolidated outer layer. Such a bi-layer deposit is often observed in practice. The above model simplifies readily to the older model of simultaneous deposition and re-entrainment (which neglects consolidation) when λ_c=0.

The economic importance of fouling

Fouling is ubiquitous and generates tremendous operational losses, not unlike corrosion. For example, one estimate puts the losses due to fouling of heat exchangers in industrialized nations to be about 0.25% of their GDP.

The losses initially result from impaired heat transfer, corrosion damage (in particular under-deposit and crevice corrosion), increased pressure drop, flow blockages, flow redistribution inside components, flow instabilities, induced vibrations, fretting, premature failure of electrical heating elements, and a large number of other often unanticipated problems. In addition, the ecological costs should be (but typically are not) considered. The ecological costs arise from the use of biocides for the avoidance of biofouling, and from the increased fuel input to compensate for the reduced output caused by fouling.

For example, "normal" fouling at a conventionally fired 500 MW (net electrical power) power station unit accounts for output losses of the steam turbine of 5 MW and more. In a 1,300 MW nuclear power station, typical losses could be 20 MW and up (up to 100% if the station shuts down due to fouling-induced component degradation). In seawater desalination plants, fouling may reduce the gained output ratio by two-digit percentages. (The gained output ratio is an equivalent that puts the mass of generated distillate in relation to the steam used in the process.) The extra electrical consumption in compressor-operated coolers is also easily in the two-digit area. In addition to the operational costs, also the capital cost increases because the heat exchangers have to be designed in larger sizes to compensate for the heat-transfer loss due to fouling. To the output losses listed above, one needs to add the cost of down-time required to inspect, clean, and repair the components (millions of dollars per day of shutdown in lost revenue in a typical power plant), and the cost of actually doing this maintenance. Finally, fouling is often a root cause of serious degradation problems that may limit the life of components or entire plants.

Fouling control

The most fundamental and usually preferred method of controlling fouling is to prevent the ingress of the fouling species into the cooling water circuit. In steam power stations and other major industrial installations of water technology, macro fouling is avoided by way of pre-filtration and cooling water debris filters. In the case of micro fouling, water purification is achieved with extensive methods of water treatment, membrane technology (reverse osmosis) or ion-exchange resins. The generation of the corrosion products in the water piping systems is often minimized by controlling the pH of the process fluid (typically alkanization with ammonia, morpholine, ethanolamine or sodium phosphate), control of oxygen dissolved in water (for example, by addition of hydrazine), or addition of corrosion inhibitors.

For water systems at relatively low temperatures, the applied biocides may be classified as follows: inorganic chlorine and bromide compounds, chlorine and bromide cleavers, ozone and oxygen cleavers, unoxidizable biocides. One of the most important unoxidizable biocides is a mixture of chloromethyl-isothiazolinone and methyl-isothiazolinone. Also applied are dibrom nitrilopropionamide and quaternary ammonium compounds.

Chemical fouling inhibitors can reduce fouling in many systems, mainly by interfering with the crystallization, attachement, or consolidation steps of the fouling process. Examples are: chelating agents (for example, EDTA), long-chain aliphatic amines or polyamines (for example, octadecylamine, helamin, and other "film-forming" amines), organic phosphonic acids (for example, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, known as HEDP), or polyelectrolytes (for example, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, usually with a molecular weight lower than 10000).

On the component design level, fouling can often (but not always) be minimized by maintaining a relatively high (for example, 2 m/s) and uniform fluid velocity throughout the component. Stagnant regions need to be eliminated. Component is normally overdesigned to accommodate the fouling anticipated between cleanings. However, a significant overdesign can be a design error because it may lead to increased fouling due to reduced velocities. Periodic on-line pressure pulses or backflow can be effective if the capability is carefully incorporated at the design time. Blowdown capability is always incorporated into steam generators or evaporators to control the accumulation of non-volatile impurities the cause or aggreviate fouling. Low-fouling surfaces (for example, very smooth, implanted with ions, or of low surface energy like Teflon) are an option for some applications. Modern components are typically required to be designed for ease of inspection of internals and periodic cleaning.

Chemical or mechanical cleaning processes for the removal of deposits and scales are recommended when fouling reaches the point of impacting the system performance. These processes comprise pickling with acids and metal complexing agents, cleaning with high-velocity water jets ("water lancing"),recirculating sponge rubber balls, or propelling offline mechanical "bullet-type" tube cleaners. Whereas chemical cleaning causes environmental problems through the handling, application, storage and disposal of chemicals, the mechanical cleaning by means of circulating cleaning balls or offline "bullet-type" cleaning can be a more environmentally-friendly alternative. Also ultrasonic or abrasive cleaning methods are available for many specific applications.

External links

References

Hong Lu, "Composite Fouling of Heat Exchanger Surfaces", Nova Science Books, New York, 2007
Mars Pathfinder - Dust Settling (MAE)
C.W. Turner, S.J. Klimas, "Modelling the Effect of Surface Chemistry on Particle Fouling Under Flow-Boiling Conditions", Proceeding of Heat Exchanger Fouling: Fundamental Approaches and Technical Solutions, 2001, July 8-13, Davos, Switzerland, AECL 12171
H. Mueller-Steinhagen, M.R. Malayeri and A.P. Watkinson, "Fouling of Heat Exchanger--New Approaches to Solve Old Problem", Heat Transfer Engineering, 26(2), 2005
J.C. Cowan and D.J. Weintritt, "Water-Formed Scale Deposits. A Comprehensive Study of the Prevention, Control, Removal and Use of Mineral Scale", Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, 1976

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Fouling". Image Credit.
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"fouling" is a common misspelling or typo for: foiling, fourling, foulings.

Synonyms: fouling
Position	Synonyms (sorted by strength)
Verb	dirtying, basing, corrupting, defiling, besmirching, contaminating, polluting, crashing, choking, clogging, smearing, tainting, tangling, asphyxiating, clouding, conking, constipating, croaking, dying, gagging, overloading, scragging, strangling, substantiating, suffocating, supporting, suppressing, throttling. Consider also: clashing, bumping, impacting, wronging, blacking, blocking, daubing, infecting, lowing, profaning, smudging.
Noun	pollution, alluvium, lees, residuum, slag, soiling, contamination, filthiness, foulness, impurity, sludge, squalor, ranking, backing, clotting. Consider also: staining, corruption, dregs, filth, defilement, dirtiness, slush, remnant, cinder, grounds, clinker, contagion, dross, misery, mud, remainder, residue, scoria, slime.
Adjective	galling, abusive, filthy, nasty, naughty, smeary, sordid, unclean, unpleasant, vicious, wicked, grossing, congesting, disagreeable, distasteful, hateful. Consider also: conflicting, smashing, colliding, decaying.
Other	befouling, begriming, besmearing, gaging, bedaubing, addling, attainting, seizing, smirched.
Expression	make a muck of.
Source: Eve, based on meta analysis.		Top

Antonyms: fouling
Position	Antonyms (sorted by strength)
Verb	cleaning. Consider also: purifying.
Noun	fairing, cleansing.
Other	uncloging, gooding.
Source: Eve, based on meta analysis.		Top

Language	Translations (or nearest inflections or synonyms, in parentheses)
Al Arabiya	سَلْط (abusive, cheekier, cheekiest, cheeky, dirtied), فاحِش (dirty, obscene, ribald, vulgar, abusive), قَبِيح (ugly, disgusting, hideous, repugnant, repulsive), مُلَوَّث (contaminated, dirty, foul, impure, polluted), مُتَلَوِّث (befouled, besmirched, contaminated, defiled, dirtied), مُتَطَاوِل (vicious, interminable, abusive, brazen, cheekier), مُتَّسِخ (dirty, contaminated, defiled, dirtied, dirtier), مُدَنَّس (defiled, soiled, befouled, contaminated, dirtied), قَذِر (contaminated, defiled, filthy, grubby, piggish), قَذْر (foul, impure, sloppy, slovenly, squalid). Additional references: Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Al Fus-Ha	سَلْط (abusive, cheekier, cheekiest, cheeky, dirtied), فاحِش (dirty, obscene, ribald, vulgar, abusive), قَبِيح (ugly, disgusting, hideous, repugnant, repulsive), مُلَوَّث (contaminated, dirty, foul, impure, polluted), مُتَلَوِّث (befouled, besmirched, contaminated, defiled, dirtied), مُتَطَاوِل (vicious, interminable, abusive, brazen, cheekier), مُتَّسِخ (dirty, contaminated, defiled, dirtied, dirtier), مُدَنَّس (defiled, soiled, befouled, contaminated, dirtied), قَذِر (contaminated, defiled, filthy, grubby, piggish), قَذْر (foul, impure, sloppy, slovenly, squalid). Additional references: Al Fus-Ha, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Arabic	سَلْط (abusive, cheekier, cheekiest, cheeky, dirtied), فاحِش (dirty, obscene, ribald, vulgar, abusive), قَبِيح (ugly, disgusting, hideous, repugnant, repulsive), مُلَوَّث (contaminated, dirty, foul, impure, polluted), مُتَلَوِّث (befouled, besmirched, contaminated, defiled, dirtied), مُتَطَاوِل (vicious, interminable, abusive, brazen, cheekier), مُتَّسِخ (dirty, contaminated, defiled, dirtied, dirtier), مُدَنَّس (defiled, soiled, befouled, contaminated, dirtied), قَذِر (contaminated, defiled, filthy, grubby, piggish), قَذْر (foul, impure, sloppy, slovenly, squalid). Additional references: Arabic, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Bohemian	znečištění (contamination, pollution, fouling, foulness, soiling), stvaranje vapnenog taloga (fouling), slabi rad (fouling), oneèišæenje (contamination, fouling, pollutants, pollution, sullage), obraštanje brodskog dna (fouling), obrastanje (fouling), obraštaj (biofouling, fouling), brtvljenje (fouling, packing, seal, sealing, tightening), nános (lodgement, warp, deposit, drift, lodgment), usazenina (sediment, dregs, deposit, faeces, foulness). Additional references: Bohemian, Czech Republic, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Central Danish	adhaesivt slid (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), koksaflejring (coking, fouling), tilsmudsning (fouling, staining), rivning (fouling, fretting, galling, grinding, milling), degeneration (degeneracy, devolution, fouling), bundbevoksning (fouling), aflejring (accretion, aggradation, alluvial, alluvial deposit, alluviation), begroning (fouling), tilstopning (blinding, blockage of the filter, blocking, choking, clogging). Additional references: Central Danish, Denmark, Germany, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Cestina	znečištění (contamination, pollution, fouling, foulness, soiling), stvaranje vapnenog taloga (fouling), slabi rad (fouling), oneèišæenje (contamination, fouling, pollutants, pollution, sullage), obraštanje brodskog dna (fouling), obrastanje (fouling), obraštaj (biofouling, fouling), brtvljenje (fouling, packing, seal, sealing, tightening), nános (lodgement, warp, deposit, drift, lodgment), usazenina (sediment, dregs, deposit, faeces, foulness). Additional references: Cestina, Czech Republic, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Chinese Simplified	污垢 (dirt, fouling, bilge, smudgily). Additional references: Chinese Simplified, China, Brunei, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Chinese Traditional	污垢 (dirt, fouling). Additional references: Chinese Traditional, China, Brunei, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Czech	znečištění (contamination, pollution, fouling, foulness, soiling), stvaranje vapnenog taloga (fouling), slabi rad (fouling), oneèišæenje (contamination, fouling, pollutants, pollution, sullage), obraštanje brodskog dna (fouling), obrastanje (fouling), obraštaj (biofouling, fouling), brtvljenje (fouling, packing, seal, sealing, tightening), nános (lodgement, warp, deposit, drift, lodgment), usazenina (sediment, dregs, deposit, faeces, foulness). Additional references: Czech, Czech Republic, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Danish	adhaesivt slid (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), koksaflejring (coking, fouling), tilsmudsning (fouling, staining), rivning (fouling, fretting, galling, grinding, milling), degeneration (degeneracy, devolution, fouling), bundbevoksning (fouling), aflejring (accretion, aggradation, alluvial, alluvial deposit, alluviation), begroning (fouling), tilstopning (blinding, blockage of the filter, blocking, choking, clogging). Additional references: Danish, Denmark, Germany, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Dansk	adhaesivt slid (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), koksaflejring (coking, fouling), tilsmudsning (fouling, staining), rivning (fouling, fretting, galling, grinding, milling), degeneration (degeneracy, devolution, fouling), bundbevoksning (fouling), aflejring (accretion, aggradation, alluvial, alluvial deposit, alluviation), begroning (fouling), tilstopning (blinding, blockage of the filter, blocking, choking, clogging). Additional references: Dansk, Denmark, Germany, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Dari	رسوب (alluvium, fouling, illuviation, sediment, sinter), درده (sedimentary, lees, sediment, silt, slag). Additional references: Dari, Iran, Indo-European, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Deutsch	Verschmutzung (pollution, contamination, fouling, defilement, soiling), beschmutzend (polluting, draggling, smutting, befouling, fouling), die Verschmutzung (contamination, defilement, dirt, fouling, mess), die Verkrustung (fouling, incrustation), die Beschmutzung (contamination, fouling), die Ablagerung (accretion, accumulation, concretion, debris, deposit), der Bewuchs (fouling, natural cover), der Anwuchs (fouling), das Faulen (fouling, putrescence), das Aneinanderstoßen (clashing, fouling). Additional references: Deutsch, Germany, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Dutch	verstopping (constipation, obstruction, impediment, occlusion, stoppage), vervuiling (pollution, contamination, coking, fouling, grime), aangroei (growth, increase, accession, accretion, augmentation), vuilafzetting (fouling), degeneratie (degeneration, degeneracy, degenerations, degradation, devolution), vuilmakende werking van terfenyl (fouling of terphenyls), oxidepitting komt voor als zich vreemde stoffen op dierlijke en plantaartige organismen op het metaaloppervlak afzetten (corrosion due to a shielding effect occurs when foreign bodies are deposited on the metal surface or the latter attracts organic fouling). Additional references: Dutch, Netherlands, Aruba, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Finnish	saostuminen (clotting, coagulation, fouling, illuviation, precipitation), päällyskasvusto (fouling), likaantuminen (encrustation, fouling, incrustation, scaling), laivan pohjan kasvusto (fouling). Additional references: Finnish, Finland, Russia (Europe), fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Français	encrassement (fouling, clogging, gumming, loading, carbonization), salissures (fouling, marine growth), engorgement (obstruction, clogging, flooding, fouling, glut), salissure (fouling, smudge, defilement, fog marking, fouling organism), encrassage (fouling), dégénérescence (degeneration, degeneracy, devolution, deterioration, orbital decay), engagement (commitment, engagement, recognizance, obligation, bond), crasse (dirt, dirtiness, scum, dross, foulness), abordage (collision, boarding, grappling, fouling, landing), encrassant (fouling, soileding). Additional references: Français, France, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
French	encrassement (fouling, clogging, gumming, loading, carbonization), salissures (fouling, marine growth), engorgement (obstruction, clogging, flooding, fouling, glut), salissure (fouling, smudge, defilement, fog marking, fouling organism), encrassage (fouling), dégénérescence (degeneration, degeneracy, devolution, deterioration, orbital decay), engagement (commitment, engagement, recognizance, obligation, bond), crasse (dirt, dirtiness, scum, dross, foulness), abordage (collision, boarding, grappling, fouling, landing), encrassant (fouling, soileding). Additional references: French, France, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
German	Verschmutzung (pollution, contamination, fouling, defilement, soiling), beschmutzend (polluting, draggling, smutting, befouling, fouling), die Verschmutzung (contamination, defilement, dirt, fouling, mess), die Verkrustung (fouling, incrustation), die Beschmutzung (contamination, fouling), die Ablagerung (accretion, accumulation, concretion, debris, deposit), der Bewuchs (fouling, natural cover), der Anwuchs (fouling), das Faulen (fouling, putrescence), das Aneinanderstoßen (clashing, fouling). Additional references: German, Germany, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Greek	ρύπανση υφάλων (fouling), ρύπανση (pollution, contamination, fouling), πληγή (scourge, wound, menace, menacing, scourging), επικάθιση ακαθαρσίας (fouling), αγκίστρωση (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), απόθεση άνθρακα (coking, fouling). Additional references: Greek, Greece, Albania, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Greek (transliteration)	rupansi ifalon (fouling), rupansi (pollution, contamination, fouling), pliy (scourge, wound, menace, menacing, scourging), epikathisi akatharsias (fouling), angistrosi (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), apothesi anthraka (coking, fouling). Additional references: Greek, Greece, Albania, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Hanguk Mal	퇴적 (cumulus, lodgment, bank, congeries, collection), 부착 (attachment, affix, coherency, adherence, adhesion), 부착물 (affix, deposit, attachment, fouling). Additional references: Hanguk Mal, Korea, South, Korea, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Hanguohua	퇴적 (cumulus, lodgment, bank, congeries, collection), 부착 (attachment, affix, coherency, adherence, adhesion), 부착물 (affix, deposit, attachment, fouling). Additional references: Hanguohua, Korea, South, Korea, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Hebrew	עכירות (fouling, opacity, turbidity), עכירה (fouling, opacity, turbidity). Additional references: Hebrew, Israel, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
High Arabic	سَلْط (abusive, cheekier, cheekiest, cheeky, dirtied), فاحِش (dirty, obscene, ribald, vulgar, abusive), قَبِيح (ugly, disgusting, hideous, repugnant, repulsive), مُلَوَّث (contaminated, dirty, foul, impure, polluted), مُتَلَوِّث (befouled, besmirched, contaminated, defiled, dirtied), مُتَطَاوِل (vicious, interminable, abusive, brazen, cheekier), مُتَّسِخ (dirty, contaminated, defiled, dirtied, dirtier), مُدَنَّس (defiled, soiled, befouled, contaminated, dirtied), قَذِر (contaminated, defiled, filthy, grubby, piggish), قَذْر (foul, impure, sloppy, slovenly, squalid). Additional references: High Arabic, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
High German	Verschmutzung (pollution, contamination, fouling, defilement, soiling), beschmutzend (polluting, draggling, smutting, befouling, fouling), die Verschmutzung (contamination, defilement, dirt, fouling, mess), die Verkrustung (fouling, incrustation), die Beschmutzung (contamination, fouling), die Ablagerung (accretion, accumulation, concretion, debris, deposit), der Bewuchs (fouling, natural cover), der Anwuchs (fouling), das Faulen (fouling, putrescence), das Aneinanderstoßen (clashing, fouling). Additional references: High German, Germany, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Hochdeutsch	Verschmutzung (pollution, contamination, fouling, defilement, soiling), beschmutzend (polluting, draggling, smutting, befouling, fouling), die Verschmutzung (contamination, defilement, dirt, fouling, mess), die Verkrustung (fouling, incrustation), die Beschmutzung (contamination, fouling), die Ablagerung (accretion, accumulation, concretion, debris, deposit), der Bewuchs (fouling, natural cover), der Anwuchs (fouling), das Faulen (fouling, putrescence), das Aneinanderstoßen (clashing, fouling). Additional references: Hochdeutsch, Germany, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Hungarian	eltömődés (fouling, obstruction, obturation, strangulation), eltömõdés (fouling, obstruction, obturation, strangulation). Additional references: Hungarian, Hungary, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Italian	insudiciamento (fouling, defilement), incrostazione (encrustation, fur, incrustation, scale, crust), contaminazione (contamination, pollution, infection, taint, defilement), imbrattamento di scambiatori di calore (fouling of heat exchangers), fattore d'incrostazione (fouling factor), fattore di sporcamento (fouling factor), fattore di sporcamento medio (average fouling factor). Additional references: Italian, Italy, Croatia, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Ivrit	עכירות (fouling, opacity, turbidity), עכירה (fouling, opacity, turbidity). Additional references: Ivrit, Israel, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Japanese	船底などの付着物 (fouling). Additional references: Japanese, Japan, Taiwan, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Korean	퇴적 (cumulus, lodgment, bank, congeries, collection), 부착 (attachment, affix, coherency, adherence, adhesion), 부착물 (affix, deposit, attachment, fouling). Additional references: Korean, Korea, South, Korea, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Magyar	eltömődés (fouling, obstruction, obturation, strangulation), eltömõdés (fouling, obstruction, obturation, strangulation). Additional references: Magyar, Hungary, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Parsi	رسوب (alluvium, fouling, illuviation, sediment, sinter), درده (sedimentary, lees, sediment, silt, slag). Additional references: Parsi, Iran, Indo-European, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Persian	رسوب (alluvium, fouling, illuviation, sediment, sinter), درده (sedimentary, lees, sediment, silt, slag). Additional references: Persian, Iran, Indo-European, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Persian (Farsi)	رسوب (alluvium, fouling, illuviation, sediment, sinter), درده (sedimentary, lees, sediment, silt, slag). Additional references: Persian (Farsi), Iran, Indo-European, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Ruotsi	täpper igen (fouling), beväxning (fouling). Additional references: Ruotsi, Sweden, Finland, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Russian	неисправность (disrepair, fault, malfunction, defect, defectiveness). Additional references: Russian, Russia, China, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Russian (transliteration)	neispravnostʹ (disrepair, fault, malfunction, defect, defectiveness). Additional references: Russian, Russia, China, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Russki	неисправность (disrepair, fault, malfunction, defect, defectiveness). Additional references: Russki, Russia, China, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Russki (transliteration)	neispravnostʹ (disrepair, fault, malfunction, defect, defectiveness). Additional references: Russki, Russia, China, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Serbian (transliteration)	zbrka (disarray, imbroglio, muss, bedlam, bungle), zaplet (plot, ravel, clash, complicity, embroilment), zabuna (confusion, bewilderment, blunder, embarrassment, error), netačno pokazivanje (fouling), nered (disarrangement, disarray, disorder, mess, muddle), neispravnost (crankcase, defect, error, falsify, falsity). Additional references: Serbian (transliteration), fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Sjaelland	adhaesivt slid (fouling, galling, seizing, seizure), koksaflejring (coking, fouling), tilsmudsning (fouling, staining), rivning (fouling, fretting, galling, grinding, milling), degeneration (degeneracy, devolution, fouling), bundbevoksning (fouling), aflejring (accretion, aggradation, alluvial, alluvial deposit, alluviation), begroning (fouling), tilstopning (blinding, blockage of the filter, blocking, choking, clogging). Additional references: Sjaelland, Denmark, Germany, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Slovak	znečisťovanie (fouling), zaolejovanie (fouling), obrastanie (fouling), nečistota (contamination, dirt, filthiness, flatness, fouling). Additional references: Slovak, Slovakia, Hungary, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Slovakian	znečisťovanie (fouling), zaolejovanie (fouling), obrastanie (fouling), nečistota (contamination, dirt, filthiness, flatness, fouling). Additional references: Slovakian, Slovakia, Hungary, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Slovene	obraščanje (fouling). Additional references: Slovene, Slovenia, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Slovenian	obraščanje (fouling). Additional references: Slovenian, Slovenia, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Slovenscina	obraščanje (fouling). Additional references: Slovenscina, Slovenia, Austria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Spanish	incrustación (fur, scale, incrustation, inlay, encrustation), ensuciamiento del casco (fouling), engrasamiento (fouling, coking), suciedad del casco (fouling), incrustaciones (encrustations, fouling, foulings, inlays, scale), gripado (galling, seizure, engine seizure, fouling, picking-up), Ensuciamiento (pollution, defilement, contamination, dilution, fouling), indicador de punto de acercamiento (fouling point indicator), punto de acercamiento (fouling point), sarro de la pólvora (powder fouling). Additional references: Spanish, Spain, Mexico, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Suomea	saostuminen (clotting, coagulation, fouling, illuviation, precipitation), päällyskasvusto (fouling), likaantuminen (encrustation, fouling, incrustation, scaling), laivan pohjan kasvusto (fouling). Additional references: Suomea, Finland, Russia (Europe), fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Suomi	saostuminen (clotting, coagulation, fouling, illuviation, precipitation), päällyskasvusto (fouling), likaantuminen (encrustation, fouling, incrustation, scaling), laivan pohjan kasvusto (fouling). Additional references: Suomi, Finland, Russia (Europe), fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Svenska	täpper igen (fouling), beväxning (fouling). Additional references: Svenska, Sweden, Finland, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Swedish	täpper igen (fouling), beväxning (fouling). Additional references: Swedish, Sweden, Finland, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Turkish	telvis (dirtying, fouling, ruining, sullying), bozulma (breakdown, corruption, decay, degradation, degeneration), bozukluk (failure, fault, change, disturbance, foulness), korza (fouling of cable or chains in the water), volta (fouling of a cable, hitch, lurching, one turn of a hawser or cable around a cleat, rolling). Additional references: Turkish, Turkey, Bulgaria, fouling. (volunteer & more translations)
Source: Eve, based on a combination of meta analysis and graph theory (for near and back translations).		Top

Language	Translations for “fouling” or closest synonym(s); back translations in parentheses.
Pig Latin	oulingfay (fouling). Additional references: Pig Latin, fouling. (volunteer)
Terran B	derrasani (fouling). Additional references: Terran B, fouling. (volunteer)
Source: compiled by the editor.		Top


Part of Speech	Definition
Verb	1. To sediment or deposit.[Eve - graph theoretic] 2. Present participle conjugation of the verb foul.[Eve - graph theoretic]
Adverb Base (foully)	1. In an unfair and insulting manner; "this internationally known writer was foully condemned by the Muslim fundamentalists".[Wordnet]. 2. In a wicked and shameful manner; "two policemen were foully murdered".[Wordnet]. 3. In a black or obscure manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 4. In a vicious or venomous manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 5. In an indecent, raw or boorish manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 6. In a vulgar, impertinent, crude or raffish manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 7. In a noisome or pestilential manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 8. In a hateful or distasteful manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 9. In an inferior, worse or mediocre manner.[Eve - graph theoretic] 10. Infrequently used adverbial inflection of the adjective foul.[Eve - graph theoretic]
Verb Base (foul)	1. Hit a foul ball.[Wordnet]. 2. Make impure.[Wordnet]. 3. Become or cause to become obstructed.[Wordnet]. 4. Commit a foul; break the rules.[Wordnet]. 5. Spot, stain, or pollute.[Wordnet]. 6. Make unclean; "foul the water".[Wordnet]. 7. Become soiled and dirty.[Wordnet]. 8. Make impure; "The industrial wastes polluted the lake".[Wordnet]. 9. To make filthy; to defile; to daub; to dirty; to soil; as, to foul the face or hands with mire.[Websters]. 10. To incrust (the bore of a gun) with burnt powder in the process of firing.[Websters]. 11. To cover (a ship's bottom) with anything that impered its sailing; as, a bottom fouled with barnacles.[Websters]. 12. To entangle, so as to impede motion; as, to foul a rope or cable in paying it out; to come into collision with; as, one boat fouled the other in a race.[Websters]. 13. To become clogged with burnt powder in the process of firing, as a gun.[Websters]. 14. To become entagled, as ropes; to come into collision with something; as, the two boats fouled.[Websters]. 15. Base verb from the following inflections: fouling, fouled, fouls, fouler, foulers, foulingly and fouledly.[Eve - graph theoretic]
Sources: compiled from various sources, (under license) copyright 2008.		Top

Domain	Definition
Noah Webster	[Verb] Making foul; defiling.. Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary.
Electrical Engineering	The accumulation and growth of marine organisms on a submerged metal surface. Source: European Union. (references)
Energy	The buildup of a film that reduces heat transfer. (references)
Food & Agriculture	1: Deposition of substances within pipe work which restrict the passage of fluid through it. Source: European Union. (references)
	2: Marine growth on a ship which restricts its progress. Source: European Union. (references)
Metallurgy	1: The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas during sliding friction. Source: European Union. (references)
	2: The partial welding together of sliding metallic surfaces. Source: European Union. (references)
Mining	The assemblage of marine organisms that attach to and grow upon underwater objects. (references)
Physics	Formation of solid deposits on fuel element surfaces or on heat transfer surfaces. Source: European Union. (references)
Transportation	Sessile marine organisms on the hulls of ships. Source: European Union. (references)
Wiktionary	[Verb] Present participle of foul. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.		Top

Expressions	Definition
Dog Fouling	Dog Fouling is the act of leaving your dog's waste behind, typically in a public area. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.		Top

Expressions	Domain	Definition
Fouling position	Mining	The point on any rail beyond which a wagon or mine car cannot proceed without becoming an obstruction to another wagon or car traveling on the intersecting rail. (references)
Fouling section	Energy	The section of track between the switch points and the clearance point in a turnout. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.			Top

Topics by Level of Interest: FOULING
Topics sorted by level of Interest	Level (1=low, 600=high)	Topics sorted Alphabetically	Level (1=low, 600=high)
Fouling	33	Fouling	33
Fouling community	4	Fouling community	4
Source: the editor, created by/for EVE to gauge likely levels of human interest in linguistically triggered topics (compiled across various sources, such as Wikipedia and specialty expression glosses).

Definition: FOULING

Specialty Definition: FOULING

Common Expressions: FOULING

Specialty Expressions: FOULING

Extended Definition: FOULING

Fouling

Macro fouling

Micro fouling

Precipitation fouling

Particulate fouling

Chemical reaction fouling

Corrosion fouling

Biofouling

Composite fouling

Fouling on Mars

Quantification of fouling

Progress of fouling with time

Fouling modelling

The economic importance of fouling

Fouling control

External links

See also

References

Topics by Level of Interest: FOULING

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Adjective

Other

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Translations: FOULING

Constructed Language Translations: FOULING