I-Corps: A Controlled Cavitation Technology (CCT) Biofouling Removal Device

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL

Investigators

Abstract

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to reduce the annual water quality monitoring operating cost of $213MM by an estimated $50MM per year. Water quality monitoring systems (WQMS) are crucial equipment to collect the water resource data and to protect the water environment which is essential to sustain human life. Currently, over 6,000 WQMS are deployed all over the country. These systems require frequent maintenance with service intervals of about three weeks on average. This adds significant expenses to the overall operating budget of the water management districts. Our controlled cavitation technology (CCT) system would be able to integrate with the current WQMS to solve the biofouling problems by expanding the maintenance period to three months. Through the successful customer discovery of this I-Corps project a new annual $18MM market will be opened in the US for the CCT biofouling removal product for WQMS. The CCT device can reduce maintenance costs of WQMS and thereby reduce the overall operating budget. Furthermore, it will support and increase effectiveness of water resource environment management by presenting an opportunity to deploy about 20% more WQMS with the saved budget and reducing the corrupted data due to the biofouling growth. This I-Corps project will focus on a CCT biofouling removal device for our first target customers narrowly defined as WQMS operators. CCT is an innovative solution for removal of biofouling growth on underwater surfaces. It can remove biofouling effectively without damaging the affected surfaces. Also, the removal of biofouling can be done effectively without contacting the target surface. This technology is applicable for removal of biofilm on underwater optic sensor surfaces. Furthermore, CCT is an environmentally friendly technology because it does not use chemicals for biofouling removal. CCT will prevent the growth of biofouling before it starts to affect the sensor. This technology lends itself into a technically and a commercially feasible state-of-the-art solution compared to the existing "brush type" cleaning devices. Furthermore, other commercial opportunities for this technology include the removal of biofouling in marine (hull cleaning) and medical (surgical tools) applications. Intellectual property (IP) is being addressed through a patent application. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.