Elkem is one of the world’s leading companies for environmentally responsible production of materials. Its principal products are silicon, silicones, ferrosilicon, foundry alloys, carbon materials and micro silica. Elkem has four business areas and about 6,200 employees.
Elkem Solar has been awarded “Norwegian climate business of the year 2017”.
Oslo, October 2017: Elkem Solar has been selected the winner of the award due to its groundbreaking and long-term work with the development of a new production method for solar silicon.
The Testing
The problem that ELKEM Solar has been experiencing, is that they have been plagued with a large amount of mussels in the grates and in sea-water pipes, inside the factory. This caused the water temperature in heat exchanges to increase. As a result, frequent and costly maintenance control, including regular cleaning of the pipes and grates was required. A Quattro-DB unit (provided by Hydro Bioscience Authorized Dealer, ALGAEFREE “Alpha 4 Ways”) was installed.
The Results
Maintenance Planning Manager, Gert Ivar Gundersen at Elkem Solar AS, said that afterthe installation almost no mussels were present. The few mussels that remained, were already dead, as a result of the Ultrasound system.
A noted effect, was a reduction of bio-film and algae on the walls, so the mussels can no longer get access to food. Gert said he is happy to give his reference for other businesses that are struggling with the same sea-water mussel problems that ELKEM have had.