How it works

What is biofilm?

If there is a wet surface, there is a biofilm. This can be on ship hulls, tubes of heat exchangers, in pipelines, drinking lines, tanks, jacuzzi ,…

The problem

Biofilm is the cause of many fouling problems. Trapped within the biofilm are micro-organisms which are resistant to standard disinfection processes, because the biofilm actually protects the micro-organisms from being destroyed.

Fouling problems include amongst others:

attachment of barnacles, mussels, oysters and algae
buildup of scale , rust, chalck
development of one cellular bacteria
clogging of filters, pipelines, …

The solution

Conventional methods of microbial control have proven inadequate, so the best way to combat biofilm is preventative. Don’t let the biofilm get started. That is exactly what Harsonic® does.

By using ultrasound combined with our proprietary HS technology, the formation of biofilm is prevented in ecological friendly manner.

Unique HS technology

Official EMC certificate

5 year warranty

How does Harsonic® work?

(Ultra)sound

All sound is caused by vibrations; they set up waves which travel through a medium. That medium can be air, but sound actually travels better through fluids and solids. The human ear can detect sound at frequencies of between 20 and 20,000 Hertz, this being the number of vibrations per second. Sound at a frequency above 20 KHz is inaudible to humans and is known as ‘ultrasound’.

The transducer - Piezoelectricity

The transducer is the main part of the ultrasound machine. The transducer makes the sound waves and receives the echoes. It is, so to speak, the mouth and ears of the ultrasound machine. The transducer generates and receives sound waves using a principle called the piezoelectric (pressure electricity) effect. In the transducer, there are one or more quartz crystals called piezoelectric crystals.

The transducer - Sound waves

When an electric current is applied to these crystals, they change shape rapidly. The rapid shape changes, or vibrations, of the crystals produce sound waves that travel outward. Conversely, when sound or pressure waves hit the crystals, they emit electrical currents. Therefore, the same crystals can be used to send and receive sound waves. The frequency of emitted sound waves determines how deep the sound waves penetrate. Every organism has a certain frequency of its own.

Biofilm

Water-borne micro-organisms and bacteria attach and multiply, creating a biofilm layer, or ‘slime’. Algae cells also attach in the same way. The biofilm provides a suitable surface to attach on.

Prevention

Thanks to Harsonic®, there will no longer be a biofilm. As a result, growth is prevented as the cell structures of the algae and micro-organisms are targeted and cannot survive.

Safety

Ultrasound is completely harmless. Because it does not use radiation, the side effects of radiation are not an issue. Ultrasound is used every day for monitoring pregnant women and their unborn children.