A kinetic model was proposed to predict the seawater fouling process in the seawater heat exchangers. The new model adopted an expression combining depositional and removal behaviors for seawater fouling based on the Kern-Seaton model. The present model parameters include the integrated kinetic rate of deposition (k

d

) and the integrated kinetic rate of removal (k

r

)

which have clear physical significance. A seawater-foulingmonitoring devicewas established to validate themodel. The experimental data werewell fitted to themodel

and the parameters were obtained in different conditions. SEM and EDX analyses were performed after the experiments

and the results show that the main components of seawater fouling are magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. The effects of surface temperature

flow velocity and surface free energy were assessed by the model and the experimental data. The results indicate that the seawater fouling becomes aggravated as the surface temperature increased in a certain range

and the seawater fouling resistance reduced as the flowvelocity of seawater increased. Furthermore

the effect of the surface free energy ofmetals was analyzed

showing that the lower surface free en

ergy mitigates the seawater fouling accumulation.