During exploitation of nuclear power plants, biofouling forms in the elements of the technical water supply circuit, which results in equipment malfunction, underproduction of electricity, and economic losses. One of the methods to prevent biofouling on immersed surfaces is ultrasound exposure. To study the peculiarities of biofouling development in water pipelines of a nuclear power plant, the impact of an ultrasonic device on the formation of benthic diatom algae (Bacillariophyta) – the primary stage in the succession of the microfouling community – was assessed. Microperiphyton consisting of diatoms, bacteria, and protozoa, forms biofilm on surfaces and promotes active development of macrofouling community leading to further reduction of efficiency of nuclear power plants. Long-term experiments were carried out in the laboratory and nearshore marine area to study the influence of ultrasonic device on different power and duration of exposure on periphyton development on steel and concrete samples. It was found that increasing the intensity of the ultrasonic device has a pronounced effect on microfouling of substrates reducing the abundance and species richness of diatoms. Based on the results, it was recommended to extend the experiments using a full-function ultrasonic device of higher power during exploitation of a nuclear power plant.
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