Studies of inertial deposition of particles onto heat exchanger elements
This thesis examines gas-side fouling mechanisms in heat exchangers that involve the inertial impaction of small particles onto tubular exchanger surfaces. An aerosol processes wind tunnel was constructed that facilitates quantitative studies of particle interactions with heat-exchanger surfaces. Three sets of experiments were performed. First, single heat-exchanger tubes were exposed to a cross flow of particle-laden air. Stainless steel tubes coated with a thin layer of grease to ensure that particle collisions resulted in capture were used to verify a numerical model for the inertial transport of ammonium fluorescein particles to the tube surface. Particle bound was quantified for the case of clean tubes and solid particles. Second, the transient deposition of particles onto single heat-exchanger tubes in cross flow was studied. It was found that a steady-state condition could be reached for cases in which particle bounce occurred. Finally, the deposition patterns for the aerosol particles as they passed through a tube bank were studied. The quantities of aerosol deposited on various tubes depended on tube surface condition, tube position within the tube bank, and the overall geometry of the bank. Using these findings, heat exchangers can be designed that will resist gas-side fouling.
- Research Organization:
- California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5172009
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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