Conquer heat exchanger fouling
- Engineers India Ltd., New Delhi (India)
Fouling plays a dominant role in heat exchanger performance. It is extremely important to choose the most appropriate type of heat exchanger for a particular application and adopt proper values for fouling resistance. A design practice for shell-and-tube heat exchangers that will limit fouling to a minimum and thus ensure trouble-free operation is essential. Due to the availability of specialized software, the thermal design of heat exchangers has become precise and scientific. The results occasionally have to be tempered with practical experience and engineering judgment, but generally these computer programs are very reliable and authentic. However, the above is true only for determining heat-transfer coefficients and pressure drop. One important area that cannot possibly be addressed by design software is fouling. While a proper selection of fouling resistance is extremely difficult due to the numerous factors involved, a sound design practice will minimize any errors. However, it is important to first understand the phenomenon of fouling. The paper describes what fouling is, types of fouling, factors affecting fouling, providing a fouling allowance, selecting a fouling resistance, and overcoming fouling through better design.
- OSTI ID:
- 178364
- Journal Information:
- Hydrocarbon Processing, Vol. 75, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Jan 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Dirty air conditioners: Energy implications of coil fouling
Fouling of cooling tower film fill: Causes, cleanup techniques and operating guidelines