Gas-side fouling

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Mech. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6032904

Marner, W J

When fouling, or the deposition of an insulating layer of material onto a heat transfer surface, results from contact with a gas stream, the process is known as gas-side fouling. It can occur in direct-fired systems, such as furnaces and fired heaters, and in a variety of heat recovery systems. Because it can increase pressure drop and decrease heat transfer, gas-side fouling can lead to increased capital and maintenance costs and major production and energy losses in many energy-intensive industries. In some cases, gas-side fouling may be accompanied by corrosion and/or erosion. Gas-side fouling occurs when a fuel is burned and the products of combustion pass through a heat exchanger. Combustion gases typically contain ash, unburned hydrocarbons, and such elements as sodium, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, and magnesium - all potential foulants. The impurities in the gas stream can take the form of a vapor, liquid droplets, or solid particulates. As the gases pass through the heat exchanger, these substances can be deposited on the heat transfer surface, whose temperature is lower than that of the gases. Impurities can also be introduced into the gas stream through process contamination. In the aluminum industry, for example, the use of fluxing agents to dissipate impurities from the surface of the melt introduces halides, fluorides, and other corrosive impurities into the combustion gas stream.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA
• OSTI ID: 6032904
• Journal Information: Mech. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Mech. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 108:3; ISSN MEENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
421000* -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
ADDITIVES
ANTIFOULANTS
CLEANING
CONTROL
DESCALING
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLUE GAS
FLUIDIZED BED HEAT EXCHANGERS
FOULING
FUEL ADDITIVES
GASEOUS WASTES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PIPES
HEAT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
HEAT TRANSFER
IMPURITIES
REGENERATORS
SCALE CONTROL
SCALING
SURFACE CLEANING
SURFACE FINISHING
WASTES