Types Of Fouling In Heat Exchangers
What is fouling in Heat Exchangers?
Fouling is the accumulation
of unwanted material on the tube surfaces of the heat exchanger. After a period
of operation the heat transfer surface of heat exchanger may become coated with
various deposits presents in flow system. This coating represents an additional
resistance to heat flow and thus decreased in performance. Fouling factors are
best determined from experience with similar units in the same or similar
service. When such information is not available, recourse may be had to publish
data. The most comprehensive tabulation of fouling factors is the one developed
by TEMA, which is available in Refs. [1, 2]. Fouling can occur by a number of
mechanisms operating either alone or in combination. These include:
- Corrosion:
Corrosion products
such as rust can gradually build up on tube walls, resulting in reduced heat
transmission and eventual tube failure. This type of fouling can be minimized
or eliminated by the proper choice of corrosion-resistant materials of
construction in the design process.
- Crystallization:
- Decomposition:
Some organic
compounds may decompose when they are heated or come in contact with a hot
surface, forming carbonaceous deposits such as coke and tar. In cracking
furnaces, partial decomposition of the hydrocarbon feedstock is the objective
and coke formation is an undesired but unavoidable result.
- Polymerization:
- Sedimentation:
Sedimentation fouling results from the
deposition of suspended solids entrained in many process streams such as
cooling water and flue gases. High fluid velocities tend to minimize the
accumulation of deposits on heat-transfer surfaces.
- Biological activity:
Biological fouling is
most commonly caused by micro-organisms, although macroscopic marine organisms
can sometimes cause problems as well. Cooling water and some other process
streams may contain algae or bacteria that can attach and grow on heat-transfer
surfaces, forming slimes that are very poor heat conductors. Metabolic products
of these organisms can also cause corrosion of metal surfaces. Biocides and
copper-nickel alloy tubing can be used to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms
and mitigate this type of fouling.
References:
- Kakac, S. and H. Lui, Heat Exchangers: Selection, Rating and Thermal Design, CRC Press Boca Raton FL, 1997.
- Standards of the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association, 8th edn, Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Assiociation, Inc, Tarrytown, NY, 1999.
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