July 2004

Extra Report: Heat Transfer

Reduce fouling in shell-and-tube heat exchangers

Proper design lowers capital costs and increases both efficiency and onstream time

Bennett, C. A., Heat Transfer Research, Inc.; Nesta, J., Fluor Corp.

Accumulation of scale, organic matter, corrosion products, coke, particulates or other deposits on the heat transfer surface causes fouling and costs industry billions of dollars each year. These deposits will degrade exchanger performance over time compared with "clean" conditions at startup. The fouling layer is a conductive resistance to heat transfer that must be accounted for in the design heat transfer coefficient. Fouling thickness and thermal conductivity both contribute to the resistance. Reduced cross-sectional flow area also increases pressure drop in the fouled region. This additional pressure drop must be accounted for in the pump design. Using the guidelines presented here wi

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