MODELING LIQUID-SIDE PARTICULATE FOULING IN ENHANCED TUBES

A semi-theoretical model is developed to predict liquid-side particula te fouling in enhanced tubes. The model predicts fouling behavior for a wide range of particle size distribution and foulant concentration. In this study, the deposition model uses a coefficient, K(D), which in cludes two effects, (a) Brownian diffusion in the sticking (or wall) r egion and (b) momentum transfer to the sticking region. The sticking p robability and bond strength factor are defined by empirical correlati ons as a function of particle size, concentration, and shear stress. T he fouling data used in the correlations were taken for concentrations between 2000 and 800 p.p.m. for the particle sizes of 2, 4 and 16 mum . The average fluid velocity in the tube was varied between 1.22 and 2 .44 m s-1. The theoretical predictions are in general in good agreemen t with the experimental data.