PARTICULATE FOULING OF CORRUGATED PLATE HEAT-EXCHANGERS - GLOBAL KINETIC AND EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES

This paper deals with an experimental study of the liquid-phase partic ulate fouling of stainless steel corrugated plate heat exchangers. Dei onized water containing TiO2 particles has been used as foulant fluid. During fouling experiments, the classical asymptotical behavior has b een observed. A systematic study of the influence of the fluid velocit y on the initial deposition rate as well as on the asymptotic thermal resistance of the deposit is performed. Evidence of the well-known inf luence of the physico-chemical conditions on the fouling behavior is a lso shown. The problem of the global kinetic modeling of the fouling p rocess is also discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.