Effect of geometry and flow conditions on particulate fouling in plate heat exchangers

This article describes particulate fouling experiments performed on small-s cale and full-scale plate hear exchangers for three different corrugation a ngles (30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees). The velocity effect has bee n studied as well as the particle type and concentration effects. The test duration ranges between 20 and 1,500 h in order to reach asymptotic behavio r The results clearly indicate that the corrugation angle has a major influ ence on the asymptotic fouling resistance. Increasing the corrugation angle leads to lower values for the fouling resistance. Furthermore, for a given corrugation angle, the asymptotic fouling resistance is inversely proporti onal to the velocity squared. Finally, the asymptotic fouling resistance is proportional to the particle concentration. Fouling mitigation can be obta ined by taking into account at the design stage the heat exchanger geometry and fluid velocity.