Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Accumulation of unwanted materials inside pipes, machines or heat exchangers leads to various problems in liquid bearing systems, thereby interfering with its function. In this study, thermal circuit was developed, mathematical model formulated and subsequently used in the simulation of the effect of fouling on heat transfer surfaces in boilers. The investigation involved five different fouling materials, basic mechanism of deposit, techniques to control deposit in boiler and the results reveal that fouling progresses with time, and that fouling layers decreases and increases the inside and the outside diameter of the boiler tubes respectively, thus causing an increase in the pressure drop. It was also observed that one of the fouling materials, gypsum, investigated, exhibited higher deposition rate than all others considered in the study. This predicted information can be helpful in the reduction of fouling problems in boilers, noting that fouling of heat transfer surfaces is unavoidable but can be reduced to barest minimum, hence significant savings in power plant.

Keywords: fouling resistance, thermal circuit, heat transfer, coefficient, pressure, boiler

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