TABLE 4.5.8 Fouling Factors for Various Fluid Streams Used in Heat Exchangers
Liquids
No. 2 fuel oil 0.00035
No. 6 fuel oil 0.0009
Transformer oil 0.000175
Engine lube oil 0.000175
Refrigerants 0.000175
Hydraulic uid 0.000175
Industrial organic HT uids 0.000175 to 0.00035
Ammonia 0.000175
Ammonia (oil bearing) 0.00053
Methanol solutions 0.00035
Ethanol solutions 0.00035
Ethylene glycol solutions 0.00035
MEA and DEA solutions 0.00035
DEG and TEG solutions 0.00035
Stable side draw and bottom products 0.000175 to 0.00035
Caustic solutions 0.00035
Gas or Vapor
Steam (non-oil-bearint) 0.0009
Exhaust steam (oil-bearing) 0.00026 to 0.00035
Refrigerant (oil-bearing) 0.00035
Compressed air 0.000175
Ammonia 0.000175
Carbon dioxide 0.00035
Coal ue gas 0.00175
Natural gas ue gas 0.00090
Acid gas 0.00035 to 0.00053
Solvent vapor 0.000175
Stable overhead products 0.000175
TABLE 4.5.8 (continued) Fouling Factors for Various Fluid Streams Used in Heat Exchangers
Source: Chenoweth, J., Final Report, HTRI/TEMA Joint Committee to Review the Fouling Section of TEMA
Standards, HTRI, Alhambra, CA, 1988. With permission.
It is highly recommended that the surface temperature be maintained below the reaction temperature; it
should be kept below 60rC for cooling tower water.
Tube material. The selection of the tube material is important from the corrosion point of view which
in turn could increase crystallization and biological fouling. Copper alloys can reduce certain biofouling,
but their use is limited by environmental concerns with river, ocean, and lake waters.
There are many other variables that affect fouling. It is beyond the scope here, but the reader may
refer to TEMA (1988).
Fouling Control and Cleaning Techniques.
Control of fouling should be attempted rst before any cleaning method is attempted. For gas-side
fouling, one should verify that fouling exists, identify the sequential event that dominates the foulant
accumulation, and characterize the deposit. For liquid-side fouling, fouling inhibitors/additives should
be employed while the exchanger is in operation; for example, use antidispersant polymers to prevent
sedimentation fouling, stabilizing compounds to prevent polymerization and chemical reaction fouling,
corrosion inhibitors to prevent corrosion fouling, biocide/germicide to prevent biofouling, softeners,
acids, and polyphosphates to prevent crystallization fouling.