Industrial cooling guide
Heat Exchanger Fouling
Deposits, scale and biological growth as thermal resistance and flow restrictions.
Systems note: actual cooling requirements depend on process load, climate, water quality, equipment design and local standards. Use qualified professionals for design, service and regulated work.
What this topic covers
Deposits, scale and biological growth as thermal resistance and flow restrictions.
Core thermal ideas
Fouling can increase thermal resistance and pressure drop.
The same exchanger may foul differently on each fluid side.
Trending temperatures and pressure drop can help distinguish deteriorating heat transfer from other process changes.
System tradeoffs
Thermal duty and pressure drop interact: increasing velocity can improve heat transfer while increasing pumping demand.
What to monitor
Fouling, corrosion and mechanical integrity can reduce performance long before total failure.
Lifecycle perspective
Maintenance and inspection should use equipment-specific procedures and current pressure-equipment requirements.