Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Numerical simulation and experimental study of the growth characteristics of particulate fouling on pipe heat transfer surface

  • Original
  • Published:
Heat and Mass Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The problem of particulate fouling accumulating on the heat exchange surface in urban effluent still exists after secondary treatment which deteriorating the heat transfer performance and increasing operational cost. Therefore, it is significant to study the fouling mechanism of particulate fouling on the inner wall of heat exchange tube. In this paper, the effects of flow velocity, particle concentration, inlet temperature, particle size, roughness of pipe wall, viscosity of working fluid and type of particle on the thermal resistance and fouling rate of particulate fouling were investigated by numerical simulation and experimental methods. The results show that the working fluid velocity, particle concentration and particle size are three significant factors that affect the thermal resistance of particulate fouling. The increase of flow velocity causes the asymptotic value of fouling thermal resistance to decrease, while the increase of particle concentration and particle size causes it to increase. To slow down the fouling rate, the flow velocity and inlet temperature should be increased, while the particle concentration, particle size, roughness of pipe wall and viscosity of working fluid should be decreased. The net deposition rate of particles on the heat exchange surface increases with the increasing particle density. However, the effect of particle type isn’t definite, the fouling rates and asymptotic values from small to large are MgO, CaSO4, CaCO3 and SiO2 in this study, which does not increase with the increase of density. The synergistic effect of different kinds of particulate fouling make the asymptotic value of mixed fouling thermal resistance decrease, but it is also related to different particle properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Φ :

Generalized variable

Γ :

Generalized gamma diffusion coefficient

S :

Generalized sources

G :

Gravity acting on the moving particle, N

F B :

Buoyancy, N

F r :

Drag force, N

C D :

Drag coefficient

m p :

Particle mass, kg

d :

Particle diameter, m

F :

Forces acting on a particle, N

ρ p :

Particle density, kg/m3

ρ f :

Fluid density, kg/m3

v p :

Particle velocity, m/s

v f :

Fluid velocity, m/s

Re p :

Reynolds number characterized by particle velocity

Fs:

Saffman lift force, N

F p :

Pressure gradient force, N

F m :

Virtual mass force, N

m d :

Deposition rate of particles, kg/m2

N d :

Number of captured particles

N 0 :

Number of tracked particles

m 0 :

Particle quality injected to the pipe, kg

A:

Surface area of tubes, m2

n :

The turbulent burst times

α :

Constant

θ :

Time step, s

ν:

Kinematic viscosity coefficient, Pa·s

V*:

The wall friction velocity, m/s

f :

The wall friction coefficient

τ s :

Wall friction, N

m r :

The denudation rate of particles, kg/m2

m f :

The net deposition rate of particles, kg/m2

R f :

Fouling thermal resistance, m2K·W−1

ρ s :

Particle fouling density, kg/m3

λ s :

Thermal conductivity of fouling, W/(m·K)

ε :

Fouling porosity

ρ p :

Real density of particle, kg/m3

ρ l :

Density of water, kg/m3

λ p :

Thermal conductivity of particle, W/(m·K)

λ l :

Thermal conductivity of water, W/(m·K)

ρ :

Bulk density of particle fouling under dry weight, kg/m3

q m :

Mass flow rate, kg/s

A 0 :

Sectional area of circular pipe, m2

c :

Particle concentration, mg/L

K f, K c :

Heat transfer coefficient under the pollution and clean state, W/(m2·K)

K :

The total heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2·K)

Q :

Heat exchanging between tube wall and fluid, W

F:

Internal surface area of heat exchanging tube, m2

Δt m :

Logarithmic mean temperature difference between hot and cold fluid, °C

t 1 ', t 1 '' :

Inlet and outlet temperature of fluid flowing in inner pipe, °C

t 2 ', t 2 '' :

Inlet and outlet temperature of fluid flowing in outer pipe, °C

Cp :

Constant pressure specific heat of water, kJ/(kg·K)

M 1, M 2 :

Mass flow rates of the inner and outer fluid, kg/s

p:

Particle

l:

Fluid

f:

Fouling

References

  1. Yang Q, Wu R, Shi Y et al (2017) An experimental study and numerical investigation on fluidized defouling of non-clean water heat exchanger wall. Appl Therm Eng 111:638–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Yang S, Xu Z (1995) Fouling and Countermeasures of heat exchange equipment[M]. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

  3. Beal SK (1970) Deposition of Particles in Turbulent Flow on Channel or Pipe Walls. Nuclear Science & Engineering the Journal of the American Nuclear Society 40(1):1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Chamra LM, Webb RL (1994) Modeling liquid-side particulate fouling in enhanced tubes. Int J Heat Mass Transf 37(4):571–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Li W, Shi W, Jiang X et al (2012) Analysis on Internal Solid-liquid Two-phase Flow in the Impellers of Sewage Pump. Procedia Engineering 31(1):170–175

    Google Scholar 

  6. Piglione MC, Fontana D, Vanni M (2012) Simulation of particle deposition in human central airways. European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids 31(1):91–101

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Kuruneru STW, Sauret E, Vafai K et al (2017) Analysis of particle-laden fluid flows, tortuosity and particle-fluid behaviour in metal foam heat exchangers. Chem Eng Sci 172:677–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang Z, Guan C, He C et al (2013) Numerical studies on anti-dirt performance of the enhanced tube with helical blade rotors. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress 32(11):2562–2568 (China)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yiantsios SG, Karabelas AJ (2003) Deposition of micron-sized particles on flat surfaces: Effects of hydrodynamic and physicochemical conditions on particle attachment efficiency. Chem Eng Sci 58(14):3105–3113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Barth T, Reiche M, Banowski M et al (2013) Experimental investigation of multilayer particle deposition and resuspension between periodic steps in turbulent flows. J Aerosol Sci 64(1):111–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mesticou Z, Kacem M, Dubujet P (2014) Influence of Ionic Strength and Flow Rate on Silt Particle Deposition and Release in Saturated Porous Medium: Experiment and Modeling. Transp Porous Media 103(1):1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang G, Li G, Li W et al (2013) Experimental and Theoretical Investigation About Particulate Fouling in Plate Heat Exchangers. J Eng Thermophys. (China) 9:1715–1718

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wang M, Mondal S, Griffiths IM (2017) The role of fouling in optimizing direct-flow filtration module design. Chem Eng Sci 163:215–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang X, Liu P, Wang L et al (2014) Analysis characteristics of dissolved organic matters in the secondary effluent of municipal wastewater. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering (China) 8(6):2186–2190

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tao W (2003) Numerical heat transfer [M]. Xi’an Jiao Tong University Press, Xi’an (in Chinese)

  16. Gao N, Niu J, He Q et al (2012) Using RANS turbulence models and Lagrangian approach to predict particle deposition in turbulent channel flows. Build Environ 48(1):206–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Lu L et al (2017) Assessment of polydisperse drag models for the size segregation in a bubbling fluidized bed using discrete particle method. Chem Eng Sci 160:106–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gorchakov GI, Karpov AV, Kopeikin VM et al (2016) Influence of the saffman force, lift force, and electric force on sand grain transport in a wind–sand flow. Dokl Earth Sci 467(1):314–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lukerchenko N, Kvurt Y, Keita I et al (2012) Drag Force, Drag Torque, and Magnus Force Coefficients of Rotating Spherical Particle Moving in Fluid. Part Sci Technol 30(1):55–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cleaver JW, Yates B (1975) A sub layer model for the deposition of particles from a turbulent flow. Chem Eng Sci 30(8):983–992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Xu Z, Minxia Z, Yilong Z (2015) Numerical Simulation of Fouling Characteristics of Micro-particles. Chemical Engineering & Machinery 42(6):828–834

    Google Scholar 

  22. Xu Z, Xu X, Yilong Z (2014) Investigation of CaCO3 Fouling Characteristics in the Rectangular Channel. Journal of Northeast Dianli University (Natural Science Edition) 34(3):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  23. Xu Z, Zhu H, Yilong Z et al (2014) Research of CaSO4 Fouling in Right-Angle Pipe Bends. Journal of Northeast Dianli University (Natural Science Edition) 34(3):7–13

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors, Zhang Ning, Wei Xin, Yang Qirong and Li Nan would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Natural Science Fund of Shandong Province PR China (ZR2015EM003).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mechanic and Electronic Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China

    Ning Zhang, Xin Wei, Qirong Yang, Nan Li & Erren Yao

Authors
  1. Ning Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xin Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qirong Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Erren Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Qirong Yang or Erren Yao.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 226 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, N., Wei, X., Yang, Q. et al. Numerical simulation and experimental study of the growth characteristics of particulate fouling on pipe heat transfer surface. Heat Mass Transfer 55, 687–698 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-018-2451-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-018-2451-y

Search

Navigation