Experimental/Numerical Investigation and Prediction of Fouling in Multiphase Flow Heat Exchangers: A Review

Fouling build-up is one of the most challenging problems for heat exchangers in industry. The presence of fouling leads to a degradation of system efficiency, an increase in operating cost, and possibly, a harmful environmental impact. For this reason, fouling analysis has become an extremely important research subject in order to have a safe and efficient operation. The analysis is more difficult where phase change of fluids is involved during the heat transfer process, as in the case of boilers and condensers, which are critical units in industrial facilities. Due to the lack of a comprehensive review of fouling analysis for the case of multiphase heat exchangers, this paper examines available approaches and techniques used for fouling characterization, modeling, monitoring, and prediction in heat exchangers for both single-phase and multiphase heat exchangers with a focus on fouling in thermal desalination systems. It also gives an overview of heat exchanger condition monitoring solutions available in the market.