A systematic investigation of the fouling induction phenomena with artificial crystal structures and distributions. (31st August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiao, Jie; Li, Zhihao; Han, Jian; Pan, Fei; Woo, Meng Wai; Chen, Xiao Dong
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 168(2017)
• Page Start: 137
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2017-08-31
• Subjects: Crystallization fouling -- Induction stage -- Fouling layer mesoscale structure -- Heat transfer -- Nusselt number ratio -- Fouling resistance; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2017.04.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Fouling layer mesoscale crystal structures do affect heat transfer performance. Crystal structure induced heat transfer enhancement in fouling induction stage. Nusselt number ratio is a promising indicator to reveal enhancement mechanism. Design of structured heat-exchange surfaces with superb performance. Abstract: It has been a challenge to understand the negative fouling resistance during the induction stage of many crystallization fouling processes. The evolution of complex fouling layer structure (i.e., mesoscale crystal structure) and its intricate interaction with heat and momentum transfer in a heat exchanger are extremely difficult to be rigorously tracked experimentally. In this work, a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed for the induction stage of fouling in a microscale channel. The growth of crystals with artificially designed structures at the micrometer scale has been explicitly modeled and coupled with flow dynamics and heat transfer. This model offers unique opportunities to investigate a variety of crystal structures that include the density, distribution, shape, orientation, and growth schemes. Dominant mechanisms of heat transfer enhancement during the induction stage have been demonstrated by the quantification and analysis of Nusselt number ratios. Moreover, quantitative findings in this work can be used to guide the design of high-performance heat transfer facilities.