r/ChemicalEngineering • u/mrnormality • 3d ago

O&G Tracking U of Heat Exchangers

Hello,

Is there really a significance for tracking Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient of heat exchangers over time? Monitoring the heat exchanger outlet temperature or simple lculation for the heat duty would already be a good indicator for the fouling that happens within the exchanger. If this is the case, there is no point in calculating U and tracking it, right?

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u/ogag79 O&G Industry, Simulation 3d ago

Measuring U, I can see it can help in detecting fouling early on but practically you either do something if either (a) you can't reach your desired process temp even with maximum utility flow or (b) you already have high DP across your HEx, if it's equipped with DP indicator/transmitter.