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/AlarmedForm630 3d ago

The advantage of tracking the overall heat transfer coefficient U is that you can compare to the nominal value given by the manufacturer. Also, if you track it over time, it will be easier to see the fouling rate and also it will show the effectiveness of a cleaning.

During my master thesis at a pulp and paper mill, that was one of the main indicator to track the performance of the black liquor evaporators.