Investigation of fouling roughness induced heat transfer improvement using a stereoscopic micro PIV

Abstract This study examines the relationship between surface roughness caused by crystal fouling layers and heat transfer in a controlled flow environment. Heat exchanger fouling is a persistent challenge in industrial processes that significantly affects efficiency and operational costs. The investigation uses Stereoscopic Micro Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereo µPIV) to explore local micro-scale effects on heat transfer under fouling conditions. Crystal fouling layers, generated from CaSO 4 material system, are introduced into a flow channel to simulate realistic fouling conditions. By implementing a fouling layer characterization parameter the growth phase of the fouling layer can be related to its effects on pressure drop and heat transfer. The study uses advanced visualization techniques to capture three-dimensional velocity fields and turbulent kinetic energy, providing insights into turbulence intensity in the immediate vicinity of a crystal fouling layer. This turbulence increase can be quantified by the Turbulent Kinetic Energy . A direct correlation between the crystal layer characterization and its effects on pressure drop and heat transfer can be observed.