Exam Question
(a) How does fouling affect the performance of a heat exchanger? (4)
(b) Describe the types of plugs used to plug the ends of a leaky heat exchanger tubes. (6)
(c) What is a differential pressure gauge? Where is it used? (6)
Class 4 (4th Engineer)
MEKG
📅 Mar 2024
Reference Answer
### (a) How does fouling affect the performance of a heat exchanger?
Fouling refers to the accumulation of unwanted material on the heat transfer surfaces of a heat exchanger. This layer of deposited material acts as an additional resistance to heat transfer and can significantly degrade the unit's performance.
**Mechanisms and Types of Fouling:**
* **Precipitation Fouling (Scaling):** Occurs when inverse solubility salts (e.g., calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate) precipitate from the fluid onto the hot heat transfer surface. This is common in LT Central Cooling Water systems.
Fouling refers to the accumulation of unwanted material on the heat transfer surfaces of a heat exchanger. This layer of deposited material acts as an additional resistance to heat transfer and can significantly degrade the unit's performance.
**Mechanisms and Types of Fouling:**
* **Precipitation Fouling (Scaling):** Occurs when inverse solubility salts (e.g., calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate) precipitate from the fluid onto the hot heat transfer surface. This is common in LT Central Cooling Water systems.
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