Experimental study of calcium sulfate fouling in a heat exchanger during liquid-solid fluidized bed with cylindrical particles

Calcium sulfate fouling was determined experimentally in a heat exchanger during liquid-solid fluidized bed with cylindrical particles and forced convective (without particles) heat transfer. The effects of bed voidage, wall temperature and foulant concentration on fouling resistance were studied during fluidized bed heating and compared with corresponding cases in forced convective (without particles) heating. The results show that fouling resistance was considerably decreased during fluidized bed heat transfer compared with forced convective heat transfer (without particles). Maximum fouling removal as heat transfer occurred at bed voidages ranging from 0.6 to 0.8; under these conditions, fouling resistance was lowered to at least one-seventh that of similar cases in forced convective heat transfer.