Air-side particulate fouling of microchannel heat exchangers: Experimental comparison of air-side pressure drop and heat transfer with plate-fin heat exchanger

► Flat-plate and microchannel heat exchangers tested with ASHRAE and Arizona dust. ► Microchannel heat exchanger more sensitive to air-side particulate fouling. ► Louver-fin spacing below 2mm results in large increase in air-side pressure drop. ► Arizona test dust predominantly impacts heat transfer. ► ASHRAE test dust predominantly impacts air-side pressure drop.