Experimental study on fouling in the heat exchangers of surface water heat pumps

• Field and laboratory experiments are taken to measure the fouling variation.
• Fouling growth process can be divided into four stages.
• We recommend fouling resistance allowances for certain conditions.
• A fouling prdiction model is developed and validated.

Fouling in the heat exchangers plays a key role on the performance of surface water heat pumps. It is also the basement for the system design criteria and operation energy efficiency. In this paper, experimental measurements are performed both in the field and the laboratory with different water qualities, temperatures and velocities. The research will focus on the dynamic growth characteristics of fouling and its main components. By studying the variation rules of fouling resistance, the fouling resistance allowance for certain water condition is recommended. Furthermore, a fouling prediction model in surface water heat pump will be developed and validated based on elaborating with fouling principle under specified water conditions.

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