Study of Foiling of Heat Exchangers in Phosphoric Acid Concentration Units

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to establish mathematical models for monitoring the fouling of heat exchangers and programming shutdowns for the cleaning of this equipment. To achieve this objective, the authors have adopted an approach comprising essentially the identification of the operating parameters involved in the fouling of the heat exchangers used in the concentration of phosphoric acid, collection of the technical characteristics of the heat exchangers studied, collection and sorting of the operational data of the exchangers studied over a period of two and a half years, establishment of a database on the cycles of operation/shutdown, for the cleaning of the heat exchangers studied, and development of preliminary models for monitoring the fouling and to help the operator decide when to shut down for cleaning the heat exchangers.