Effect of Different Biofouling Characteristics on Heat Transfer of the Heat Exchanger

Abstract

This study, conducted with the dynamic simulation equipment under constant conditions of water temperature 30°C and flow rate 0.4 m.s-1, is intended to simulate dynamically the fouling process on stainless steel tube heat exchanger of three types of fouling microorganisms, iron bacteria (IB), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and slime forming bacteria (HB), which are isolated from the slime in the bottom of circulating cooling tower. This experiment was tested through the on-line monitoring of fouling resistant and analysis of the characteristics of heat transfer ,the results indicate that induction period for the formation of biofouling in the stainless steel tube by slime-forming bacteria is 56 h, Iron bacteria is 25h, and sulfate-reducing bacteria is 22h. Among these bacteria, the greatest impact on the heat transfer is taken by the iron bacteria, and the sulfate-reducing bacteria are next.