The cleaning particles used in the self-cleaning fluidized bed heat exchangers create the mild abrasive effect on the wall of the heat exchanger tubes, which removes the fouling deposits at an early stage of formation of the tube wall and keeps the heat transfer surface clean.

Depending on the application, i.e. the properties of the liquid and the fouling tendency, a specific type of cleaning particle is selected and used.

The removal rate of the self-cleaning fluidized bed heat exchanger is besides the volume fraction of the cleaning particles in the tubes (porosity of fluidized bed) influenced by the type (density and hardness) and the size of the cleaning particles.

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Zero Fouling

Rate of removal > Rate of precipitation

Rate of removal
Influenced by

  • Type of particle (density and hardness)
  • Size of the particle
  • The volume fraction of particles in tubes (porosity of fluidized bed)
Rate of precipitation
Influenced by

  • The solubility characteristics of the precipitate
  • Temperature difference between shell and tube
  • Wall temperature inside the tube

The cleaning particles are made of chopped metal wire or ceramics, with a diameter between 1.6 and 4 mm.

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