Heat Exchanger Fouling Factors
Fouling factors references for oil, gas and other process fluids (heat exchanger sizing)
Question or remark ? Please contact us at powder.process@protonmail.com
1. Data table of fouling resistances of some processing fluids
Please find below a table of fluids founds in process industries and the fouling resistance it is expected they can generate in heat exchangers.
- Warning 1 : values were not verified individually
- Warning 2 : The data below are thus only for a 1st reference, quick calculation, but no detail design, no guarantee are given upon them. The actual value in a particular exchanger may differ from the data tabulated as fouling depends on the actual properties of the fluid but also temperature, turbulence...
Fouling factor : Oils
| Fluid | Fouling resistance in h.ft2.F/Btu | Fouling resistance in m2.K/W | |
| Fuel Oil #2 | Fouling factor of Fuel Oil #2 | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Fuel Oil #6 | Fouling factor of Fuel Oil #6 | 0.005 | 0.0008815 |
| Transformer Oil | Fouling factor of Transformer Oil | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Engine Lube Oil | Fouling factor of Engine Lube Oil | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Quench oil | Fouling factor of Quench oil | 0.004 | 0.0007052 |
Fouling factors : gases and vapors
| Fluid | Fouling resistance in h.ft2.F/Btu | Fouling resistance in m2.K/W | |
| Acid gas | Fouling factor of Acid gas | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Ammonia vapor | Fouling factor of Ammonia vapor | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Chlorinated hydrocarbons vapors | Fouling factor of Chlorinated hydrocarbons vapors | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Chlorine Vapor | Fouling factor of Chlorine Vapor | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| CO2 vapor | Fouling factor of CO2 vapor | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Coal flue gas | Fouling factor of Coal flue gas | 0.01 | 0.001763 |
| Compressed Air | Fouling factor of Compressed Air | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Engine exhaust gas | Fouling factor of Engine exhaust gas | 0.01 | 0.001763 |
| Hydrogen | Fouling factor of Hydrogen | 0.0005 | 8.815E-05 |
| Hydrogen (saturated with water) | Fouling factor of Hydrogen (saturated with water) | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Light Hydrocarbon vapors (clean) | Fouling factor of Light Hydrocarbon vapors (clean) | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Natural Gas | Fouling factor of Natural Gas | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Natural Gas Flue Gas | Fouling factor of Natural Gas Flue Gas | 0.005 | 0.0008815 |
| Nitrogen | Fouling factor of Nitrogen | 0.0005 | 8.815E-05 |
| Polymerizable vapors (with inhibitor) | Fouling factor of Polymerizable vapors (with inhibitor) | 0.003 - 0.03 | 0.0005289-0.005289 |
| Refrigerant Vapors (oil bearing) | Fouling factor of Refrigerant Vapors (oil bearing) | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Solvent Vapor | Fouling factor of Solvent Vapor | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Stable Overhead Products | Fouling factor of Stable Overhead Products | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Steam (non-oil bearing) | Fouling factor of Steam (non-oil bearing) | 0.0005 | 8.815E-05 |
| Steam (exhaust, oil bearing) | Fouling factor of Steam (exhaust, oil bearing) | 0.0015 | 0.00026445 |
Fouling factors : liquids
| Fluid | Fouling resistance in h.ft2.F/Btu | Fouling resistance in m2.K/W | |
| Ammonia Liquid | Fouling factor of Ammonia Liquid | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Ammonia Liquid (oil bearing) | Fouling factor of Ammonia Liquid (oil bearing) | 0.003 | 0.0005289 |
| Asphalt and residuum – Vacuum tower bottom | Fouling factor of Asphalt and residuum – Vacuum tower bottom | 0.01 | 0.001763 |
| Asphalt and residuum – Atmospheric tower bottom | Fouling factor of Asphalt and residuum – Atmospheric tower bottom | 0.007 | 0.0012341 |
| CO2 Liquid | Fouling factor of CO2 Liquid | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Calcium chloride solutions | Fouling factor of Calcium chloride solutions | 0.003 | 0.0005289 |
| Chlorinated hydrocarbons liquid | Fouling factor of Chlorinated hydrocarbons liquid | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Chlorine Liquid | Fouling factor of Chlorine Liquid | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| DEG & TEG Solutions | Fouling factor of DEG & TEG Solutions | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Ethanol solutions | Fouling factor of Ethanol solutions | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Ethylene Glycol Solutions | Fouling factor of Ethylene Glycol Solutions | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Gasoline | Fouling factor of Gasoline | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Heavy Fuel Oils | Fouling factor of Heavy Fuel Oils | 0.006 | 0.0010578 |
| Heavy Gas Oil | Fouling factor of Heavy Gas Oil | 0.004 | 0.0007052 |
| Hydraulic Fluid | Fouling factor of Hydraulic Fluid | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Kerosene | Fouling factor of Kerosene | 0.0025 | 0.00044075 |
| Light Gas Oil | Fouling factor of Light Gas Oil | 0.0025 | 0.00044075 |
| Light hydrocarbon liquid (clean) | Fouling factor of Light hydrocarbon liquid (clean) | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Methanol solutions | Fouling factor of Methanol solutions | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| MEA & DEA Solutions | Fouling factor of MEA & DEA Solutions | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Molten heat transfer salts | Fouling factor of Molten heat transfer salts | 0.0005 | 8.815E-05 |
| Naphtha and Light Distillates | Fouling factor of Naphtha and Light Distillates | 0.0025 | 0.00044075 |
| Organic Heat Transfer Liquids | Fouling factor of Organic Heat Transfer Liquids | 0.002 | 0.0003526 |
| Refrigerant Liquids | Fouling factor of Refrigerant Liquids | 0.001 | 0.0001763 |
| Sodium chloride solutions | Fouling factor of Sodium chloride solutions | 0.003 | 0.0005289 |