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Heat Exchanger Water Fouling Factors

Fouling factors references for process water used in heat exchanger sizing...

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1. Data table of boiling points of common liquids and solids
Please find below a table of fouling resistance references for different process water.
  • 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...
As different sources were aggregated, different values can appear for a same material. Please scroll down, the compounds are sorted alphabetically ; or use the Ctrl+F function to find what you are looking for.
 

Fouling factor : Water, Imperial units

Temperature of Heating Medium
Up to 240 F Up to 240 F 240 to 400 F Up to 240 F
Water
Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance
 
(ft2-°F-hr/BTU) (ft2-°F-hr/BTU) (ft2-°F-hr/BTU) (ft2-°F-hr/BTU)
water temperature
 125°F or less  125°F or less over 125°F over 125°F
water velocity
3 ft/s or less over 3 ft/s 3 ft/s or less over 3 ft/s
Boiler Blowdown Water Fouling factor of Boiler Blowdown Water 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002
Brackish Water Fouling factor of Brackish Water 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.002
Condensate Fouling factor of Condensate 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005
Cooling Tower Water (treated) Fouling factor of Cooling Tower Water (treated) 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002
Cooling Tower Water (untreated) Fouling factor of Cooling Tower Water (untreated) 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.004
City or Well Water Fouling factor of City or Well Water 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.002
Engine jacket Fouling factor of Engine jacket 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001
River Water (minimum) Fouling factor of River Water (minimum) 0.002 0.001 0.003 0.002
River Water (average) Fouling factor of River Water (average) 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.003
River Water (muddy or silty) Fouling factor of River Water (muddy or silty) 0.003 0.002 0.004 0.003
River Water (hard over 15 Grains / Gal) Fouling factor of River Water (hard over 15 Grains / Gal) 0.003 0.003 0.005 0.005
Sea Water Fouling factor of Sea Water 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.001
Treated Boiler Feed Water Fouling factor of Treated Boiler Feed Water 0.001 0.0005 0.001 0.001


Fouling factor : Water, SI units

Temperature of Heating Medium
Up to 115.5 c Up to 115.5 c 115.5 to 204.4 c 115.5 to 204.4 c
Water
Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance Fouling Resistance
 
(m2.K/W) (m2.K/W) (m2.K/W) (m2.K/W)
water temperature
 51.6°c or less  51.6°c or less Over 51.6°c Over 51.6°c
water velocity
0.9 m/s or less Over 0.9 m/s 0.9 m/s or less Over 0.9 m/s
Boiler Blowdown Water Fouling factor of Boiler Blowdown Water 0.0003526 0.0003526 0.0003526 0.0003526
Brackish Water Fouling factor of Brackish Water 0.0003526 0.0001763 0.0005289 0.0003526
Condensate Fouling factor of Condensate 8.815E-05 8.815E-05 8.815E-05 8.815E-05
Cooling Tower Water (treated) Fouling factor of Cooling Tower Water (treated) 0.0001763 0.0001763 0.0003526 0.0003526
Cooling Tower Water (untreated) Fouling factor of Cooling Tower Water (untreated) 0.0005289 0.0005289 0.0008815 0.0007052
City or Well Water Fouling factor of City or Well Water 0.0001763 0.0001763 0.0003526 0.0003526
Engine jacket Fouling factor of Engine jacket 0.0001763 0.0001763 0.0001763 0.0001763
River Water (minimum) Fouling factor of River Water (minimum) 0.0003526 0.0001763 0.0005289 0.0003526
River Water (average) Fouling factor of River Water (average) 0.0005289 0.0003526 0.0007052 0.0005289
River Water (muddy or silty) Fouling factor of River Water (muddy or silty) 0.0005289 0.0003526 0.0007052 0.0005289
River Water (hard over 15 Grains / Gal) Fouling factor of River Water (hard over 15 Grains / Gal) 0.0005289 0.0005289 0.0008815 0.0008815
Sea Water Fouling factor of Sea Water 8.815E-05 8.815E-05 0.0001763 0.0001763
Treated Boiler Feed Water Fouling factor of Treated Boiler Feed Water 0.0001763 8.815E-05 0.0001763 0.0001763