Enter the clean and fouled heat transfer coefficients into the calculator to determine the fouling factor. The fouling factor is a measure of the thermal resistance due to fouling on a heat transfer surface.
Fouling Factor Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the fouling factor:
FF = frac{1}{U_f} - frac{1}{U_c}Variables:
- FF is the fouling factor (m²K/W)
- Uf is the heat transfer coefficient when the surface is fouled (W/m²K)
- Uc is the heat transfer coefficient when the surface is clean (W/m²K)
To calculate the fouling factor, subtract the inverse of the fouled heat transfer coefficient from the inverse of the clean heat transfer coefficient.
What is a Fouling Factor?
The fouling factor is a parameter used in the design and operation of heat exchangers. It accounts for the resistance to heat flow caused by the accumulation of fouling materials on the heat transfer surfaces. Fouling can be caused by various factors such as corrosion, scaling, biological growth, or sedimentation. The fouling factor is critical for ensuring that heat exchangers operate efficiently and for predicting the need for maintenance or cleaning.
How to Calculate Fouling Factor?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Fouling Factor.
- First, determine the clean heat transfer coefficient (Uc) in W/m²K.
- Next, determine the fouled heat transfer coefficient (Uf) in W/m²K.
- Next, gather the formula from above = FF = (1/Uf) – (1/Uc).
- Finally, calculate the Fouling Factor (FF) in m²K/W.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Clean heat transfer coefficient (Uc) = 1500 W/m²K
Fouled heat transfer coefficient (Uf) = 1000 W/m²K
