Modification of Heat Transfer Surfaces to Reduce Crystallization Fouling Based on Polar Component of Surface Energy

Deposit formation in heat exchangers causes increased pressure drop, flow non-uniformity, energy loss and deterioration of efficiency. A novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly approach to mitigate deposition in heat exchangers, is surface treatment. Surface energy and its polar and dispersion components are modified by coating of surfaces to mitigate fouling. In this study surface energy and its polar and dispersion components are calculated by Wu and OWRK approaches. The determination of surface energy and its polar and dispersion components for crystallization fouling showed that formation of precursor on substrates reduces by increased polar component of surface energy. Comparison with experimental data points associated with CaSO4 crystallization fouling confirm this propensity.