A Case Study of a Proposed Monitor for Industrial Process Fouling

Abstract

Fouling of a piping system refers to the formation of deposits on pipe walls, which can severely impede fluid flow. The food, dairy, and chemical processing industries usually combat the fouling of piping systems through extensive cleaning or complete replacement of the systems, usually on an emergency basis. This paper describes the development of a model which permits real time monitoring of the overall fouling in a piping system and provides insight into the behavior and response trends of piping system fouling to changes in process operating parameters. It facilitates the prediction of both the rate of fouling and the useful life of the piping system, thereby avoiding emergency shutdowns. This paper also describes the implementation of the model in an existing industrial process plant where it was found to accurately monitor actual fouling behavior. The results of the model demonstrate the influence of Reynolds number upon the fouling of this industrial process piping system. This paper also presents a summary of previous fouling research.