Analysis of Scale Control in Fluidized-Bed Heat Exchangers

Abstract : An experimental study was made to determine the scale control effectiveness of fluidized-bed heat exchangers in heating seawater. A fluidized bed consists of granular solids suspended in vertically oriented heat exchangers. The purpose of the granular solids is to enhance the deposition of any precipitating salts on the granular solids which present a large surface area in the solution. A further purpose was to investigate whether the mild scouring action produced by the granular solids would eliminate and prevent the formation of actual scale and its buildup on the heat exchanger surface on the bed particles themselves. The favorable results of this study revealed that scale and its buildup can be eliminated by utilizing the fluidized-bed technique for temperatures above 240F.