The use of a heat flux sensor in monitoring fouling

A commercially available heat flux sensor has been used to measure the heat flux between a heated block and a flow of milk protein solution. The sensor has been shown to detect the changes in heat flux caused by fouling. The device is described, and the results of preliminary fouling studies with milk protein solution are presented. It is shown that the device gives results consistent with known fouling behaviour over a range of process conditions, and would be suitable for development into a fouling monitor for industry.