| Abstract: | The performance of inner-fin and spirally indented heat exchanger tubes is compared with plain smooth tubes under severe scaling conditions. Artificially hardened water was recirculated through a heat exchanger which contained an enhanced tube and a plain tube in parallel and the decrease in heat transfer coefficient due to scale deposition followed with time. Inner-fin and spirally indented tubes maintained advantages in heat transfer coefficient over plain tubes of 10 to 100% after scaling. Asymptotic fouling resistances were larger for the inner fin tubes than for plain tubes, and smaller for the spirally indented tubes at velocities above 3 ft/sec. |
