Advanced Heat Transfer Technologies

Economics of Fouling

Have the COSTS OF FOULING been clearly defined at your facility?

  • Increased maintenance costs
  • Oversizing and/or redundant (stand-by) equipment
  • Special materials and/or design considerations
  • Added cost of cleaning equipment & chemicals
  • Hazardous cleaning solution disposal
  • Reduced service life and added energy costs
  • Increased costs of environmental regulations
  • Loss of plant capacity and/or efficiency
  • Loss of waste heat recovery options

DID YOU KNOW THAT. . . . . .

    • Over 40 YEARS AGO heat exchanger fouling was referred to as the major unresolved problem in heat transfer
    • The total cost of fouling in highly industrialized nations has been projected at 0.25% of the GN
    • The total annual cost of fouling in the U.S. has been estimated at OVER $18 BILLION 
    • The total annual cost of fouling specifically focused on shell and tube exchangers in the process industries has been estimated at OVER $6 BILLION 

Typical Fouling Problem Solution = 2 X 300% of clean surface + weekly hydro-blasting of the stand-by HX

When ALL of the actual Costs of Fouling are clearly defined and documented, the very significant cost-saving benefits of a self-cleaning FBHX will justify serious consideration of an installation of 120% of clean surface that actually provides 20% margin.