Evaluation of Heat Exchanger Contamination Alleviation Techniques: Monoethanolamine Injection and Coolant Interruption

摘要

Tests were conducted with a small scale heat exchanger system to evaluate the effectiveness of two techniques to control heat exchanger fouling due to water vapor. The two techniques are: the injection of liquid monoethanolamine into a humid airstream upstream from the heat exchanger and periodic removal of contaminant deposition by coolant fluid shutoff and melting of the frost by the incoming air stream. Monoethanolamine injection was demonstrated to be effective in controlling the heat exchanger fouling due to water vapor and also in providing a means of removing the contaminant from the overall system. Analytical results and test results indicate that monoethanolamine is also effective in removing carbon dioxide, a second heat exchanger contaminant. The periodic removal of contaminant deposition by coolant interruption and melting of the frost by the incoming airstream was not competitive with other techniques which control fouling due to water vapor. (Author)