Determination of the Fouling Degree of the Heat Substation Based on Tests of Plate Heat Exchangers

The subject of the following considerations is research on plate heat exchangers. The research concerns the determination of the degree of fouling of plate heat exchangers with mineral deposits in the water. The method proposed in this publication for determining the thermal resistance of fouling is based on the determination of the overall heat transfer coefficient for a clean heat exchanger (operating under laboratory conditions) and a fouled one (operating in a heat substation). With the overall heat transfer coefficients determined, the difference in thermal resistance for the fouled and clean heat exchanger and thus the total thermal resistance of the fouling can be determined. The calculation algorithm presented in the work will allow the creation of software that enables monitoring, thus optimizing work heating centers.