Dual tube fouling monitor and method

摘要

An electro-mechanical, dual tube and plug device for on-line monitoring of performance losses due to reduced conductivity of a heat exchanger resulting from micro-bio fouling of the surfaces of said heat exchanger/condenser and for detecting change of heat transfer resistance of individual heat transfer tubes. The dual tube and plug assembly includes a first flow assembly tube and a second temperature assembly tube attached to the discharge end of a heat exchanger for providing accurate measurement of temperature and cooling water flow. The first flow assembly tube includes a tube having an inner chamber, including a flow sensor comprising a paddle wheel and a sensor and a temperature sensor for measuring discharge water temperature. The second temperature assembly tube plugs the inlet and the outlet of a heat transfer tube immediately adjacent to the flow assembly tube and includes a plurality of spring loaded temperature sensors in the plugged empty heat transfer tube. Flow and discharge temperature signals from a first dual tube device are combined with other flow and discharge temperature signals, from additional dual tube devices. These signals are sent to a micro-processor which, utilizing inlet water temperature data provided by an inlet temperature sensor, continuously calculates, records and displays the individual heat transfer tube heat transfer co-efficient.