Fouling effect in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with twisted tape inserts applied to a small-scale biomass gasification power plant

Abstract In this work the over-time behaviour of a shell-and-tube type heat exchanger applied to commercial and small-scale wood biomass gasification system was investigated. The exchanger, equipped with twisted tape turbulators, used cool down syngas produced by power plant. An experimental campaign conducted evaluate performance trend in first 15 hours operation. results showed an increase transfer which led progressive reduction gas outlet temperature from 105.4 °C 90.0 °C. data collected confirm literature studies on positive effect that deposits particulate matter tars have reducing clearance between pipes providing information for temporal optimization cleaning strategy itself.