Apparatus and method for intrachannel defouling of a heat exchanger using induction heaters

An apparatus comprising:

• a heat exchanger comprising a coolant side conduit and a process side conduit, the process side conduit being susceptible to fouling by at least partial desublimation, condensation, crystallization, deposition, or combinations thereof of a fouling component of a circulating process fluid;
• an electrically conductive first metal disposed adjacent to the process side conduit;
• one or more induction heating elements disposed proximate to the heat exchanger;
• the one or more induction heating elements being connected to a source of electrical current;
• wherein when the electrical current flows through the induction heating elements, eddy currents are induced in the first metal, and thereby heat the first metal such that the fouling component sublimates, melts, absorbs, or a combination thereof into the circulating process fluid;
• and
• wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plate and frame heat exchanger, wherein the plates comprise alternating strips of the first metal and strips of a second material.