Method and apparatus for determining the heat transfer characteristics of a tube

Apparatus for providing a manifestation indicative of the deposition from a liquid of a fouling material upon an inner surface of a tube by the liquid flowing therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a tube:
• (b) means for directing the fluid through said tube;
• (c) means disposed about a portion of said tube means for applying thermal energy to an outer surface of said portion of said tube means;
• (d) means for measuring the temperature of the fluid as it passes through said portion of said tube means to provide a first manifestation thereof;
• (e) means for determining the pressure drop of the fluid as it passes through said portion of said tube means to provide a second manifestation thereof;
• (f) means for measuring the rate of flow of the liquid as it passes through said tube means to provide a third manifestation thereof;
• (g) means associated with said thermal means for determining the heat flux at said outer surface of said tube means to provide fourth manifestation thereof;
• and
• (h) calculating means for providing a manifestation indicative of the conductive heat transfer resistance of the fouling deposit on said interior surface of said tube means, said calculating means comprising means responsive to said second and third manifestations for determining the friction factor "f" as presented to the liquid flowing through said tube means by said fouling deposit on said interior surface of said tube means, means responsive to said first manifestation and said third manifestation for providing an indication of the Reynolds number of the fluid passing through said tube means, mean responsive to said first, third and fourth manifestations for providing a manifestation indicative of the total heat transfer resistance of the fouling deposit, and means responsive to said friction factor indication and the Reynolds number to provide a manifestation of the convective heat transfer resistance of the heat passing through the fouling deposit, and means for providing a manifestation indicative of the convective heat transfer resistance of the fouling deposit as the difference between said total heat transfer resistance manifestation and said convective heat transfer resistance manifestation.