Mitigation of in-tube fouling in heat exchangers using controlled mechanical vibration

A process for reducing crude oil fouling in a heat exchanger, comprising:

• providing a heat exchanger with tubes for liquid flow and a fixed mounting element that supports the tubes;
• providing a flow of crude oil through the heat exchanger;
• providing a dynamic actuator connected to the fixed mounting element, wherein the dynamic actuator including a force producing device for generating a mechanical force;
• applying a mechanical force to the fixed mounting element through operation of the dynamic actuator to induce a vibration in the tubes that causes shear motion in the crude oil flowing adjacent to the tubes to reduce fouling of the tubes;
• controlling the application of mechanical force to induce controlled vibrational energy by controlling frequency and amplitude output of the dynamic actuator;
• sensing vibrational energy induced in the tubes;
• and
• adjusting control of the application of mechanical force based on the sensed vibrational energy.