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Heat exchangers’ fouling causes increased resistance to thermal exchange, with subsequent efficiency loss. Although related analysis has been exposed in previous studies, the available mathematical models do not consider all forms and mechanisms of deposition of unwanted material. This investigation proposed two models for prediction of the fouling thermal resistance in a system of hydrogen sulphide gas coolers under operations. The values for independent and response variables inherent to the process were obtained by applying the passive experimentation method. Correlations of 98,07 % and 97,23 % were achieved from the multivariable regression model (for the tubeside-shellside heat exchange and the shellside-jacket interaction, respectively), as compared to 99,63 and 99,03 % for the artificial neural network. The results confirm the validity of both techniques as reliable forecasting tools, with the neural network being the best predictor.

Heat exchangers' fouling causes increased resistance to thermal exchange, with subsequent efficiency loss. Although related analysis has been exposed in previous studies, the available mathematical models do not consider all forms and mechanisms of deposition of unwanted material. This investigation proposed two models for prediction of the fouling thermal resistance in a system of hydrogen sulphide gas coolers under operations. The values for independent and response variables inherent to the process were obtained by applying the passive experimentation method. Correlations of 98,07 % and 97,23 % were achieved from the multivariable regression model (for the tubeside-shellside heat exchange and the shellside-jacket interaction, respectively), as compared to 99,63 and 99,03 % for the artificial neural network. The results confirm the validity of both techniques as reliable forecasting tools, with the neural network being the best predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulphide acid coolers are tube and shell jacketed heat exchangers designed to cool down the produced gas from 416,15 K to 310,15 K in addition to separate the sulphur carried over by the outlet gas from the reactor tower. The investigation was carried out by applying the passive experimentation process in an online cooler set in order to determine the heat transfer rates and fouling based on heat resistance. It was corroborated that the operation of this equipment outside design parameters increases outlet gas temperature and liquid sulphur carryovers. Efficiency loss is caused by fouling elements in the fluid, which results in changes in the overall heat transfer rate. The linear tendency of the fouling heat resistance based on time for three gas flowrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]