EP0573530A1 - Fouling probe - Google Patents
Fouling probeInfo
- Publication number
- EP0573530A1 EP0573530A1 EP19920906117 EP92906117A EP0573530A1 EP 0573530 A1 EP0573530 A1 EP 0573530A1 EP 19920906117 EP19920906117 EP 19920906117 EP 92906117 A EP92906117 A EP 92906117A EP 0573530 A1 EP0573530 A1 EP 0573530A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- fouling
- probe
- further characterised
- fouling probe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/18—Water
- G01N33/186—Water using one or more living organisms, e.g. a fish
- G01N33/1866—Water using one or more living organisms, e.g. a fish using microorganisms
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N25/00—Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means
- G01N25/18—Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means by investigating thermal conductivity
Definitions
- This invention relates to a fouling probe and more particularly a probe for biofouling.
- the present invention has been made with the aim of dealing with this problem.
- a fouling probe for a liquid system comprising a tube for receiving a stream of fluid from the system to be monitored, one or more heaters for heating the tube and means for measuring the resistance to heat flow through the wall of the tube characterised in that the tube is surrounded by said one or more heaters, heat transfer is assisted by a heater mandrel between the heaters and the tube, and the space between the inner wall of the mandrel and the outer wall of the tube is filled by an alloy that expands on cooling thus providing substantially uniform heat transfer.
- the invention is based on the re-creation within the probe of the conditions or substantially the same conditions in the part or parts of the system being monitored wherein fouling is expected to occur. Fouling can be expected to increase resistance to heat flow and measuring this resistance in the probe will indicate whether fouling is building up in the system being monitored so that appropriate steps can be taken.
- the tube is made of metal, such as titanium, which preferably does not corrode although in some cases a tube of similar material to the process plant which may corrode is desirable.
- the resistance to heat flow through the wall of the tube is preferably obtained by measuring the temperatures of the fluid stream, for example as it enters and leaves the heated tube and the temperature of the heated tube while the heater power applied to the tube is maintained constant. A build up of fouling in the tube effectively increases the wall thickness and reduces the heat transfer through the wall to the fluid stream.
- thermocouples can be located to measure the bulk fluid temperature and the temperature of the metal tube at the location where fouling build up is expected, e.g. a the downstream end of the tube.
- Fouling is measured in terms of resistance to heat transfer, the fouling resistance R which is part of the total thermal resistance, R.
- the local fouling resistance is given by
- a plurality of tubes can be connected together in series or parallel each tube being set to operate at a different temperature. In this way the probe of the invention can monitor a range of conditions occurring in the system under investigation.
- One tube or set of tubes may act as a control system against chemical treatment of another tube or set of tubes. Biocidal effects on bioaccumulation on process equipment surfaces are either estimated from laboratory trials or long term site evaluation.
- the former method can be limited by closeness to reality, the latter by delays in feedback.
- the statistical BAES (“BioAccummulation Efficiency in Service”)-line of the present invention overcomes both the above by considering the real time fouling resistance response of two side stream fouling probe surfaces run in parallel (or series), one subject to biocide, the other being the control.
- BAES-lines would be specific to any particular system at the biocide dose, operating temperature and Reynold's numbers found in practice.
- the BAES-line can be calculated from the time outputs as follows:-
- Biocide treatments at unit cost or unit dose rate could be compared in real-time in terms of BAES-lines specific to the system.
- Fig.l is a longitudinal section through a tube
- Fig.2 is a diagrammatic representation of a probe comprising three tubes in series and appropriate logic- Fig.3 is a graph of fouling resistance against time;
- Fig.4 is a histogram showing the amount of fouling at different temperatures after 500 hours.
- Fig. 5 is a graph of fouling resistance against time.
- the probe in its simplest form comprises a tube 10 of non-corrodable metal such as titanium.
- the tube 10 is surrounded by a heater mandrel 12 any space between the mandrel and the tube being filled with a low melting point alloy which expands on cooling thus ensuring that as far as possible the tube is in uniform heat conducting relationship with the mandrel.
- the alloy may be a bismuth containing alloy, e.g. Rose's Metal.
- annulular end packers for example of plastics such as polytetrafluoroethylene providing good heat insulation, are fixed to the end plates by screws 20 which extend through the packers into the mandrel 12. Seals 22 are provided around the tube 10 where it passes through the end plates.
- a number of heaters 24, three in the illustrated embodiment of Fig.l are disposed around the mandrel along substantially the whole length thereof.
- the heaters are, in turn, encased in thermal insulation 26.
- Couplings 28, 30 having through bores in register with tube 10 are fixed to the end plates for connection of the probe to other equipment.
- the coupling 28 is female and coupling 30 is a complementary male coupling so that the assembly can be connected at one or both ends with another like assembly.
- the left hand end is intended to be the inlet end.
- the coupling is provided with a thermocouple 32 for monitoring the temperature of fluid entering the tube 10.
- a second thermocouple 34 is provided for monitoring the temperature of the tube 10.
- the assembly In use the assembly is connected to a stream of fluid, for example heat exchanger liquid which is led through tube 10 at a constant rate, preferably the same flow conditions as in the equipment that the probe is simulating.
- the heater is then adjusted to heat the liquid to a temperature which corresponds to the temperature that is predicted in the said equipment.
- a fouling build up, for example due to growth of bacteria in the tube 10 will be signalled by a rise in the fouling resistance which is desired from the continuous measurement of the temperature of the tube and the temperature of the liquid as explained hereinbefore.
- a plurality of assemblies 40 of the kind described with reference to Fig.l can be fitted together as illustrated for example in Fig.2 where three assemblies 40 are connected in series.
- Each of the assemblies can be set to operate at a different temperature and the fouling resistance for each assembly obtained in the same way as already described.
- the fouling resistance can be displayed graphically as shown in Fig.3 and Fig. 5.
- Fig 3 shows the effect when the assemblies in the arrangement of Fig.2 are set to operate at 25°C, 30°C and 35°C. After about 150 hours a build up of fouling begins which gets progressively worse. In practice steps would be taken to deal with the build up of fouling in the system being monitored before it reached the condition shown after 500 hours in the graph of Fig.3.
- a plunger 42 (Fig.l) which can be inserted in the tube to push the fouling from the tube walls and out of the other end of the tube.
- the end 44 of the male coupling 30 is sized to receive a container 46 for collecting the fouling pushed out of the tube by the plunger.
- a useful container for this purpose can be the cylindrical plastic containers for photographic film which have a close fitting cover.
- the container can be provided with a breather hole 46 in the side wall so that when it is fitted to end 44 air displaced by the plunger can escape.
- the fouling removed from the wall of each tube can be weighed.
- Fig.4 shows the total mass of fouling from each of the three units of Fig.2 after having built up the fouling resistance as shown in Fig.3.
- the invention is not confined to the above described embodiments and many modifications and variations can be adopted.
- the invention can be used to monitor a wide range of problems including scaling, chemical fouling, precipitation or any other process that deposits a layer on the inner walls of process stream's tubes or pipes.
- the invention can be used to monitor corrosion which may arise for example in process streams such as those involving electrochemical techniques.
- the tube 10 is segmented into typically two or more rings and each individual segment separated from adjacent rings by suitable electrical insulation.
- Each ring can form part of an electrochemical test arrangement where electrically connected and insulated wires run from the separate rings through the annular space to emerge from the outer wall of a coupling 28 or 30. This arrangement thus allows for the simultaneous measurement of fouling and corrosion on the tube 10 inner wall.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials Using Thermal Means (AREA)
Abstract
On fait passer un flux de liquide provenant d'un système à surveiller à travers le tube d'une sonde de détection d'encrassement. Un ou plusieurs dispositifs de chauffe entourent le tube et le chauffent de manière à ce que l'on puisse mesurer la résistance au flux de chaleur à travers le tube. Le transfert de chaleur est assisté par un mandrin de chauffe placé entre les dispositifs de chauffe et le tube. L'espace situé entre la paroi interne du mandrin et la paroi externe du tube est rempli par un alliage qui se dilate en refroidissant afin de produire un transfert de chaleur pratiquement uniforme.A flow of liquid from a system to be monitored is passed through the tube of a fouling detection probe. One or more heaters surround and heat the tube so that resistance to heat flow through the tube can be measured. The heat transfer is assisted by a heating mandrel placed between the heating devices and the tube. The space between the inner wall of the mandrel and the outer wall of the tube is filled with an alloy which expands as it cools to produce a substantially uniform heat transfer.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9104195 | 1991-02-28 | ||
GB919104195A GB9104195D0 (en) | 1991-02-28 | 1991-02-28 | Fouling probe |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0573530A1 true EP0573530A1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
Family
ID=10690723
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19920906117 Withdrawn EP0573530A1 (en) | 1991-02-28 | 1992-02-27 | Fouling probe |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0573530A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU1367092A (en) |
GB (1) | GB9104195D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1992015866A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5248198A (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1993-09-28 | Droege Thomas F | Method and apparatus for evaluating heat exchanger efficiency |
WO2000005572A1 (en) * | 1998-07-22 | 2000-02-03 | Unilever N.V. | Monitoring apparatus |
GB9816304D0 (en) * | 1998-07-28 | 1998-09-23 | Nat Engineering Lab | Monitoring |
FI20070706A0 (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2007-09-14 | Kemira Oyj | Device and method for monitoring deposition in systems comprising process water |
CN110320233A (en) * | 2019-06-28 | 2019-10-11 | 陕西延长石油(集团)有限责任公司 | A kind of device and method for evaluating coal fouled condition in continuous production device |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1104722A (en) * | 1963-11-30 | 1968-02-28 | British United Shoe Machinery | Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of shoes and apparatus for use therein |
FR1582209A (en) * | 1968-07-26 | 1969-09-26 | ||
SE399765B (en) * | 1974-11-15 | 1978-02-27 | Stal Laval Apparat Ab | META DEVICE FOR SATURATION OF POLLUTION DEGREE IN HEAT EXCHANGERS AND OTHER PIPELINES |
US4138878A (en) * | 1976-12-03 | 1979-02-13 | Rohrback Corporation | Method and apparatus for detecting and measuring scale |
DE2839062C2 (en) * | 1978-09-07 | 1980-11-13 | Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen | Electronic calcification display for PTC-heated instantaneous water heaters |
CH670311A5 (en) * | 1985-06-17 | 1989-05-31 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie |
-
1991
- 1991-02-28 GB GB919104195A patent/GB9104195D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-02-27 AU AU13670/92A patent/AU1367092A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-02-27 WO PCT/GB1992/000355 patent/WO1992015866A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-02-27 EP EP19920906117 patent/EP0573530A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9215866A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU1367092A (en) | 1992-10-06 |
GB9104195D0 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
WO1992015866A1 (en) | 1992-09-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19931001 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE GB IT |
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R17P | Request for examination filed (corrected) |
Effective date: 19930928 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19951025 |
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GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
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GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19961130 |