LAUSR

Deposit formation occurs in most chemical, desalination and power generating processes. This is mainly due to the nature of the involved fluids which frequently contain components that may precipitate to form various deposits on heat transfer surfaces. Depending on thickness and thermal conductivity, such deposits can greatly reduce the performance of the apparatus. This widespread phenomenon is associated with significant environmental impact, additional energy consumption leading to 1–2.5% of global CO2 emissions, and reduced production. The cost penalties due to fouling in heat exchanger applications alone have been estimated as about 0.25% of the GDP of industrialized countries.