Process and apparatus for testing fluids for fouling and antifoulant protocol

Abstract

There is disclosed a novel mobile apparatus and process therefor including a heat transfer test assembly and related conduit and valve assemblies for connection in fluid flow communication to a heat transfer apparatus for in-situ testing and generation of foulant data to permit substantially simultaneous implementation of the antifoulant protocol of the fluid passing therethrough and including monitoring and recording apparatus together with a source of antifoulants for controlled introduction into the fluid. The heat transfer test assembly includes a heating member for controlled heat input and thermocouples to measure the wall temperature of the heating member to permit fouling determinations at varying flow rates with simultaneous monitoring and recording thereof together with data, such as corrosion, pH, conductivity, and the like. The heat transfer test assembly is placed in fluid communication with a source of antifoulants of controlled dosage with concomitant evaluation of efficaciousness of the antifoulant protocol on the fluid.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An apparatus for testing a fluid to generate fouling data and other parameters to develop an antifoulant protocol for said fluid, which comprises: a piping assembly including fluid inlet and outlet .[.means.]. and a heat transfer test assembly, said heat transfer test assembly including a heating member including a heating element disposed within a conduit .[.means.]. having a passageway for said fluid;   means for measuring temperature of said fluid entering said heat transfer test assembly;   means for supplying electrical energy of a pre-select quantity to said heating element;   means for measuring wall temperature of said heating .[.element.]. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.;   flow means for measuring velocity of said fluid through said conduit .[.means.].;   means for generating fouling data from said pre-select quantity of electrical energy supplied to said heating element, said .Iadd.velocity of said fluid, said .Iaddend.measured temperature of said fluid and said measured wall temperature of said heating member; and   means for introducing an antifoulant into said fluid.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a flow control valve .Iadd.connected in said piping assembly.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said flow control valve is of a constant flow type including a pressure equalizer. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow means includes a venturi device. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said venturi device is connected to a differential pressure cell to generate a signal responsive to a pressure drop across said venturi device. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus for testing a fluid as defined in claim 1 and further including two flow means of differing rated flow rates. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including converter means to convert analog electric signals to digital output signals. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is supported on a movable structure within a chamber having environmental regulating capabilities. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said movable structure is a van. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising means to disable said means for supplying electrical energy to said heating element at a pre-select elevated temperature condition. 
     
     
       11. A process for testing a fluid to be passed through a unit in an indirect heat transfer relationship to develop an antifoulant protocol for said fluid, which comprises: (a) connecting said unit in fluid flow communication with a test zone of a mobile assembly, said test zone including a heating member having a source of heat;   (b) measuring a temperature of said fluid;   (c) providing source of heat with a pre-select quantity of electrical energy;   (d) measuring wall temperature of said heating member during passage of said fluid through said test zone;   (e) measuring a flow rate of said fluid;   (f) generating fouling data .Iadd.from said pre-select quantity of electrical energy, said flow rate, said temperature of said fluid and measured wall temperature.Iaddend.; and   (g) introducing an antifoulant into said fluid while continuing steps (b) to (e).   
     
     
       12. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein the quantity and kind of antifoulant is varied to develop said antifoulant protocol. 
     
     
       13. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein said flow rate is measured by a differential pressure across a venturi zone. 
     
     
       14. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein said flow rate of said fluid is varied through said test zone. 
     
     
       15. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein said data is also recorded in a manner for further electronic transmissions to a data bank for such unit. 
     
     
       16. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein said unit is on stream. 
     
     
       17. The process as defined in claim 15 wherein said fluid after passage through said test zone is continuously recycled to said unit. 
     
     
       18. The process as defined in claim 11 wherein steps (b) to (e) .Iadd.each .Iaddend.generate .[.d.]. analog signal.Iadd., which signals are then .Iaddend..[.convertable.]. .Iadd.converted .Iaddend.to .[.a.]. digital signal.Iadd.s .Iaddend.which .[.is.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.recorded together with said fouling data. .Iadd. 
     
     
       19.  The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes: means for measuring said other parameters including corrosion, pH and conductivity of said fluid. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The apparatus of claim 19 which further includes means for recording said fouling data and said other parameters. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The process of claim 18 which further comprises:   means for measuring corrosion, pH and conductivity of said fluid and wherein measurements of corrosion, pH and conductivity are recorded along with said fouling data. .Iaddend.