Keynote Lecture:

Heat Exchangers and the Environment
 

Prof. T. Reg. Bott
School of Engineering
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT
U.K.
E-mail: T.R.BOTT@bham.ac.uk

Abstract: Good design and efficient operation of heat exchangers have an important role to play in the restriction of “greenhouse” gas emission. In many examples of heat transfer the energy involved in the transfer process has been derived from the combustion of fossil and other fuels. Efficient heat recovery therefore, will make a positive contribution to the restriction of environmental pollution. Fouling the accumulation of unwanted deposits on heat exchanger surfaces, is the major contributor to inefficiency. It is a problem that has been “tolerated” with ineffectual and poorly researched remedies, together with ignorance of the true effects of heat exchanger operating conditions. Heat exchanger design and operation both affect the extent of the fouling problem. Five distinct mechanisms singly or combined, may be responsible for deposit formation. The paper discusses the effect of physical properties of the fluids being processed and the operating conditions, on the likely propensity of deposit formation. The greatest influences on the fouling process are fluid temperature and velocity and the concentration and nature of the constituents in the fluid that ultimately become the deposit. Foulant retention is also dependent on the properties of the recipient surface. The paper will present much numerical data to illustrate the discussion, with particular attention to problems in cooling water systems, including microbial fouling.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Reg. Bott is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He has been interested in heat transfer throughout his university career. As the Institution of Chemical Engineers’ Industrial Fellow in 1968, he carried out a survey on industrial heat transfer. The survey revealed that very little was known about the mechanisms by which heat exchangers became fouled. It was obvious that there was an urgent need to carry out research into this aspect of industrial operation. Working with industry and research establishments, Dr. Bott has investigated the factors that influence the deposition and accumulation of unwanted deposits on heat transfer surfaces. He has been author or co-author of some 300 papers on the topic of heat exchanger fouling, together with two books. He has edited several other books devoted to the subject.
The importance of Dr. Bott’s contribution to knowledge through his research work, has been recognised by three awards. The Brennan Medal presented by the Institution of Chemical Engineers for his “Fouling Notebook”, the Donald Q. Kern award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for his contribution to fundamental understanding of heat exchanger fouling and he was honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, by being made a Member of the British Empire, for his services to chemical engineering and energy management. He has also received the title of Grand Commander of the Order of Henry the Navigator from the President of Portugal, in recognition of his contribution to higher education in Portugal.
In addition to his academic work Dr. Bott is an ordained priest in the Anglican Church.