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More than 35-40% of heat exchangers employed in global heat transfer processes are of the shell and tube type of heat exchangers. High performance heat exchangers are particularly susceptible due to greater loss of performance under fouling conditions.
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Costs associated with exchanger fouling are refl ected in over-sizing of the heat exchangers leading to not only the incremental capital and installation costs but also the operation, maintenance and downtime costs adding up to a staggering 2.5 to 3.0 times the initial purchase price of heat exchangers.
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In most industrialized countries these losses amount to 0.25 to 0.30 percent of the gross national product (GNP).
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Heat exchanger fouling causes a major economic drain on industries today.
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