In microstructured devices such as heat exchangers, the formation of deposits can be favoured by higher temperatures. This occurs in industry, for example, in the thermal treatment of milk, in cooling water when the solubility of salts falls below a certain level and in plastics production due to undesirable polymerisation. As the deposits on the walls lead to a reduction in the transferred heat flow, it is important to minimise the formation of deposits or, ideally, to avoid them.

Fouling investigations from literature show that the build-up of deposits can at best be delayed, but not prevented if the formation of deposits has already begun. Therefore, the aim of the project is to analyse the initial fouling formation in order to better understand the occurring processes and to find prevention strategies. For this purpose, a simulation tool based on OpenFOAM is being developed that can depict heat transfer, layer formation as well as particle formation, transport and deposition. This tool will be used to simulate fouling due to the denaturation of milk proteins during the thermal treatment of milk.

At the TUBS in Braunschweig, experiments are carried out in parallel with the simulations to allow for mutual validation. The heat exchanger investigated there is to be recreated as a digital twin. With the simulations it is aimed for a deeper insight into the processes taking place via the variables that cannot be measured in the experiment, such as velocity distribution and heat transfer.