Characteristics of Air-Side Particulate Fouling Materials in Finned-Tube Heat Exchangers of Air Conditioners

Heat exchangers are used widely in residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC applications. Air-side particulate fouling in the heat exchangers of HVAC applications degrades the performance of cooling capacity, pressure drop across a heat exchanger, and indoor air quality. Indoor and outdoor air contaminants foul heat exchangers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the air-side particulate fouling materials in finned-tube heat exchangers of air conditioners. Air conditioners being used in the field such as inns, restaurants, and offices are collected in chronological order of use. The fouling materials attached on the evaporator heat exchangers consist of particulates and fibers. The particulates mainly originate from indoor dusts and the fibers are separated from clothes, bedclothes, papers, fur of pets, and so on. Typical fouling materials on the heat exchangers include fibers and dusts ranging from 6.6 to 20.9 μm in aerodynamic mean diameter.