Design of an experimental set-up to determine the influence of corrosion on heat transfer

Abstract

In the exploitation of geothermal energy, heat exchangers are essential to distribute heat to energy conversion systems (e.g. organic Rankine cycles) or district heating networks. The geothermal brine found in Belgium however has a high temperature and a high salinity which makes it extremely corrosive. In such environments, the classic solution is to construct a heat exchanger with a highly corrosion resistant metal such as titanium or nickel. However, since these metals are very expensive, alternatives are investigated. One such alternative is using heat exchangers made of less corrosion resistant materials, but where detailed information about the corrosion process is available. This information is then used during design and for predictive maintenance. An experimental set-up to determine the corrosion rate and the influence of corrosion on the heat transfer is designed.