In order to study the effect of heat flux and inlet temperature on the fouling characteristics of nanoparticles

and to further reveal the fouling mechanism for insights into proper operating conditions

γ-Al

2

O

3

/water suspensions were chosen as the subject of this research. The particulate fouling characteristics of γ-Al

2

O

3

/water suspensions on the surface of stainless steel have been experimentally studied by varying the heat flux and the inlet temperature under single-phase flow and subcooled-flow boiling conditions. The results show that in the condition of single-phase flow

the asymptotic value of fouling resistance decreases with increasing of heat flux and inlet temperature. The asymptotic value of fouling resistance under single-phase flow is much higher than for the subcooled-flow boiling condition. The effect of heat flux on the fouling resistance under the two flow states has an inverse relationship

and there exists a minimum value of fouling resistance between these two states. For subcooled-flow boiling

the asymptotic value of fouling resistance increases with increasing heat flux

whereas the effect on fouling resist

ance by the inlet temperature is negligible.