Parameters identification in a physical system for thermal efficiency prediction

Thermal efficiency prediction for heat exchangers is a great challenge for environmental purposes. In spite of technological developments in order to optimize materials or design, fouling phenomena are quite difficult to take into account. This important constraint for heat exchangers efficiency has to be carefully estimated and new sensors are developed in order to inform experimenters about fouling thickness evolution. In this communication, a mathematical model for fouling state prediction is proposed. Thermal system analysis is performed and from experimental observations, identification methodologies are carried out and lead to the identification of unknown model parameters.