The initial fouling rates of four crude oils were determined at a nominal bulk temperature of 315 °C, an initial heated wall shear stress of 13 Pa, and initial surface temperatures between 375 and 445 °C. These initial fouling rates ranged from 1.3(10-6) to 7.8(10-5) m2 K/kJ. Corresponding Arrhenius plots were linear with the initial fouling rates passing through an isokinetic temperature of 407.5 °C. A plot of the natural logarithm of the preexponential factors (7.6(104) – 5.2(1015) m2 K/kJ) versus the apparent activation energies (128 – 269 kJ/mol) was also linear, confirming the validity of the isokinetic temperature and the presence of the compensation effect. Below the isokinetic temperature, the relative fouling rates were Crude Oil C \u3e Crude Oil A \u3e Crude Oil D \u3e Crude Oil B; above the isokinetic temperature, the relative fouling rates were reversed (Crude Oil B \u3e Crude Oil D \u3e Crude Oil A \u3e Crude Oil C). Chemical characterization of a fouling deposit suggested that the dominant fouling mechanism at these conditions was coking with significant contributions from sedimentation (iron sulfide) and corrosion (~340 μm/yr) of the 304 stainless steel test material
