A Review of Heat Transfer Characteristics in Submerged Combustion Vaporizers: Advances in Icing, Fouling, and Optimization

The submerged combustion vaporizer (SCV), as a critical equipment in the regasification process of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is widely used in LNG receiving terminals worldwide due to its significant advantages such as fast start-up, independence from ambient temperature, compact structure, and flexible load adjustment. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on the heat transfer characteristics of SCVs, with an in-depth analysis focusing on three core themes: icing behavior, fouling formation mechanisms and mitigation measures, as well as structural and operational optimization. Studies indicate that icing and fouling on the external surfaces of heat transfer tubes severely constrain the thermal efficiency of SCVs. Optimizing operational parameters and improving heat exchange surface structures and properties can effectively alleviate these issues.