The　dust　content　in　flue　gas　is　an　important　reason　that　restricts　the　recovery　efficiency　of　waste　heat　from　flue　gas.　In　this　paper,　heat　transfer　and　fouling　characteristics　of　a　3D　micro-finned　tube　(3DMFT)　heat　exchanger　are　studied.　Firstly,　the　heat　transfer　characteristics　of　circular　tube　and　3DMFT　are　compared.　Then,　the　fouling　characteristics　of　3DMFT　are　explored,　and　the　effect　of　gas　velocity　and　particle　diameter　on　fouling　is　revealed.　The　results　show　that,　compared　with　circular　tube,　the　heat　transfer　area　of　3DMFT　can　be　increased　by　2.9　times;　the　heat　transfer　performance　can　be　increased　by　16%　on　average;　the　asymptotic　fouling　resistance　can　be　reduced　by　70%;　meanwhile,　the　cleaning　time　is　longer,　which　means　the　operation　economy　is　better.　To　sum　up,　compared　with　traditional　circular　tube,　the　3DMFT　can　enhance　heat　transfer,　and　also　effectively　reduce　fouling.　Therefore,　it　can　be　used　as　an　efficient　and　anti-fouling　heat　transfer　element　in　waste　heat　recovery　systems.　©　2020,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.