Most refrigeration machines see an annual cleaning and inspection of their condenser water tubes, at which time it offers an excellent report card evaluation as to the corrosion control provided.  collections of rust and chipscale within the waterbox is a clear indication to a higher than normal corrosion condition.  Other indicators are a rusted and pitted tubesheet, waterbox, and heads.  A white coating at the tubes strongly indicates a high scaling condition whereby cycles a concentration have been maintained at higher than acceptable levels.  Any difficulty in cleaning the tubes with appropriately sized brush is further proof to a high scaling condition.

A large volume of plugged tubes is a clear indication to a long-term corrosion condition as well as the lack of interest to correct the problem.

The evaporator or chill water side of a refrigeration machine traditionally experiences far less corrosion activity and is therefore of lesser concern.  Rather than annual cleaning and inspection, most evaporator sections are cleaned and inspected every 3 to 5 years.

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