Describes a programme involving field sampling an analysis to determine the water quality used in water chiller evaporators. Interprets the data to infer the possibility for water-side fouling resistance in the evaporator tubes. States the problem involves the tube-side fouling in copper tubes with 5-10 ft/s water flow at 42-52degF. The water quality tests were conducted to determine the potential for precipitation, biological, corrosion and particulate fouling. Water samples were taken from 71 chillers across the USA. A questionnaire was filled out for each sampling site. A statistical model was applied to assess the potential of chilled water for various fouling mechanisms. Among the conclusions states that the key overall finding is that evaporator tubes have very little potential for heat transfer surface fouling.

KEYWORDS: Water, quality, USA, evaporators, chillers, questionnaires, tubes, copper, fouling, scale, deposits, corrosion, particles