Patent ID: 7594430

Claim:
A process for monitoring the biofouling of a fluid flowing through a heat exchanger containing one or more internally enhanced tubes, wherein said process utilizes a heat test transfer assembly having an externally enhanced tube sleeve, said method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting a heat transfer test assembly to a recording and monitoring assembly including or connected to a piping assembly having a fluid test zone, such that said heat transfer test assembly and said monitoring and recording assembly are in fluid flow communication with the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger having one or more internally enhanced tubes; (b) measuring a temperature of said fluid as said fluid enters the test zone; (c) energizing the heating rod in the test zone; (d) measuring the wall temperature of the heating rod during passage of said fluid through said test zone; (e) measuring the flow rate of said fluid through said test zone; (f) monitoring and measuring a parameter of said fluid in said test zone, wherein said parameter is selected from the group consisting of corrosion, pH, ORP and conductivity; (g) recording data from steps (b), (d) and (f); and (h) computing a u-coefficient and/or fouling factor; wherein the heat transfer test assembly comprises: an outer tube member; a heating rod positioned coaxially within the outer tube member, said heating rod comprising means for sensing a wall temperature of said heating rod; a ribbed tube sleeve having ribs on an outside surface thereof coaxially fitted over the heating rod within the outer tube member; and an annular fluid flow passageway disposed between the tube sleeve and the outer tube member.