Abstract: A condenser in which the condenser tubes can be accessed for endoscopic examination in situ, without taking any part of the condenser off-line (except the specific tube being examined). The condenser's outlet water box has one or more inspection ports in its endwall, and a hollow rigid probe can be inserted through the outlet water box to dock with the end of a tube in the condenser. A flexible endoscopic probe can then be inserted through the rigid probe, to inspect the interior of the tube thus accessed. The rigid probe can also be used to isolate the flow of a single tube, if desired.

Abstract: A condenser structure wherein both ends of at least one tube, which is physically located among the other (numerous) tubes of the condenser's tube bundles, is not connected to the inlet water box nor to the outlet water box; instead, this tube is provided with separate inlet and outlet connections. The separate inlet connection is preferably provided with a separately-controlled admixture of water treatment chemicals. Also disclosed is an innovative method of operating a steam condenser. One or more tubes, which are physically located among the other (numerous) tubes of the condenser, are isolated to provide a real-time test loop. The tube thus isolated is chosen to be among the tubes with the highest heat load, so that this tube provides a worst-case proxy for scaling in the other condenser tubes. The isolated tube is frequently inspected for scaling (e.g.