B6 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the primary purpose of heat-tracing?
A) To increase the pressure in pipelines
B) To replace heat loss to the ambient environment
C) To enhance the structural integrity of pipelines
D) To cool down high-temperature fluids
A
To replace heat loss to the ambient environment
2
Q
- Which of the following is NOT a typical application of heat-tracing?
A) Preventing gas condensation
B) Maintaining fluid viscosity
C) Increasing pipeline pressure
D) Freeze protection of piped water
A
Increasing pipeline pressure
3
Q
- Which of the following is a method to avoid the need for heat-tracing?
A) Using electric resistance cables
B) Insulating pipelines with ceramic coatings
C) Burying water pipes below the frost line
D) Increasing the electrical conductivity of the pipeline
A
Burying water pipes below the frost line
4
Q
- How do electric heat-tracing systems generate heat?
A) By transferring heat from a process stream
B) By utilizing steam condensate
C) By converting electric power into heat through resistive elements
D) By circulating organic heat-transfer fluids
A
By converting electric power into heat through resistive elements
5
Q
- What are the two main types of heat-tracing systems?
A. Electric and magnetic
B. Electric and fluid
C. Steam and circulating media
D. Induction and impedance
A
B. Electric and fluid
6
Q
- What is a significant advantage of steam in heat-tracing systems?
A. Requires no maintenance
B. High heat transfer capacity with small quantities
C. Minimal labor costs for installation
D. Precise temperature control
A
High heat transfer capacity with small quantities
7
Q
- Why is the popularity of steam heat-tracing declining?
A. Steam is less efficient than electricity
B. It cannot provide freeze protection
C. Requires too much energy for small heating loads
D. High installation and maintenance costs
A
High installation and maintenance costs
8
Q
- What is one drawback of external steam tracing in heat-tracing systems?
A. Heat loss through insulation
B. Uneven temperature distribution
C. Low heat transfer efficiency
D. Requires steam jacketing
A
Uneven temperature distribution
9
Q
- What are the two classes of circulating media systems in heat tracing?
A. Oils and water
B. Steam and organic fluids
C. Organic heat-transfer fluids and glycols
D. Induction and conduction systems
A
Organic heat-transfer fluids and glycols
10
Q
- What is the primary drawback of self-regulating tracers?
A. Limited flexibility in length adjustments
B. Susceptibility to damage from field handling
C. Low maximum operating temperatures
D. High installation costs
A
Low maximum operating temperatures
11
Q
- Which type of heat-tracing system is the most suitable for long pipelines?
A. Zone heaters
B. Skin effect tracers
C. Steam tracing
D. Self-regulating heaters
A
Skin effect tracers
12
Q
- What happens when a single element fails in a zone heater system?
A. The entire system stops functioning
B. It continues functioning due to parallel circuits
C. Heater cables must be replaced entirely
D. All circuits are damaged
A
It continues functioning due to parallel circuits
13
Q
- What material is used as insulation in Mineral-Insulated (MI) cables?
A. Polyethylene
B. Fluoropolymer
C. Magnesium oxide
D. Nichrome wire
A
Magnesium oxide
14
Q
- What is the limitation of skin effect heat-tracing?
A. Only suitable for short pipelines
B. Limited to temperatures below 200°F (93°C)
C. Cannot handle high-voltage inputs
D. Expensive and not adaptable for complex piping
A
Expensive and not adaptable for complex piping
15
Q
- What does impedance heat-tracing use as the heating element?
A. Heating cables
B. The pipe itself
C. Fluids with high resistance
D. Magnetic coils
A
The pipe itself
16
Q
- What is the disadvantage of induction heat-tracing?
A. Limited temperature range
B. Requires custom designs and high costs
C. Low heat-transfer rates
D. Minimal energy efficiency
A
Requires custom designs and high costs
17
Q
- What is the primary advantage of self-regulating heaters in hazardous areas?
A. They provide uniform heating regardless of the temperature.
B. They eliminate the risk of overheating.
C. They are cheaper than other heater types.
D. They do not require monitoring.
A
They eliminate the risk of overheating.
18
Q
- What factor primarily limits the operating temperature of skin effect tracing?**
A. The material of the pipeline
B. The insulation on the conducting wire
C. The length of the pipeline
D. The alternating current frequency
A
The insulation on the conducting wire
19
Q
- What is the primary use of impedance heat-tracing?
A. High-temperature applications with rapid heating
B. Tracing long, complex pipelines
C. Preventing freezing in small-diameter pipes
D. Maintaining stable pressure in steam systems
A
High-temperature applications with rapid heating
20
Q
- Which environmental factor can affect the performance of electric heat tracers?
A. Steam supply availability
B. Corrosiveness of the area
C. Length of the pipeline
D. Type of heat-transfer fluid used
A
Corrosiveness of the area
21
Q
- What is a common cause of failure in electric heat-tracing systems?
A. Steam leaks
B. Compromised insulation
C. Corrosion of the pipeline
D. Overheating of steam tracers
A
Compromised insulation
22
Q
- Which type of heater is most suitable for small instrument lines?
A. Skin effect heaters
B. Self-regulating heaters
C. Zone heaters
D. Induction heaters
A
B. Self-regulating heaters
23
Q
- What is a major disadvantage of steam tracing for instrument lines?
A. Higher material costs
B. Possibility of overheating the line
C. Inefficient energy usage
D. Lack of temperature control options
A
Possibility of overheating the line
24
Q
- Why are electric tracers more energy-efficient than steam tracers?
A. They have better temperature control.
B. They are less expensive to install.
C. They use less maintenance labor.
D. They operate at lower costs per watt.
A
They have better temperature control.
25
Q
- Which control type offers the lowest installed cost and highest reliability?
A. Ambient-sensing control
B. Self-regulating control
C. Line-sensing control
D. Dead-leg control
A
Self-regulating control
26
Q
- What is the key feature of microprocessor-based monitoring systems?
A. Detects voltage loss at any point in the system
B. Uses ground fault breakers for protection
C. Provides real-time data on system functionality
D. Operates independently of heater types
A
Provides real-time data on system functionality
27
Q
- What is the primary factor in deciding between steam and electric tracing?
A. Availability of trained personnel
B. Reliability of the power supply
C. Cost of installation and operation
D. Length of the pipeline
A
Cost of installation and operation
28
Q
- Why are 240-V heaters often preferred over 120-V heaters?
A. They are cheaper to install.
B. They can support longer circuit lengths.
C. They consume less energy per watt.
D. They provide better temperature control.
A
They can support longer circuit lengths.
29
Q
- Which control type is commonly used for freeze protection systems with self- regulating heaters?
A. Line-sensing control
B. Dead-leg control
C. Ambient-sensing control
D. Proportional Ambient-Sensing Control (PASC)
A
Ambient-sensing control
30
Q
- What is the key benefit of computer programs in heat-tracing design?
A. Reduces maintenance costs
B. Automates installation processes
C. Simplifies design optimization and calculations
D. Replaces manual monitoring systems
A
Simplifies design optimization and calculations
31
Q
- Which factor primarily affects heater reliability in electric heat-tracing systems?
A. Environmental protection
B. Energy efficiency of the heater
C. Insulation integrity
D. Voltage classification
A
Insulation integrity
32
Q
- Which type of heating system offers a degree of self-limiting properties?
A. Steam tracing
B. Skin effect tracers
C. Polymer-insulated cables with copper conductors
D. Induction heaters
A
Polymer-insulated cables with copper conductors
33
Q
- What is the primary function of ground-fault monitoring?
A. To maintain constant voltage in the system
B. To prevent overheating of heaters
C. To detect leakage current and protect the system
D. To monitor temperature variations
A
To detect leakage current and protect the system
34
Q
- What is the common drawback of zone heaters?
A. Vulnerable to moisture damage
B. Inefficient energy use
C. Limited temperature control
D. Complex installation requirements
A
Vulnerable to moisture damage
35
Q
- What is the main advantage of using line-sensing control in heat-tracing systems?
A. Lowest installed cost
B. Highest degree of temperature control
C. Reduces maintenance costs significantly
D. Ensures parallel circuit reliability
A
Highest degree of temperature control
36
Q
- What is a benefit of using microprocessor-based monitoring systems?
A. Eliminates the need for field inspections
B. Provides detailed, real-time system information
C. Reduces the initial installation cost of heaters
D. Simplifies the design of hazardous area systems
A
Provides detailed, real-time system information
37
Q
- What is the disadvantage of voltage sensing with light indicators?
A. Inability to detect temperature variations
B. Requires high maintenance
C. Does not work with line-sensing thermostats
D. Cannot detect voltage loss
A
Does not work with line-sensing thermostats
38
Q
- Which monitoring method ensures voltage is present at the end of the circuit?
A. Voltage sensing with microprocessor-based systems
B. Power line carrier systems
C. Ground-fault monitoring
D. No monitoring
A
Power line carrier systems
39
Q
- What is the role of resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) in monitoring systems?
A. To control the circuit voltage
B. To measure and relay system temperature conditions
C. To detect ground-faults
D. To improve heat transfer efficiency
A
To measure and relay system temperature conditions
40
Q
- What is the purpose of heater cable selection in system design?
A. To calculate the voltage requirements
B. To ensure heat loss is replenished effectively
C. To simplify installation processes
D. To reduce the cost of system operation
A
To ensure heat loss is replenished effectively
41
Q
- How can heater output be adjusted in electric heat-tracing?
A. By changing the type of insulation used
B. Through spiraling configurations
C. Using variable-voltage controls
D. By reducing circuit length
A
Using variable-voltage controls
42
Q
- What does the T rating of a system define?
A. The maximum heater output possible
B. The temperature threshold for system safety
C. The resistance of cables to moisture
D. The efficiency of temperature control
A
The temperature threshold for system safety
43
Q
- Why are microprocessor-based systems not commonly used?
A. They are incompatible with hazardous areas.
B. They often cost as much as the heat-tracing system itself.
C. They cannot provide accurate data for pipelines.
D. They are only available for steam tracing systems.
A
They often cost as much as the heat-tracing system itself.
