Basic Boiler operation

Question 1

Housekeeping:

A) Is necessary to be done monthly
B) Is not important
C) Is not the responsibility of the operator
D) Does not affect operation
E) Is a means of preventing accidents

Answer 1

E) Is a means of preventing accidents

Question 2

A good indication of the effectiveness of heat transfer from the fireside to the waterside of a boiler is:

A) Firing rate
B) Stack temperature
C) Boiler water pH
D) Flue gas analysis
E) Fuel and air flow rates

Answer 2

B) Stack temperature

Question 3

Our senses are useful for:

A) Perceiving changes in the environment
B) Interpreting engineering documents
C) Understanding instructions
D) Decoding radio waves
E) Deciding intentions of co-workers

Answer 3

A) Perceiving changes in the environment

Question 4

A furnace explosion in a boiler may be caused by:

A) Sludge and scale build up
B) Thermal shock
C) Corrosion
D) A weak pilot flame
E) Overheating due to low water

Answer 4

D) A weak pilot flame

Question 5

If severe foaming occurs in a steam boiler, the foaming may be controlled by:

A) Lowering the water level by 5 cm and then refilling to normal level
B) Antioxidants
C) Placing an oil filter in the supply water line
D) A series of quick boiler blow offs
E) Water tests

Answer 5

A) Lowering the water level by 5 cm and then refilling

Question 6

If the safety relief valve on a hot water boiler is set at 880 kPa, then the operating pressure of the boiler should not exceed:

A) 680 kPa
B) 620 kPa
C) 600 kPa
D) 660 kPa
E) 640 kPa

Answer 6

D) 660 kPa

Question 7

When shutting down a steam boiler the vent should be opened at above atmospheric pressure to:

A) Facilitate draining the boiler
B) Prevent water hammer
C) Facilitate the removal of air
D) Prevent the formation of a vacuum in the boiler
E) Prevent the boiler from priming

Answer 7

D) Prevent the formation of a vacuum in the boiler

Question 8

To open the boiler for inspection:

1. Open stop valves in the supply and return lines
2. After the boiler has cooled down open the blow off and vent valves
3. Isolate the boiler from any common expansion tank
4. Add chemicals to the boiler
5. After the boiler is drained, remove manhole and handhole covers and drain plugs
6. Wash the boiler out with a stream of high pressure cold water

A) 1, 3, 4, then 6
B) 2, 5, 3, then 6
C) 1, 3, 5, then 6
D) 3, 2, 5, then 6
E) 1, 3, 4, then 6

Answer 8

D) 3, 2, 5, then 6

Question 9

Thermal shock to boilers can be reduced by:

A) Not allowing full flow of cold water into a warm boiler
B) Keeping the boiler free of scale build-up
C) Covering the tubesheets with refractory
D) Warming up boilers slowly
E) All of the above

Answer 9

E) All of the above

Question 10

Before starting up a new boiler or one that has been out of service the following must be ensured:

A) The manufacturer’s recommendations are read
B) The boiler is cold
C) The boiler control is in the off position
D) The fuel is shut off
E) The boiler has a valid inspection certificate

Answer 10

E) The boiler has a valid inspection certificate

Question 11

The discharge pressure of the safety valves on a low pressure steam boiler should not exceed:

A) 153 kPa
B) 14.7 kPa
C) 121 kPa
D) 35 kPa
E) 103 kPa

Answer 11

E) 103 kPa

Question 12

The most important rule in the safe operation of a steam boiler is:

A) Keep the water level in the boiler at the proper level
B) Maintain the correct pressure on the altitude gage
C) Ensure air is kept out of the system
D) Maintain the proper operation of automatic controls
E) Operate the boiler properly

Answer 12

A) Keep the water level in the boiler at the proper level

Question 13

Finding the source of a change in the plant environment leads to:

A) Panic
B) Shutting down the affected equipment
C) Bypassing affected systems
D) Analyzing the situation and determining action
E) Reacting to the situation

Answer 13

D) Analyzing the situation and determining action

Question 14

It is very important that boilers should be warmed up:

A) Quickly, to prevent condensation
B) Quickly, to prevent scale build-up
C) Slowly, to prevent thermal shock
D) At a rate of one degree every five minutes
E) Slowly, so the operator can check the drain system

Answer 14

C) Slowly, to prevent thermal shock

Question 15

When cutting in an additional boiler into a hot water heating system, during the warm up the supply:

A) And return stop valves should be closed
B) Valve is open slightly and the return valve is closed
C) And return stop valves should be fully open
D) Valve should be closed and the return valve should be open
E) And return stop valve should both be open slightly

Answer 15

A) And return stop valves should be closed

Question 16

If the water level in a boiler is found to be below the gauge glass, the appropriate action is to:

A) Shut the boiler down immediately
B) Call the boiler inspector
C) Call maintenance
D) Leave the area
E) Call the chief engineer

Answer 16

A) Shut the boiler down immediately

Question 17

A high water level in a steam boiler:

A) Is usually the result of a boiler feedwater pump malfunction
B) Will necessitate an immediate shutdown, cool down and inspection of the boiler
C) Will not be made worse by dropping the boiler pressure allowing swell to occur
D) Is usually the result of a water level control malfunction
E) Should cause a high water level switch to shutdown the boiler burner

Answer 17

D) Is usually the result of a water level control malfunction

Question 18

When starting an oil fired boiler, the stack may smoke slightly. This may be due to:

A) Outside air temperature too cold
B) Too much excess air
C) Furnace temperature too cold
D) Oil supply temperature too cold
E) Too much atomizing air on the burner

Answer 18

C) Furnace temperature too cold

Question 19

A pressure explosion in a boiler occurs when:

A) Methane gas explodes
B) CO accumulates and ignites
C) The air fuel mixture detonates
D) Pressure parts fail
E) The furnace is inadequately purged

Answer 19

B) CO accumulates and ignites

Question 20

After analyzing the situation that a change in the plant environment has given rise to:

A) There is often nothing that can be done to correct the situation
B) The appropriate action is performed
C) The change is then sensed subconsciously
D) The evacuation of the plant is initiated
E) A plant operator must interpret the change

Answer 20

B) The appropriate action is performed

Question 21

A boiler log:

A) Can be disposed of when full
B) Is a valuable operating tool
C) Is useful only to the office
D) Can be filled out anytime
E) Is not important

Answer 21

B) Is a valuable operating tool

Question 22

When starting up a steam boiler, the boiler air vent valve should be closed at:

A) 0 - 5 kPa
B) 5 - 10 kPa
C) 15 - 20 kPa
D) 10 - 15 kPa
E) 20 - 25 kPa

Answer 22

C) 15 - 20 kPa

Question 23

When there is a change in the plant environment:

A) Something is failing
B) It should be ignored
C) It represents danger
D) It is usually insignificant
E) The change needs to be interpreted

Answer 23

E) The change needs to be interpreted

Question 24

Interpretation of a change in plant environment leads to:

A) Action
B) Ordering the correct parts
C) Resolution
D) Realization of the source of the change
E) A conclusion

Answer 24

D) Realization of the source of the change

Question 25

Before shutting down a hot water boiler:

A) Open the bottom blow-off until the water is clear
B) Test the safety valves
C) Drain the expansion tank
D) Drain the system
E) Test the LWCO’s

Answer 25

A) Open the bottom blow-off until the water is clear

Question 26

Which of the following is a boiler check done by the operator on a monthly basis?

A) Recording the temperature and pressure at the boiler outlet
B) Checking the condition of the flame in the furnace
C) Checking the water level
D) Safety Valve Pop Test
E) Water quality

Answer 26

D) Safety Valve Pop Test