Equipment-Boiler

Question 1

Who should operate a high pressure, steam boiler?

Answer 1

• A stationary engineer. In Illinois a stationary engineer is not required.
• Maintenance partner/ trained plant personal
• Our boiler is larger than most and runs about 100 # of pressure

Question 2

At how many pounds of steam pressure does a Cintas laundry generally operate a high pressure, steam boiler?

Answer 2

• Our boiler operates at 100 psi.

Question 3

What pieces of equipment in a typical Cintas laundry require steam?

Answer 3

• Steam heater, washers, tunnel finisher, shirt press

Question 4

When a high pressure steam boiler is being started from cold, should the boiler be brought up to operating pressure quickly or slowly? Why?

Answer 4

• A boiler should be brought up to pressure slowly to minimize the stresses on the boiler.
• Doing so will reduce the expansion and contraction of the boiler and avoid hammering

Question 5

Should the main steam valve be opened or closed when shutting down a boiler?

Answer 5

• Closed- to maintain pressure in the boiler and minimize the expansion and contraction of the boiler

Question 6

How should the steam lines be energized and why?

Answer 6

• Slowly, to avoid hammering. At 30psi slightly open the main steam isolation valves to allow pressure to build up slowly. Repeat till valve is completely open.

Question 7

You open the main steam valve and all the steam lines are popping and shaking. What is happening and what would you do to prevent this from happening in the future?

Answer 7

• To much pressure in the lines, steam is condensing in the lines causing hammering. To prevent in the future, you would want to open the steam valve slowly.

Question 8

How often is a high pressure steam boiler inspected and why?

Answer 8

• Yearly. To insure the boiler is working properly and verify our chemistry is working. A full shut down & depressurize of boiler. They will open the front swing door and look at the tubes to check for cracks or sagging.
• Our yearly is in January

Question 9

At what frequency should the controls and safety devices be inspected and tested?

Answer 9

• Require daily validation of the safety devices on the boiler. Plants are required to document this on the FM global red tag document
• Every 6 months by an outside contractor

Question 10

What is the purpose of a steam trap?

Answer 10

• It is located in the return line after each piece of steam operated equipment to allow condensation to be returned to the boiler feedwater tank.

Question 11

What is a check valve?

Answer 11

• A check valve allows steam, water, air to move in only one direction to prevent backflow.

Question 12

Why is chemical treatment important for a boiler?

Answer 12

• To insure appropriate operation of the boiler. Chemical treatment binds up impurities in the water to prevent scaling of the boiler tubes which can cause corrosion and pitting of the tubes and ultimately lead to boiler failure.

Question 13

What purpose does a water softener provide for a boiler system?

Answer 13

• Removes impurities that cause scaling.

* Using a water softener also reduces the amount of chemicals needed to bind up impurities.

Question 14

What purpose does a boiler feedwater system provide?

Answer 14

• Provides makeup water to the boiler. Water must be maintained at 175-200 degrees before it can be sent to the boiler.

Question 15

If your boiler is scaling, what does this mean?

Answer 15

• Have hard water
• Impurities are building in the water side of the boiler. Scaling acts as an insulator and prevents heat from being transferred to the water side of the boiler.

Question 16

Why should boilers be blown down, and at what areas should blowdown occur?

Answer 16

• Done to remove the sediment that builds in the boiler
• Bottom blowdowns are done daily to prevent scale and sludge buildup.
• Surface blowdowns are done as needed to regulate boiler conductivity. These are done automatically by the system.
Once per 8 hour shift

Question 17

How often should a bottom blown down occur?

Answer 17

• Once per 8-hour shift. More often if water quality is not good

Question 18

What does night firing a boiler mean, and why would you do it?

Answer 18

• It means to low fire at 5-10 psi. You would do this to prevent having to change temperatures drastically, save energy, extend the life of the boiler, reduces time it takes to start up.

Question 19

You walk into your boiler room and you notice a water level within the boiler is lower than the gauge. Therefore, the level is unknown. What do you do?

Answer 19

• Shut the boiler and the boiler feed water pumps off immediately.
• Do not attempt to restart until boiler can be verified safe

Question 20

You walk into your boiler room and it is operating at only 50 psi. What pieces of equipment, if any, would not function at this pressure?

Answer 20

• The temperature would not be hot enough for the steam tunnel to properly finish product.
• Washers and presses would run but steps would take longer to complete
• Not efficient to run this way.

Question 21

If the situation in the previous question were to occur, then how would you try to continue to operate, or would you shut down?

Answer 21

• I would move partners around, we would still be able to run the sorts, bulk, mat areas.

Question 22

What pressure devices are present on a high pressure, steam boiler?

Answer 22

• An operator controller to turn off the boiler when the upper limit is reached.
• 2 safety pop off vales- vented to the outside.
• High limit switch- Sounds alarm

Question 23

What water level safety devices are present on a high pressure, steam boiler?

Answer 23

• A low water cutoff- prevents boiler from firing if the water level is too low
• Float valve sensor
• Electrical conductivity probe

Question 24

What type of information should be kept within a boiler log?

Answer 24

• Gage readings
• Water quality
• Chemicals used and doses
• Stack economizer pressure
• PSI
• Conductivity