Routine and emergency Boiler Operation

Question 1

A wide and rapid fluctuating water level in the boiler gage
glass may be the result of
a) high TDS
b) a vapour bound boiler feed pump
c) low alkalinity
d) low pH
e) boiler firing rate being too low

Answer 1

a) high TDS

Question 2

A natural gas fired power boiler flame should be
a) very slow, long, and mostly yellow or orange
b) fairly rapid, mostly blue, and some orange
c) very rapid, short, very audible, and have no orange
d) very white and intense, requiring coloured glass for
viewing
e) bright enough to require coloured glass for viewing

Answer 2

b) fairly rapid, mostly blue, and some orange

Question 3

When performing a sootblowing operation it is important to
maintain flame stability and
a) ensure drum water level remains constant
b) firing rate not be allowed to increase
c) stack discharge not become visible
d) dislodged soot and ash leave the boiler with the flue
gases
e) the local environmental agency be notified prior to
blowing

Answer 3

d) dislodged soot and ash leave the boiler with the flue

gases

Question 4

While blowing down a boiler which is in operation, you should

a) check the rest of the boiler room equipment
b) fill in the log book for your shift
c) concentrate only on blowing down the boiler
d) clean up the area close to the boiler
e) add more water to the boiler to replace the blow down water

Answer 4

c) concentrate only on blowing down the boiler

Question 5

In the event of a low water condition in a boiler the
engineer in charge should
a) shut down the burner immediately
b) continue firing and restore the level
c) shut down the burner, let the unit cool, then inspect it
d) shut down the burner, let the unit cool, then restore
level
e) notify the Chief Engineer before responding to the
condition

Answer 5

c) shut down the burner, let the unit cool, then inspect it

Question 6

A high water level in a boiler
a) will not be made worse by dropping boiler pressure or
allowing “swell” to occur
b) should cause a high water level shutdown switch to stop
the fire
c) is usually the result of a boiler feedpump malfunction
d) will necessitate an immediate shutdown, cool down, and
inspection
e) is usually the result of a level control malfunction

Answer 6

e) is usually the result of a level control malfunction

Question 7

In the event of a flame failure, an automatic boiler will
close the fuel valve and usually
a) begin a re-start cycle immediately
b) perform a post-purge
c) reset itself
d) simply restart itself with no human intervention
e) stop the boiler feedpump

Answer 7

b) perform a post-purge

Question 8

When you first notice that the water level in the boiler gauge
glass can no longer be seen, it is best first to
a) ensure that the boiler is not over filled
b) start the stand-by feed pump or injector
c) shut off the boiler fuel supply
d) close the main steam valve
e) ensure the glass is not leaking

Answer 8

a) ensure that the boiler is not over filled

Question 9

If the safety valve on a boiler pops and the only pressure gauge
indicates well below pop pressure, you would
a) notify the Boiler Inspector
b) reduce boiler pressure and get the gauge checked
c) shut down to fix the safety valve
d) increase spring pressure on safety valve
e) shut down the boiler and replace the safety valve and
gauge glass

Answer 9

b) reduce boiler pressure and get the gauge checked

Question 10

If the boiler safety valves open during boiler operation, you
should
a) close the non-return valve on the boiler drum
b) shut the boiler down immediately
c) increase the forced draft flow to cool the boiler
d) open the blowdown valves
e) reduce the fuel and air flow to the boiler

Answer 10

e) reduce the fuel and air flow to the boiler

Question 11

What causes the level in the gage glass to be higher than in
the drum?
a) column drain valve leaking
b) steam valve on the gage glass closed
c) swell in boiler steam drum
d) starting up of the stand-by feedwater pump
e) guage glass steam and water valves are both open

Answer 11

b) steam valve on the gage glass closed

Question 12

What causes the level in the gauge glass to be lower than
the water level in the boiler?
a) steam valve on the gauge glass closed
b) shrinkage in the boiler steam drum
c) drain valve on the gauge glass leaking
d) top try cock open
e) the steam pressure is excessively high

Answer 12

c) drain valve on the gauge glass leaking

Question 13

A firetube boiler furnace explosion
a) can be the result of too much scale on boiler tubes
b) is more disastrous than a pressure or waterside explosion
c) may be the result of oil in the water causing a foaming
condition
d) may result from a flame scanner not working properly
e) could be caused by poor water circulation

Answer 13

d) may result from a flame scanner not working properly

Question 14

A boiler pressure or waterside explosion

a) could be the result of water in the fuel oil
b) could be the result of inadequate ignition
c) may be caused by a low water condition
d) could result from improper sootblowing procedures
e) could be the result of broken refractory

Answer 14

c) may be caused by a low water condition

Question 15

A reason for many boiler accidents may be due to
a) inadequate training of operating personnel
b) log books being kept up to date and adequate
c) the regular testing and checking of control devices
d) not asking the insurance companies to inspect boilers
more often
e) safety valves being oversized

Answer 15

a) inadequate training of operating personnel

Question 16

The best method of ensuring adequate attention is being given
to the boiler and its controlling and safety devices is to
a) schedule regular testing and checking procedures
b) maintain a log book showing testing results and by whom
they were done
c) request staff to perform checks weekly
d) have faith in the personnel
e) always maintain good oral communication lines about tests
and checks

Answer 16

b) maintain a log book showing testing results and by whom

Question 17

Most furnace explosions occur

a) during the lighting up of a boiler burner
b) during the shutting down of a burner
c) during the purge period of lighting a boiler furnace
d) during the period of increasing the load
e) when steam pressure is excessive

Answer 17

a) during the lighting up of a boiler burner

Question 18

When additional gas burners are required, they may be ignited

a) from an adjacent burner
b) by the flame detector
c) by means of a transformer relay
d) by a flame rod
e) by means of a torch

Answer 18

e) by means of a torch

Question 19

The purging process for a furnace should be done

a) before each burner is lit
b) with the fuel valve closed
c) with the fuel valve in the open position
d) before the second burner is lit
e) with the pilot light on

Answer 19

b) with the fuel valve closed

Question 20

One cause of flame failure in oil or gas fired boilers is

a) excessive fuel temperature
b) fuel pressure being too high
c) the fuel being too volatile
d) water in the fuel
e) the hydrogen content is too low

Answer 20

d) water in the fuel

Question 21

Attempting to light one burner from another burner during the
operation, can
a) cause the lit burner to be blown out
b) cause the fuel oil in the supply tank to surge
c) put the ignitor out
d) not cause the furnace to explode
e) cause a furnace explosion

Answer 21

e) cause a furnace explosion

Question 22

If the main burner fails, this could cause
a) the steam atomizing pressure to increase
b) admission of unburned fuel to the furnace which may
explode
c) the boiler efficiency to increase
d) the fuel valve to stay open
e) the pilot light to go out

Answer 22

b) admission of unburned fuel to the furnace which may

explode

Question 23

Poor combustion due to the insufficient amount of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
may cause a furnace explosion.
a) gas
b) fuel
c) heat
d) air
e) hydrocarbons

Answer 23

d) air

Question 24

Failure to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ the furnace thoroughly before light-up
can cause a furnace explosion.
a) heat
b) drain
c) prime
d) cool
e) purge

Answer 24

e) purge

Question 25

Attempting to light a burner \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ may
cause a furnace explosion.
a) from hot refractory
b) without preheating the fuel
c) without first cooling the fuel
d) without a pilot light
e) by pre-purging the furnace

Answer 25

a) from hot refractory

Question 26

Pressure explosions occur when a pressure part of the boiler
such as the shell, furnace, or firetube bursts due to too
high a steam pressure or a structural weakening of the metal.
This weakening may be caused by:
1. corrosion
2. thermal stress
3. overheating
4. scale and sludge build-up
5. insufficient combustion air
a) 1, 3, 4, 5
b) 2, 3, 4, 5
c) 1, 2, 3, 4
d) 1, 2, 4, 5
e) 1, 2, 3, 5

Answer 26

c) 1, 2, 3, 4