Washington DC 1st Class Boiler Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• The type of turbine blading in which the spacing between blades remains the same size at the inlet and outlet is called?
• Which records must be kept in the boiler logbook for a First Class boiler operator?
• With makeup conductivity of 390 micromhos, feedwater conductivity 180, and condensate conductivity 45, what is the condensate return percentage using CR = (MC - FC) / (MC - RC) × 100?
• What is the purpose of a boiler blowdown tank and what safety features are typical?
• A thermal expansion feedwater regulator operated by_______.
• Which measurement is commonly used to determine blowdown rate by monitoring boiler water quality?
• What is the purpose of gauge glasses in a boiler?
• For a drum 12 ft long and 5 ft in diameter, what is the curved surface area in square inches (area = πDL)?
• Why is a boiler room not left unattended during start-up or shutdown?
• Which device removes dissolved gases from feedwater before it enters the boiler?
• A boiler produces 835,053 lb of steam per hour and consumes 56,505 lb of 19,000 Btu/lb fuel. The operating pressure is 135 psi and feedwater temperature is 225°F. What is the efficiency of this boiler?
• What is the last valve to be closed before lighting off?
• Why are baffles used in the steam and water drum of water-tube boilers?
• What is the function of a feedwater control valve in a boiler system?
• What does a flame safeguard (burner management system) do?
• Hardness of water is measured in parts per million (ppm) of which two ions?
• Name a technique to control the nitrous oxide emissions.
• What is control valve authority and why is it important in boiler feedwater control?
• In a pressure atomizing burner, the atomization of the oil is accomplished by ______.
• What is soot blowing and why is it performed?
• In the described HRT boiler, what is the total heating surface?
• In the Sterling boiler design, where is the mud drum located relative to the top drums?
• A lead sulfide flame detector is used to detect which condition?
• Approximately how many gallons of fuel oil are consumed per year given a load of 50,000 lb/hr, 8,400 hours/year, and a steam rate of 114 lb/gal?
• Which methods are used to test boiler insulation and why is good insulation important?
• A control system in which the flows of fuel and air are precisely measured and adjusted so as to always be in the correct proportions is called ______ control.
• In the thickness calculation t = MAWP x SF x RAD / TS x Eff, MAWP stands for which term?
• The tubes in a straight tube boiler are inclined to ______.
• What is the function of an air heater in a boiler system?
• In a centrifugal pump with a volute design, which statement accurately describes the diffuser function?
• ________ settings on the pressure controls are normally staggered so boilers can lead and lag.
• The thermo-expansion feedwater regulator operates on which principle?
• ______ is the ability of a material to return to its original shape after being deformed.
• How is a boiler safety valve set and why must it be tested regularly?
• Which valve type provides minimal pressure drop when fully open and is best for isolation?
• Which type of boiler is an electric power generation system that uses both a gas turbine-driven generator and a steam-driven generator?
• Carryover in a boiler system is the entrainment of what into the steam, and what factors contribute?
• In a three-element feedwater regulating system, which quantities are measured?
• What is the main purpose of the boiler blowdown procedure?
• The fractional volume increase of a liquid given CE and ΔT is CE * ΔT. If ΔT = 15°F and CE = 0.000345, what is the fractional change?
• Routine maintenance of boiler sliding feet should include which task?
• _______ is the refrigerant in an absorber system.
• Which device proves purge air flow during light-off and damper position in burner operation?
• _______ is an alloy of chromium, cobalt, and tungsten used to treat interior components of valves to make them very hard and erosion resistant.
• What is the function of a boiler safety valve and when does it operate?
• Which condition increases the likelihood of carryover?
• How is boiler efficiency defined, and what are two common methods to improve it?
• How does boiler water chemistry affect corrosion in boiler systems?
• During initial start-up venting, what two process parameters should be monitored?
• Which term describes turbine blades that are attached to the shaft and convert the thermal energy in steam into mechanical energy?
• What is the purpose of a deaerator in a boiler feedwater system?
• In the thickness calculation, which factor does the symbol Eff represent?
• In the described HRT boiler, how many tubes are installed and what is their diameter?
• A sectional (sinuous) header boiler is classified as which type?
• What is the purpose of interlocks in a boiler fuel train?
• All of the following are components of a secondary refrigeration system except ______?
• In the steam-space calculation for the cylinder, what is the radius used to compute the volume?
• How many BTU per hour does one boiler horsepower represent, and how many pounds of steam per hour does that roughly equate to at saturation?
• What is the name of a bearing consisting of two thrust plates that surround a turbine shaft and work with a thrust runner to prevent axial movement?
• Which air is supplied to a furnace to control the rate of combustion?
• Repeated priming in a steam boiler can cause damage to the ______.
• What is the purpose of a blowdown piping in boiler systems?
• Name three common boiler water treatment chemicals and their roles.
• A boiler can be hydrostatically tested using water at what temperature?
• Which turbine component dampens blade vibration by forming a band around the blade tips?
• What is the role of a steam drum in a water-tube boiler?
• Which of the following best describes the role of interlocks in the boiler fuel train?
• What information does a flue gas analysis provide, and how is it used to tune combustion?
• A ________ is a highly efficient ion-exchange process in which resin is regenerated with sulfuric acid in the first vessel and caustic soda in the second vessel
• Which function does the airflow switch at the burner fan housing primarily serve?
• Which boiler design is a water-tube boiler featuring three steam and water drums on the top and a mud drum beneath, interconnected by a large number of water tubes?
• What is the difference between saturated steam and superheated steam?
• Name a technique to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from a coal fired power plant.
• In the horsepower formula HP = Head x Weight / (33000 x Efficiency), Weight represents which quantity?
• A pump delivers 175 gallons per minute against a pressure of 55 psi; the suction pressure is 15 psi. If the pump is 80% efficient, what is the horsepower needed?
• For a stay with a diameter of 2.75 inches, what is its approximate cross-sectional area in square inches?
• Which component in the boiler feedwater system removes dissolved gases from the feedwater?
• After tripping the burner control during an emergency shutdown, what is recommended action?
• The flow of steam through a superheater should never be less than ______% of the boiler capacity.
• In a three-element drum level control, which variable is sometimes included in addition to drum level, steam flow, and feedwater flow?
• Which gas components are commonly analyzed in a flue gas analysis to assess combustion?
• Define LWCO and describe its role in boiler safety.
• Before lighting off a boiler that has no steam pressure, which procedure would you follow?
• In a three-element feedwater regulating system, __________ are measured.
• Which term describes the ratio of the weight of a liquid to the weight of equal volume of water at the same temperature?
• In a flue gas analysis showing O2 5%, CO2 12%, CO 0.02%, what does this indicate about combustion?
• A vaporstat control is sensitive to _____?
• What is the primary function of a steam trap?
• Describe the difference between fire-tube and water-tube boilers, including where each type is typically used.
• A metal band attached to the outer edge of turbine moving blading to dampen blade vibration is called what?
• A _______ is a spacer installed between two of the rings of packing in a pump.
• What is hydraulic shock (water hammer) in a steam system and how can it be prevented?
• What topics are typically covered by NFPA 85 for boilers?
• Which components work together to atomize the fuel oil in a pressure atomizing burner?
• The tubes in a straight tube water tube boiler are inclined ______.
• In the thickness calculation, TS stands for which property?
• What term describes a gas that does not condense into a liquid when its temperature is reduced?
• In a stay stress calculation, a stay of 2.75 inches diameter is subjected to 450 psi boiler pressure, using an effective area of 26 by 9 inches in the force calculation. What is the resulting stress in psi?
• Which boiler control setting is staggered to allow boilers to lead and lag?
• What is the in-line heat exchanger installed in the deaerator that minimizes steam loss to the atmosphere called?
• Why are boiler tubes thinner-walled than boiler drums if both withstand the same pressure?
• In pump packing, which component functions as a spacer between the rings?
• What is a hydrostatic test and when is it performed on a boiler?
• ________ air supplied to a furnace controls the rate of combustion.
• What is the primary role of the feedwater pump in a boiler system?
• Moving blading where the space between blades is smaller at the exhaust than at the inlet and energy transfer results in a decrease in steam pressure and velocity is called what?
• What is the basic function of a low-water cutoff?
• What is the typical boiler water pH range to minimize corrosion?
• What provides circulation to the water wall tubes?
• _______ is the weight of a given volume of a liquid divided by the weight of an equal volume of water, when both are measured at the same temperature.
• A procedure in which the speed of a turbine is held constant for a specified length of time; a method used to bring steam-to-metal temperature mismatches back to normal.
• What is the term for a raised knob on the end of a moving blade that is peened over shrouding to retain the blade?
• Which expression correctly represents the annual fuel cost FC given the steam load, operating hours, price, and steam rate?
• In these boiler problems, which unit is used to express pressure?
• The purpose of the diffuser in a boiler burner assembly is to ______.
• Which term best describes a collection of control devices and other components necessary for automatic control of a process or subprocess?
• The demineralizer process uses resin regeneration with sulfuric acid in the first vessel and caustic soda in the second vessel to produce a product that removes minerals from water. Which term describes this equipment?
• To determine how many hours a fuel supply lasts, which operation is performed on the total gallons and the consumption rate in gallons per hour?
• What is the function of forced draft in boiler operation?
• Which indicator best signals poor combustion efficiency in flue gas analysis?
• In a flue gas analysis, which reading combination best signals good combustion efficiency?
• In normal practice, to correctly increase the blowdown of a nozzle reaction safety valve, which adjustment should be made?
• In the horsepower formula provided, what is the purpose of the constant 33,000?
• In a pressure atomizing fuel oil-burner, atomization of fuel is produced by the _______.
• What are wet lay-up and dry lay-up methods for boiler storage, and when might each be used?
• In blowdown with a quick opening and slow opening valve on the bottom blowdown line, which valve is opened first and closed last?
• What describes condensate return in a boiler system?
• Which equation best describes the boiler efficiency relation used in the given example (Furnace temperature = 3200°F, Stack temperature = 750°F)?
• Which water-purification process uses pressurized water applied to a semipermeable membrane?
• If a boiler in battery has a tube rupture, the automatic nonreturn valve will _______.
• In a jet condenser, which statement best describes what occurs?
• One row of fixed blading and one row of moving blading.
• A collection of control devices and other components necessary for automatic control of a process or subprocess is called a ______.
• Using boiler pressure of 450 psi and a stay cross-sectional area of 5.93 square inches, what is the approximate force exerted on the stay in pounds?
• What is the final calculated horsepower value given in the example?
• A fuel tank contains 330,000 gallons of #4 fuel oil at 80°F. How many gallons would it read if the temperature was raised to 95°F? Coefficient of expansion is .000345
• In centrifugal pumps, what is the primary purpose of a diffuser ring or the volute acting as a diffuser?
• A flame rod is used to ______.
• What is the advantage of the 'bent tube' method of installing tubes in a boiler?
• What is the function of an economizer in a boiler system?
• The three-element feedwater regulating system uses three measured variables: steam flow, feedwater flow, and water level. Which option lists exactly those three?
• Which statement describes a lead sulfide cell's sensitivity to light?
• What are the main components of a boiler feedwater system?
• How many horsepower are required to raise 3500 pounds to a height of 175 feet at 60% efficiency?
• In boiler burner diffuser, which of the following best describes its primary function?
• What is the horsepower required for a pump that moves 2500 gpm against a head of 475 feet, operating at 58% efficiency?
• The thermal efficiency of a boiler with a stack temperature of 750°F and a furnace temperature of 3200°F is what percent?
• Which component would be part of an automatic control system for a process?
• How does a two-element drum level control differ from a single-element control?
• A turbine valve designed to prevent the turbine from overheating during a turbine trip or shutdown by discharging hot, trapped steam to a low-pressure area is called which valve?
• A fuel oil fired boiler's steam rate averages 114 lb of steam per gallon of fuel oil. The boiler operates 24 hr/day, 350 days/yr. The fuel cost is $0.58/gal and the load is 50,000 lb/hr. What is the annual fuel cost?
• What is the operating pressure stated for the boiler in the example?
• In the horsepower calculation example, what is the weight in pounds per minute derived from the flow rate of 175 gpm?
• The ends of boiler tubes are secured to headers by ______.
• Which type of blading results in a decrease in steam pressure and velocity due to energy transfer?
• A technology in which solid waste is heated in an oxygen-starved atmosphere to break down the solids into a gas is called?
• What is the metal brace on an HRT boiler used to attach a wall to the steel framework that supports the wall called?
• Changing a control device to a degree that is proportional to the need is called _______.
• A _______ pump is a positive displacement pump.
• A two-element boiler feedwater regulator is controlled by which two signals?
• Alkalinity of boiler water may be raised by adding______.
• What is the unit of measure for head in pump calculations?
• The boilers in a boiler installation consume 780 gallons per hour. The fuel oil storage tank is a vertical cylinder 18 feet in diameter and currently contains oil to a depth of 14.5 feet. At the current consumption rate, approximately how many hours will the supply last?
• Which formula gives the cross-sectional area of a circle based on its radius?
• The energy required to lift 3500 pounds through 175 feet is 612,500 ft-lb. If you express as energy, what is the energy in ft-lb?
• In the pump horsepower calculation, what head in feet corresponds to a 40 psi differential?
• What combustion control helps prevent oxygen-deficient conditions, especially during load changes?
• In the steam-space calculation, what value is pi approximated as in the example?
• What are the potential consequences of operating a boiler with the water level too high?
• In a D-type boiler, which tubes would be located in the generating tube bank?
• What is the standard procedure for venting air from a boiler during initial start-up?
• How should a feedwater regulator respond to a sudden drop in steam demand?
• In a three-element drum level control, which variables are used to maintain stable drum level?
• Where is a steam trap typically installed in a boiler system?
• Which equation is used to compute cylinder steam-space volume in the example?
• A lead sulfide cell is sensitive to______?
• Which statement best describes the function of an economizer in a boiler system?
• Spalling in a boiler occurs in which area?
• Which statement about boiler insulation is true?
• What is the purpose of condensate removal in a steam system?
• Based on the operating schedule (24 hr/day, 350 days/yr), how many hours does the boiler operate per year?
• Which statement indicates a DC heater malfunction?
• ______ is the plasticity exhibited by a material under tension loading.
• A duplex double-acting reciprocating feed water pump has how many steam pistons and what is their relationship to the water piston?
• Which two relays are used to start a single-phase hermetic compressor?
• ________ with regard to valves is the relationship between the amount a valve is open and the amount of flow through the valve.
• During burner light-off purge, the ______ switch proves that the forced draft damper is fully open and purge air flow is adequate.
• The two types of relays used to start a single-phase hermetic compressor are ______.
• The thickness of the drum metal is ______ inches given MAWP 2500 psi, diameter 5 ft, tensile strength 65,000 psi, joint efficiency 100%.
• What is a typical result of effective soot blowing?
• What is the function of induced draft in boiler operation?
• Dry lay-up is typically chosen for extended shutdowns in what climate condition?
• Which turbine procedure holds the speed constant to allow temperature equalization between components?
• Why is water treatment essential for boilers?
• What is the primary purpose of using wet scrubbers?
• Which component is used to recover heat from flue gas to preheat feedwater?
• What term describes the weight of a given volume of material divided by the weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature?
• What is an economizer and how does it improve boiler efficiency?
• Which gland seal component is made of grooves and ridges to create a tortuous path that restricts the passage of air or steam?
• How often should safety valves be tested, and what is the standard test procedure?
• What is the feedwater temperature given in the boiler example?
• Why is a level indicator used with gauge glasses in boiler operation?
• In waste-to-energy plants, which process is used for the removal of non-combustible materials?
• Which unit is used to express water conductivity in boiler water analysis data?
• Which device should be placed at the discharge of a positive displacement pump to protect the system?
• A_______ is a process condition that must be met before a certain action may be taken.
• A ______ is the condition that is being controlled.
• What is the function of a boiler blowdown tank?
• Which sequence describes a basic boiler emergency shutdown?
• What is a barometric damper and what does it do?
• Which boiler type is typically used for higher pressures and larger capacities?
• What temperature is typically used as a reference when measuring specific gravity?
• A boiler operated with a pressure of 350 psi; the boiler drum is 12 ft long and a diameter of 5 ft. What is the total force acting on the boiler drum? (Use P x (area of head + area of drum)).
• The packing gland area of a rotary pump is also known as the ______ area.
• A scotch marine boiler can be easily recognized because it ______.
• What does a gauge glass show in a boiler?
• Why must blowdown piping be vented and protected?
• Which of the following best describes titration?
• In the boiler efficiency example, which value represents the fuel energy content per pound?
• External feedwater treatment is accomplished by passing water through a ______?
• The alloy known as 'stellite' is used to treat valve interiors to increase hardness and erosion resistance. Which elements comprise this alloy?
• Which statement about feedwater is accurate?
• What is the steam rate expressed in pounds of steam per gallon of fuel oil?
• A 300 HP motor is running at 1800 RPM at full load. The shaft torque is approximately what value?
• In a cylinder with a bore of 12 inches and a stroke of 28 inches, if the steam space is 5/8 of full travel, what is the steam-space volume in cubic inches?