boiler operator Questions with
Accurate Answers
What is the first thing a boiler operator must do when taking over a shift? -
ANSWERSReport to work 10 to 15 minutes early. Check the water level on all the
boilers on the line by blowing down the gauge glass, water column, and low water fuel
cutoff.
What are different ways of getting water into a boiler? - ANSWERSare the vacuum
pump, feedwater pump, automatic city water makeup feeder, and hand-operated city
water makeup valve.
What is the function of a pressure control? - ANSWERSThe pressure control is
sensitive to pressure and controls the boiler operating range. It starts and stops the
burner on steam pressure demand.
How are safety valves tested? - ANSWERStested by hand or by pressure.
How often should safety valves be tested? - ANSWERS2. low pressure boilers should
be tested by hand once every 30 days the boiler is in operation. The ASME code also
recommends the testing of safety valves under pressure once a year, preferably before
the start of the heating season. In addition to the ASME code, safety valves should be
tested according to recommendations of the local boiler inspector.
6.What is the function of a low water fuel cutoff? - ANSWERSto shut the burner off to
protect the boiler heating surface from becoming overheated due to low water in the
boiler.
How is a low water fuel cutoff tested? - ANSWERSThe two methods of testing a low
water fuel cutoff are by hand or by an evaporation test.
When should a safety valve pop on a low pressure steam boiler? - ANSWERSA safety
valve must pop (open) whenever pressure exceeds the safety valve setting to prevent
the boiler from exceeding its MAWP.
what pressure should a safety valve pop on a low pressure steam boiler? -
ANSWERSThe safety valves on low pressure steam boilers are set to pop open at 15
psi
what does
, "purging the furnace'' mean ? - ANSWERSwhen the burner fan blows air into the
furnace to remove any mixture of gases or fumes of a combustible nature that might
cause a furnace explosion
What is the most important valve on a boiler? - ANSWERSsafety valve
How often should a steam boiler have a bottom blow down? - ANSWERSwhenever
tests of the boiler water indicate high chemical con- centration or high total dissolved
solids
How is a flame scanner tested? - ANSWERSOne method is to remove the scanner from
its sighting tube and cover it with your hand, which should shut off the burner. The
second method is to secure the fuel going to the burner to simulate a fuel failure, which
should cause the scanner to shut the burner off on safety lockout.
What methods can be used to determine the water level in a boiler? - ANSWERSblow
down the gauge glass and watch the action of the water leaving and returning to the
glass. The second method is to use the three try cocks and observe what comes out of
the top try cock, middle try cock, and bottom try cock when they are opened. With an
NOWL, the top try cock should discharge steam, the middle try cock should discharge a
mixture of water and steam, and the bottom try cock should discharge water.
What is the main cause of smoke? - ANSWERSsmoke could be caused by cold fuel oil,
poor atomization, insufficient primary and secondary air, a dirty burner, or fuel oil
impinging on the brickwork.
.What are the different types of draft used in boilers? - ANSWERSnatural draft and
mechanical draft. Mechanical draft can be further clas- sified as forced draft, induced
draft, or combination forced and induced draft.
What is the function of a check valve on a feedwater line? - ANSWERSprevents water
from leaving the boiler when the vacuum pump or boiler feedwater pump stops.
What is the function of a stop valve on a feedwater line? - ANSWERSThe stop valve is
required in the event the check valve malfunctions (sticks open or closed). The stop
valve could then be secured (closed) and the check
What actions would be required if a safety valve was popping and the steam pressure
indicated 30 psi on the boiler? - ANSWERS(1) Secure the burner. (2) Allow steam
pressure to drop to approximately 15 psi. (3) Use the safety valve test lever to test the
safety valve(s) by hand. (4) If the safety valve(s) pop open and reset at the proper blow-
back, raise the steam pressure to see if the safety valve(s) popped by pressure. (5) If
the safety valve(s) popped by pres- sure, determine why the pressure control did not
function properly. Note: The boiler in question should not be left unattended. A new
boiler should be warmed up and cut in on the line if there is one available. If this is the
Accurate Answers
What is the first thing a boiler operator must do when taking over a shift? -
ANSWERSReport to work 10 to 15 minutes early. Check the water level on all the
boilers on the line by blowing down the gauge glass, water column, and low water fuel
cutoff.
What are different ways of getting water into a boiler? - ANSWERSare the vacuum
pump, feedwater pump, automatic city water makeup feeder, and hand-operated city
water makeup valve.
What is the function of a pressure control? - ANSWERSThe pressure control is
sensitive to pressure and controls the boiler operating range. It starts and stops the
burner on steam pressure demand.
How are safety valves tested? - ANSWERStested by hand or by pressure.
How often should safety valves be tested? - ANSWERS2. low pressure boilers should
be tested by hand once every 30 days the boiler is in operation. The ASME code also
recommends the testing of safety valves under pressure once a year, preferably before
the start of the heating season. In addition to the ASME code, safety valves should be
tested according to recommendations of the local boiler inspector.
6.What is the function of a low water fuel cutoff? - ANSWERSto shut the burner off to
protect the boiler heating surface from becoming overheated due to low water in the
boiler.
How is a low water fuel cutoff tested? - ANSWERSThe two methods of testing a low
water fuel cutoff are by hand or by an evaporation test.
When should a safety valve pop on a low pressure steam boiler? - ANSWERSA safety
valve must pop (open) whenever pressure exceeds the safety valve setting to prevent
the boiler from exceeding its MAWP.
what pressure should a safety valve pop on a low pressure steam boiler? -
ANSWERSThe safety valves on low pressure steam boilers are set to pop open at 15
psi
what does
, "purging the furnace'' mean ? - ANSWERSwhen the burner fan blows air into the
furnace to remove any mixture of gases or fumes of a combustible nature that might
cause a furnace explosion
What is the most important valve on a boiler? - ANSWERSsafety valve
How often should a steam boiler have a bottom blow down? - ANSWERSwhenever
tests of the boiler water indicate high chemical con- centration or high total dissolved
solids
How is a flame scanner tested? - ANSWERSOne method is to remove the scanner from
its sighting tube and cover it with your hand, which should shut off the burner. The
second method is to secure the fuel going to the burner to simulate a fuel failure, which
should cause the scanner to shut the burner off on safety lockout.
What methods can be used to determine the water level in a boiler? - ANSWERSblow
down the gauge glass and watch the action of the water leaving and returning to the
glass. The second method is to use the three try cocks and observe what comes out of
the top try cock, middle try cock, and bottom try cock when they are opened. With an
NOWL, the top try cock should discharge steam, the middle try cock should discharge a
mixture of water and steam, and the bottom try cock should discharge water.
What is the main cause of smoke? - ANSWERSsmoke could be caused by cold fuel oil,
poor atomization, insufficient primary and secondary air, a dirty burner, or fuel oil
impinging on the brickwork.
.What are the different types of draft used in boilers? - ANSWERSnatural draft and
mechanical draft. Mechanical draft can be further clas- sified as forced draft, induced
draft, or combination forced and induced draft.
What is the function of a check valve on a feedwater line? - ANSWERSprevents water
from leaving the boiler when the vacuum pump or boiler feedwater pump stops.
What is the function of a stop valve on a feedwater line? - ANSWERSThe stop valve is
required in the event the check valve malfunctions (sticks open or closed). The stop
valve could then be secured (closed) and the check
What actions would be required if a safety valve was popping and the steam pressure
indicated 30 psi on the boiler? - ANSWERS(1) Secure the burner. (2) Allow steam
pressure to drop to approximately 15 psi. (3) Use the safety valve test lever to test the
safety valve(s) by hand. (4) If the safety valve(s) pop open and reset at the proper blow-
back, raise the steam pressure to see if the safety valve(s) popped by pressure. (5) If
the safety valve(s) popped by pres- sure, determine why the pressure control did not
function properly. Note: The boiler in question should not be left unattended. A new
boiler should be warmed up and cut in on the line if there is one available. If this is the
