1. Q: What is the primary purpose of a boiler safety valve? ANSWER
To automatically relieve pressure when it exceeds the maximum
allowable working pressure (MAWP) to prevent boiler explosion.
2. Q: What does MAWP stand for? ANSWER Maximum Allowable
Working Pressure.
3. Q: At what percentage of MAWP must a safety valve be set?
ANSWER Not to exceed 100% of the MAWP, typically set at or below
the MAWP.
4. Q: What is the minimum number of safety valves required on a
boiler? ANSWER At least one safety valve, though multiple may be
required based on heating surface area.
5. Q: What is the purpose of a low water cutoff device? ANSWER To
shut down the boiler when water level drops below a safe minimum to
prevent overheating and damage.
6. Q: How often should a low water cutoff be tested? ANSWER At least
weekly during operation, or as recommended by manufacturer.
7. Q: What is a try lever on a safety valve? ANSWER A manual lever
that allows testing of the safety valve to ensure it operates freely.
8. Q: What is the purpose of a pressure gauge on a boiler? ANSWER
To indicate the steam or water pressure inside the boiler.
9. Q: Where should a pressure gauge be located? ANSWER In a visible
location where the operator can easily read it, connected to the steam
space.
10.Q: What is the minimum size for a steam boiler safety valve
discharge pipe? ANSWER Must be at least the size of the safety valve
outlet, with no reduction in size.
,11.Q: What is boiler scale? ANSWER Mineral deposits that accumulate
on heating surfaces, reducing heat transfer efficiency.
12.Q: What causes boiler scale formation? ANSWER Minerals dissolved
in water that precipitate out when heated, particularly calcium and
magnesium compounds.
13.Q: What is the danger of scale buildup? ANSWER Reduced heat
transfer leads to overheating of metal, potential tube failure, and reduced
efficiency.
14.Q: What is boiler water treatment? ANSWER Chemical treatment of
boiler water to prevent scale, corrosion, and foaming.
15.Q: What is carryover in a boiler? ANSWER Water droplets carried
with steam, contaminating the steam and potentially damaging
equipment.
16.Q: What causes priming in a boiler? ANSWER Excessive water level
or sudden load changes causing water to surge into steam outlets.
17.Q: What is foaming in a boiler? ANSWER Formation of stable
bubbles on water surface due to high dissolved solids or contaminants.
18.Q: What is the purpose of a blowdown valve? ANSWER To remove
sediment, sludge, and concentrated dissolved solids from the boiler.
19.Q: How often should bottom blowdown be performed? ANSWER
Daily or as needed based on water quality testing and manufacturer
recommendations.
20.Q: What is the difference between bottom blowdown and surface
blowdown? ANSWER Bottom blowdown removes sediment from the
lowest part; surface blowdown removes concentrated surface water and
foam.
21.Q: What is a Hartford Loop? ANSWER A piping arrangement that
prevents water loss from a boiler if a wet return line breaks.
22.Q: What is the purpose of a feed water check valve? ANSWER To
prevent backflow of boiler water into the feedwater line.
23.Q: What is the minimum clearance required around a boiler for
service? ANSWER Typically 3 feet on sides requiring access, or as
specified by code and manufacturer.
, 24.Q: What type of fuel can a 2B license holder work with? ANSWER
Various fuels including natural gas, propane, oil, and solid fuels,
depending on specific qualifications.
25.Q: What is the purpose of a flame safeguard system? ANSWER To
prevent fuel from entering the combustion chamber without ignition,
preventing explosions.
26.Q: What is a pre-purge cycle? ANSWER A period before ignition
when the combustion chamber is purged of any combustible gases.
27.Q: What is a post-purge cycle? ANSWER A period after flame
shutdown when remaining combustible gases are purged from the
chamber.
28.Q: What is the purpose of a stack temperature gauge? ANSWER To
monitor flue gas temperature, indicating combustion efficiency and
potential problems.
29.Q: What does excessive stack temperature indicate? ANSWER Poor
combustion efficiency, scale buildup, or improper air-fuel ratio.
30.Q: What is draft in a boiler? ANSWER The pressure difference that
causes air and combustion gases to flow through the boiler.
31.Q: What is natural draft? ANSWER Draft created by the buoyancy of
hot gases rising through a chimney.
32.Q: What is forced draft? ANSWER Draft created by a fan pushing air
into the combustion chamber.
33.Q: What is induced draft? ANSWER Draft created by a fan pulling
gases out of the boiler.
34.Q: What is balanced draft? ANSWER A combination of forced and
induced draft to maintain optimal furnace pressure.
35.Q: What is the purpose of a draft gauge? ANSWER To measure the
draft pressure in the furnace or stack.
36.Q: What is excess air in combustion? ANSWER Air supplied beyond
the theoretical amount needed for complete combustion.
37.Q: Why is some excess air necessary? ANSWER To ensure complete
combustion of fuel and prevent formation of carbon monoxide.
To automatically relieve pressure when it exceeds the maximum
allowable working pressure (MAWP) to prevent boiler explosion.
2. Q: What does MAWP stand for? ANSWER Maximum Allowable
Working Pressure.
3. Q: At what percentage of MAWP must a safety valve be set?
ANSWER Not to exceed 100% of the MAWP, typically set at or below
the MAWP.
4. Q: What is the minimum number of safety valves required on a
boiler? ANSWER At least one safety valve, though multiple may be
required based on heating surface area.
5. Q: What is the purpose of a low water cutoff device? ANSWER To
shut down the boiler when water level drops below a safe minimum to
prevent overheating and damage.
6. Q: How often should a low water cutoff be tested? ANSWER At least
weekly during operation, or as recommended by manufacturer.
7. Q: What is a try lever on a safety valve? ANSWER A manual lever
that allows testing of the safety valve to ensure it operates freely.
8. Q: What is the purpose of a pressure gauge on a boiler? ANSWER
To indicate the steam or water pressure inside the boiler.
9. Q: Where should a pressure gauge be located? ANSWER In a visible
location where the operator can easily read it, connected to the steam
space.
10.Q: What is the minimum size for a steam boiler safety valve
discharge pipe? ANSWER Must be at least the size of the safety valve
outlet, with no reduction in size.
,11.Q: What is boiler scale? ANSWER Mineral deposits that accumulate
on heating surfaces, reducing heat transfer efficiency.
12.Q: What causes boiler scale formation? ANSWER Minerals dissolved
in water that precipitate out when heated, particularly calcium and
magnesium compounds.
13.Q: What is the danger of scale buildup? ANSWER Reduced heat
transfer leads to overheating of metal, potential tube failure, and reduced
efficiency.
14.Q: What is boiler water treatment? ANSWER Chemical treatment of
boiler water to prevent scale, corrosion, and foaming.
15.Q: What is carryover in a boiler? ANSWER Water droplets carried
with steam, contaminating the steam and potentially damaging
equipment.
16.Q: What causes priming in a boiler? ANSWER Excessive water level
or sudden load changes causing water to surge into steam outlets.
17.Q: What is foaming in a boiler? ANSWER Formation of stable
bubbles on water surface due to high dissolved solids or contaminants.
18.Q: What is the purpose of a blowdown valve? ANSWER To remove
sediment, sludge, and concentrated dissolved solids from the boiler.
19.Q: How often should bottom blowdown be performed? ANSWER
Daily or as needed based on water quality testing and manufacturer
recommendations.
20.Q: What is the difference between bottom blowdown and surface
blowdown? ANSWER Bottom blowdown removes sediment from the
lowest part; surface blowdown removes concentrated surface water and
foam.
21.Q: What is a Hartford Loop? ANSWER A piping arrangement that
prevents water loss from a boiler if a wet return line breaks.
22.Q: What is the purpose of a feed water check valve? ANSWER To
prevent backflow of boiler water into the feedwater line.
23.Q: What is the minimum clearance required around a boiler for
service? ANSWER Typically 3 feet on sides requiring access, or as
specified by code and manufacturer.
, 24.Q: What type of fuel can a 2B license holder work with? ANSWER
Various fuels including natural gas, propane, oil, and solid fuels,
depending on specific qualifications.
25.Q: What is the purpose of a flame safeguard system? ANSWER To
prevent fuel from entering the combustion chamber without ignition,
preventing explosions.
26.Q: What is a pre-purge cycle? ANSWER A period before ignition
when the combustion chamber is purged of any combustible gases.
27.Q: What is a post-purge cycle? ANSWER A period after flame
shutdown when remaining combustible gases are purged from the
chamber.
28.Q: What is the purpose of a stack temperature gauge? ANSWER To
monitor flue gas temperature, indicating combustion efficiency and
potential problems.
29.Q: What does excessive stack temperature indicate? ANSWER Poor
combustion efficiency, scale buildup, or improper air-fuel ratio.
30.Q: What is draft in a boiler? ANSWER The pressure difference that
causes air and combustion gases to flow through the boiler.
31.Q: What is natural draft? ANSWER Draft created by the buoyancy of
hot gases rising through a chimney.
32.Q: What is forced draft? ANSWER Draft created by a fan pushing air
into the combustion chamber.
33.Q: What is induced draft? ANSWER Draft created by a fan pulling
gases out of the boiler.
34.Q: What is balanced draft? ANSWER A combination of forced and
induced draft to maintain optimal furnace pressure.
35.Q: What is the purpose of a draft gauge? ANSWER To measure the
draft pressure in the furnace or stack.
36.Q: What is excess air in combustion? ANSWER Air supplied beyond
the theoretical amount needed for complete combustion.
37.Q: Why is some excess air necessary? ANSWER To ensure complete
combustion of fuel and prevent formation of carbon monoxide.
