BOILER FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ What can be used to lengthen the life of a refractory in a vertical or
horizontal boiler? Answer: A water wall
▶ A poorly operating draft system would cause what condition with boiler
flame? Answer: Incomplete combustion
▶ If a feed water system over feeds water into the boiler what can result?
Answer: Rupture
▶ the use of mechanical draft can be two different designs, name them?
Answer: Induced draft and forced draft
▶ What system controls the stem in a boiler? Answer: Steam system
▶ What must the oil burner accomplish to properly burn the fuel oil?
Answer: Atomize the oil
▶ Steam is referred to as live steam until what condition happens? Answer:
Drop in pressure
▶ NOx is a product of what process? Answer: Combustion
▶ How does a rotary cup burner atomize fuel? Answer: By discharging it off
the outer surface of a spinning cup with high velocity air
▶ Selective catalytic reduction uses a reactor that is installed where?
Answer: Boiler exhaust
▶ If a boiler becomes chemically unbalanced what is the best method for
adjustment? Answer: Blowdown
, ▶ When draining a boiler for an internal inspection what valve should be
opened to prevent forming a vacuum? Answer: Boiler vent valve
▶ Carryover is considered undesirable, why? Answer: It can cause a
rupture
▶ Chattering of a safety valve would direct the operator to adjust what?
Answer: The blowdown
▶ When measuring both a vacuum and pressure what kind of gauge is
required? Answer: Compound gauge
▶ Which pressure control setting turns on the burner? Answer: Cut-in
pressure
▶ Which pressure setting will cut off the burner? Answer: Cut-out pressure
▶ If a fusible plug is found to have the center melted out, what temperature
was reached? Answer: 450 degrees F
▶ When a boiler is switched from low fire to high fire what are the burners
now doing? Answer: Burning the maximum amount of fuel for a given unit
of time
▶ If durning a maintenance procedure a technician inspects a huddling
chamber, what is he inspecting? Answer: A safety valve
▶ What factors go into the MAWP? Answer: Design and construction
▶ If an operator is sent to inspect a modulating pressure control where on
the boiler would he be looking? Answer: on the highest part of the boiler
▶ After a boiler fault the operator should start the boiler in low fire to
prevent what in the steam piping? Answer: Hammering
▶ The measure of heat in the Imperial System is in what units? Answer:
BUTs
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ What can be used to lengthen the life of a refractory in a vertical or
horizontal boiler? Answer: A water wall
▶ A poorly operating draft system would cause what condition with boiler
flame? Answer: Incomplete combustion
▶ If a feed water system over feeds water into the boiler what can result?
Answer: Rupture
▶ the use of mechanical draft can be two different designs, name them?
Answer: Induced draft and forced draft
▶ What system controls the stem in a boiler? Answer: Steam system
▶ What must the oil burner accomplish to properly burn the fuel oil?
Answer: Atomize the oil
▶ Steam is referred to as live steam until what condition happens? Answer:
Drop in pressure
▶ NOx is a product of what process? Answer: Combustion
▶ How does a rotary cup burner atomize fuel? Answer: By discharging it off
the outer surface of a spinning cup with high velocity air
▶ Selective catalytic reduction uses a reactor that is installed where?
Answer: Boiler exhaust
▶ If a boiler becomes chemically unbalanced what is the best method for
adjustment? Answer: Blowdown
, ▶ When draining a boiler for an internal inspection what valve should be
opened to prevent forming a vacuum? Answer: Boiler vent valve
▶ Carryover is considered undesirable, why? Answer: It can cause a
rupture
▶ Chattering of a safety valve would direct the operator to adjust what?
Answer: The blowdown
▶ When measuring both a vacuum and pressure what kind of gauge is
required? Answer: Compound gauge
▶ Which pressure control setting turns on the burner? Answer: Cut-in
pressure
▶ Which pressure setting will cut off the burner? Answer: Cut-out pressure
▶ If a fusible plug is found to have the center melted out, what temperature
was reached? Answer: 450 degrees F
▶ When a boiler is switched from low fire to high fire what are the burners
now doing? Answer: Burning the maximum amount of fuel for a given unit
of time
▶ If durning a maintenance procedure a technician inspects a huddling
chamber, what is he inspecting? Answer: A safety valve
▶ What factors go into the MAWP? Answer: Design and construction
▶ If an operator is sent to inspect a modulating pressure control where on
the boiler would he be looking? Answer: on the highest part of the boiler
▶ After a boiler fault the operator should start the boiler in low fire to
prevent what in the steam piping? Answer: Hammering
▶ The measure of heat in the Imperial System is in what units? Answer:
BUTs
