STATIONARY ENGINEER LICENSE EXAM PREP
EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
This document provides the most updated and fully verified collection of questions and
correct answers for the 3rd Class Stationary Steam Engineer License Exam for the 2026-2027
testing cycle. It covers all major exam domains, including boiler operation, steam generation
principles, fuels and combustion, feedwater systems, pumps, heat exchangers, safety valves,
pressure controls, water treatment, code compliance, and plant safety procedures. Designed
to reflect the structure and difficulty of official licensing exams, this resource supports
comprehensive preparation for operators seeking 3rd Class certification.
Test;
A ______ fuse is necessary for a circuit with a load of 21,000 watts and a
voltage of 220 volts.
A. 100
B. 150
C. 175
ANSWER- D. 200
A. 100 amps. Note: V = IR Therefore I = V/R 21,000 amps /220 volts = 95 amps
At 0 psig, how many BTU's are required to change 1 lb of water at 212F to
steam?
A. 144
B. 180
C. 970
D. 1190
,ANSWER- C. 970 BTU
3 multiple choice options
Radiation is:
A. the movement of liquids or gases created by a temperature difference.
B. Heat transfer by direct molecular contact
C. the weight of a substance compared to unity
D. Heat transfer by waves
ANSWER- D. Heat transfer by waves
Sensible heat is:
A. An established relationship comparing any substance to the heat content of
water.
B. Heat quantity that can be felt or measured by a thermometer
C. Heat quantity above the saturation point
D. Measure of heat intensity
B. Heat quantity that can be felt or measured by a thermometer
All steam lines should be pitched:
A. In the direction of flow
B. Back towards the boiler
C. Level
ANSWER- D. For convenience
A. In the direction of flow
Draw a simple picture of a Sterling Boiler. Label it.
Describe the water flow through a Sterling Boiler
Feedwater flows to 1) rearmost drum 2) down to the mud drum 3) up to
middle drum 4) to front drum through crossover pipes and 5) back down to
mud drum
Draw a picture of a Scotch Boiler. Label the firebox, combustion chamber,
crown sheet, tubes, feed water inlet, steam outlet, stack, Economizer and
Superheater.
Draw a picture of a Firetube Boiler. Label it.
Draw a picture of a Locomotive Fire Tube Boiler. Label it.
,Increasing the pressure will have what effect on the boiling point of water?
A. No change
B. Lower BP
C. Higher BP
D. Temperature will increase 2F for every psi
C - higher Boiling Point
Heat absorbed by water when is changes from liquid to steam at the boiling
point is called:
A. Sensible heat
B. Latent heat
C. Specific heat
D. Super heat
ANSWER- B. Latent Heat
Heat may be transferred in how many ways?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
ANSWER- D. 4
C. 3 ways: conduction, convection and radiation
A boiler horsepower is defined as:
A. 970.3 BTU
B. Total heating surface times the evaporation factor
C. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water and at 212F per hour
D. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water from and at 212F per 8 hours
ANSWER- C. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water and at 212F per hour
A boiler's steam pressure gauge reads 150 psig. What is the absolute pressure?
A. 14.7 psia
B. 135.3 psia
C. 150 psia
D. 164.7 psia
D. 164.7 psia (150 psig + 14.7 psi = 164.7 psia)
What does 212F equal on the Celsius scale?
A. 32C
, B. 100C
C. 180C
D. 970.3C
ANSWER- B. 100C
One boiler horsepower is equal to how many BTU's?
A. 970.3
B. 33,472 BTU
C. 125,000 BTU
D. 288,000 BTU
ANSWER- B. 33,472 BTU
A British Thermal Unit is
A. the amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of water 1F
B. the amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of steam 1F
C. A unit of temperature measurement
D. the amount of heat in water between freezing and boiling
ANSWER- A. The amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of water 1F
Hydronic heat is:
A. Steam heat
B. Hot water heat
C. Radiant heat
D. Heat of evaporation
ANSWER- B. Hot water heat
Superheated steam is:
A. reheated steam
B. very hot steam
C. flash steam
D. saturated steam
ANSWER- B. Very hot steam
2,545 Btuh represents:
A. 1 brake horsepower
B. 1 kilowatt-hour
C. 1 horsepower-hour
D. 1 therm
EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
This document provides the most updated and fully verified collection of questions and
correct answers for the 3rd Class Stationary Steam Engineer License Exam for the 2026-2027
testing cycle. It covers all major exam domains, including boiler operation, steam generation
principles, fuels and combustion, feedwater systems, pumps, heat exchangers, safety valves,
pressure controls, water treatment, code compliance, and plant safety procedures. Designed
to reflect the structure and difficulty of official licensing exams, this resource supports
comprehensive preparation for operators seeking 3rd Class certification.
Test;
A ______ fuse is necessary for a circuit with a load of 21,000 watts and a
voltage of 220 volts.
A. 100
B. 150
C. 175
ANSWER- D. 200
A. 100 amps. Note: V = IR Therefore I = V/R 21,000 amps /220 volts = 95 amps
At 0 psig, how many BTU's are required to change 1 lb of water at 212F to
steam?
A. 144
B. 180
C. 970
D. 1190
,ANSWER- C. 970 BTU
3 multiple choice options
Radiation is:
A. the movement of liquids or gases created by a temperature difference.
B. Heat transfer by direct molecular contact
C. the weight of a substance compared to unity
D. Heat transfer by waves
ANSWER- D. Heat transfer by waves
Sensible heat is:
A. An established relationship comparing any substance to the heat content of
water.
B. Heat quantity that can be felt or measured by a thermometer
C. Heat quantity above the saturation point
D. Measure of heat intensity
B. Heat quantity that can be felt or measured by a thermometer
All steam lines should be pitched:
A. In the direction of flow
B. Back towards the boiler
C. Level
ANSWER- D. For convenience
A. In the direction of flow
Draw a simple picture of a Sterling Boiler. Label it.
Describe the water flow through a Sterling Boiler
Feedwater flows to 1) rearmost drum 2) down to the mud drum 3) up to
middle drum 4) to front drum through crossover pipes and 5) back down to
mud drum
Draw a picture of a Scotch Boiler. Label the firebox, combustion chamber,
crown sheet, tubes, feed water inlet, steam outlet, stack, Economizer and
Superheater.
Draw a picture of a Firetube Boiler. Label it.
Draw a picture of a Locomotive Fire Tube Boiler. Label it.
,Increasing the pressure will have what effect on the boiling point of water?
A. No change
B. Lower BP
C. Higher BP
D. Temperature will increase 2F for every psi
C - higher Boiling Point
Heat absorbed by water when is changes from liquid to steam at the boiling
point is called:
A. Sensible heat
B. Latent heat
C. Specific heat
D. Super heat
ANSWER- B. Latent Heat
Heat may be transferred in how many ways?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
ANSWER- D. 4
C. 3 ways: conduction, convection and radiation
A boiler horsepower is defined as:
A. 970.3 BTU
B. Total heating surface times the evaporation factor
C. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water and at 212F per hour
D. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water from and at 212F per 8 hours
ANSWER- C. evaporation of 34.5 lb of water and at 212F per hour
A boiler's steam pressure gauge reads 150 psig. What is the absolute pressure?
A. 14.7 psia
B. 135.3 psia
C. 150 psia
D. 164.7 psia
D. 164.7 psia (150 psig + 14.7 psi = 164.7 psia)
What does 212F equal on the Celsius scale?
A. 32C
, B. 100C
C. 180C
D. 970.3C
ANSWER- B. 100C
One boiler horsepower is equal to how many BTU's?
A. 970.3
B. 33,472 BTU
C. 125,000 BTU
D. 288,000 BTU
ANSWER- B. 33,472 BTU
A British Thermal Unit is
A. the amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of water 1F
B. the amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of steam 1F
C. A unit of temperature measurement
D. the amount of heat in water between freezing and boiling
ANSWER- A. The amount of heat needed to raise 1 lb of water 1F
Hydronic heat is:
A. Steam heat
B. Hot water heat
C. Radiant heat
D. Heat of evaporation
ANSWER- B. Hot water heat
Superheated steam is:
A. reheated steam
B. very hot steam
C. flash steam
D. saturated steam
ANSWER- B. Very hot steam
2,545 Btuh represents:
A. 1 brake horsepower
B. 1 kilowatt-hour
C. 1 horsepower-hour
D. 1 therm
