Boilers 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: A boiler which has the fire and hot gases within the tubes.

As opposed to a water tube boilers where the water in the boiler is in the tubes, a fire tube boiler requires that the hot gases are within the tubes.

Answer: The process where boiling water steam bubbles do not burst.

Foaming is caused by poor water quality control which allows the surface tension of the water to increase, which prevents the steam bubble from bursting.

Answer: It is a control device which regulates the operation of a valve which controls the water level in the boiler.

There are many types of feed water regulators available but all essentially do the same thing. It is far more beneficial to control the water level this way as it takes away surges in level control and is therefore more stable for the boiler.

Answer: A strengthening tube.

These tubes are distributed within the boiler's normal tubes. As they are thicker, they add crucial design strength to the boiler end sections. When cleaning the boiler tubes, the stay tubes are easy to recognise as the cleaning brush is far more difficult to push through.

Answer: To detect if a flame is present.

A flame scanner or photo electric cell monitors the intensity of the flame and is indicated as a percentage or voltage. As the intensity of the flame decreases so does the reading output. From this reading the flame is extinguished. The flame intensity must remain above a preset level to allow the burner trip valve to remain open.

Answer: It carries the feed water through the steam space and distributes the water evenly over the length of the boiler.

If water was pumped into a boiler in one particular spot this would cause uneven temperature of the metal and could result in temperature related stress. Often referred to as a dip pipe, this pipe has a series of holes in it to allow the water to be more evenly distributed.

Answer: A float inside a chamber, connected to a series of contacts will raise an alarm if the water level is high or low.

The basic water level switch is designed to monitor water level in a range of plant including boilers heat exchangers and deareators. The float is connected through an internal linkage which initiate signals to raise an alarm, trip the boiler when low level is reached or trip the boiler feed pump at high high level. Low and high levels would raise an alarm.

Answer: A drain pipe which carries impurities from the boiler to the mud drum when the boiler is blown down.

The mud leg is the pipe which is attached to the bottom of the boiler and connected at the other end to the mud drum. A blow down cock is opened to blow down sediment and impurities through to the mud drum.

Answer: A structure made of refractory bricks built to protect the mud leg.

As the mud leg in the boiler is in the gas space of an under fired multi tubular boiler, it is subjected to hot flue gases. There is no flow through the mud leg unless it is opened. This normally stagnant section of pipe would over heat and fail. Therefore it needs to be shielded from the heat. This is done by enclosing it within the brick bridge.

Answer: To indicate water is at least within the waterway cock.

Although the incorrect answers are somewhat correct, the quick test is carried out generally because the level of the water is considered low and by opening and closing the drain cock the water will bounce up into the glass where you will see it. This then tells you that at least the water is within the waterway passage and above the vital part.

At this point it is safe to continue adding water, in a controlled manner to regain the boiler water level.