1.

Explain VITAL INFORMATION REQUIRED DURING BOILER OPERATION

a. Correct water level.

b. Condition of flame.

c. Steam pressure.

d. Feed water pressure and temperature.

e. Temperature of steam at super heater outlet.

f. Furnace pressure or air pressure differential between wind box and' furnace temperature of oil and oil pressure at burner entry.

g. Flue gas temperature and its color.

h. Condition of feed water.

i. Good working of the automation and correct operation of Safety cut-outs.

j. Make-up feed consumption

2. Explain Soot fire in a boiler. What are the precautions to be taken during a soot fire
The ignition of an accumulation of sooty rich in carbon, caused by poor combustion either at the start or when operating at low load for prolonged periods, can when supplied with the necessary oxygen be the source of a fire sufficiently intense to melt and burn steel. Immediately after lighting-up the boiler and during periods of low load operation, the temperature of the gas leaving the air heater, uptake should be closely observed. Any sudden rise in this temperature can be an indication of fire in the uptake. In the event of such a fire in the gas passage: 1. Shut off fuel supply to all the burner. 2. Shut down the force draft fans. 3. Close all air inlet dampers. 4. Determine the location of the fire and flood-the area with water. (Do not use water spray) 5. Do not use soot blowers provided. This blows carbon dust in Suspension which may cause a serious explosion. 6. After the fire has been extinguished and the unit has been cooled, thoroughly clean the unit and carry out necessary repair.

3. What Emergency action to be taken in case of low boiler water level.

Emergency low boiler water level You are an officer on watch, & finds the boiler water-level gauge glass to be empty & the burner firing...What is your course of action? (Assuming the gauge glass to be clear & good working order) Answer: Normally a boiler is provided with two independent sensors for emergency low water level burner cut-outs. So this would never happen. However, if it does, dont take any chances! Shut off the burners immediately! Before you start raising the level in the boiler you have to find out if any part of the furnace walls has been overheated. If you raise the level over a glowing steel-wall then the boiler might produce more steam than the safety valves can handle and a nasty explosion would be the result. A quick test to see if it is safe to put water into the boiler is to temporarily close the steam cock on the gauge glass. If the level rises to the top of the glass, it means that there is still a water level in the water leg, which is also over the highest heat exchange surface in a fire tube boiler. The water rises because of the vacuum caused in the glass with condensing steam.

4. Why should you Open steam valves slowly

Why has a steam valve, or at least a big steam valve, to be opened slowly? Answer: If you have a one liter of water standing in the pipe just after the valve and open the valve too fast, then you will get a projectile of one kg rushing down the pipe. At next valve, bend or other obstacle the speed of the water mass will be converted into pressure. You can hardly imagine the damage this energy can cause. Thermal stress is an other reason to be very cautious and drain out water carefully when you open a steam valve. A large steam valve ought to have a small by-pass valve to simplify preheating of the pipe.

5. Seawater in the boiler if the boiler had to be operated with seawater what would be the result. Answer: The salinity will rise rapidly since the salt remains in the boiler while the water boils off. Salt will soon precipitate and accumulate on the bottom and also on the heating surface where it, just as boiler-scales, inhibit the heat transmission to the water and causes the metal to overheat and in worst case burst. You may also get foam in the boiler that will cause difficulties to maintain the water level and water droplets might follow with the steam, causing problems with turbines and engines. It is very dangerous to operate a boiler with salt in it, and you have to control the salt concentration by frequently blowing off from the bottom of the boiler and form the water surface to keep the salinity below 9.5% (boilermakers and classification societies may recommend other values). It would also be a good measure to reduce the capacity of the boiler. After this emergency operation it would be wise to open up the boiler for inspection since seawater further accumulation of scales.

In the old days some ships sailing on lakes used the lakes water as make up water for their boilers, but even that water caused problem with salt in the boilers although it is supposed to be freshwater.