Power Eng 4th Class 4A study plan

Solve 25 first-law and second-law problems covering enthalpy, entropy, and steam-table lookups, showing the property path for each one.

Sketch and label a complete boiler plant flow path from feedwater inlet through superheater to stack, naming every major component and its function.

Define saturated, superheated, and subcooled states and locate them on a T-s diagram for three worked examples.

List the four main boiler classifications (fire-tube, water-tube, once-through, electric) and state two operating limits for each.

Explain the function and failure mode of each boiler fitting: safety valve, main steam stop, feedwater check, blowdown, and gauge glass.

Calculate boiler efficiency by both the input-output and heat-loss methods for two sample fuel analyses.

Describe water-tube circulation (natural vs forced) and identify where departure from nucleate boiling or film boiling could occur.

Outline startup, warm-up, and shutdown sequences for a packaged water-tube boiler, including purge and light-off interlocks.

Trace the combustion air and flue gas path through an air preheater, economizer, and induced-draft fan, stating the purpose of each.

Identify burner types (register, ring, packaged forced-draft) and describe how atomization, air/fuel ratio, and flame shape interact.

Explain draft, excess air, and stack loss, and calculate excess air from measured oxygen in flue gas for three cases.

Describe sootblower, ash handling, and air heater fouling controls and when each is used.

Differentiate centrifugal, positive-displacement, and reciprocating pumps and match each to feedwater, fuel oil, and sump service.

Calculate pump head, brake horsepower, and NPSH available for two worked feedwater-pump scenarios.

Identify valve types by body style and application: gate, globe, ball, butterfly, plug, check, and safety relief.

Explain steam trap operation and describe testing methods for a failed-open and failed-closed trap.

Explain the operation and calibration check for pressure, temperature, level, and flow transmitters used in boiler rooms.

Describe the low-water fuel cutoff, flame safeguard, high-pressure limit, and safety valve testing requirements and their trip logic.

Outline a basic feedwater treatment program: softening, deaeration, chemical dosing, and blowdown control.

Calculate cycles of concentration from makeup and boiler water chloride values and state the blowdown rate implied.

Compare fuel oil, natural gas, and coal on heating value, sulfur, and handling requirements, and state one emission control for each.

Explain NOx formation pathways and the role of low-NOx burners, flue gas recirculation, and selective catalytic reduction.

Describe three-phase motor fundamentals, motor starters, and overload protection as applied to boiler auxiliaries.

Interpret a basic electrical schematic for a forced-draft fan motor circuit including disconnect, starter, and overloads.

State the code and regulatory basis for boiler inspections, safety valve settings, and operator certification in your jurisdiction.

List confined-space, lockout/tagout, and hot-work permit requirements and describe one boiler-room scenario for each.

Review thermodynamics weak spots by re-solving 15 missed or flagged problems from weeks 1-3.

Explain the duties of the shift engineer during an emergency such as low water, tube rupture, or flame failure.

Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions and score them by domain.

Re-study the two lowest-scoring domains from practice results and re-test those areas.

Recite from memory the safety-valve, low-water cutoff, and flame safeguard test requirements without notes.

Build a final one-page formula and fact sheet limited to items you missed more than once.