CT Boiler Operator flashcards
CT Boiler Operator · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Low-water fuel cutoff
- A safety control that senses boiler water level and cuts off burner firing before the water drops below the lowest safe level, preventing overheating and pressure-part failure.
- Blowdown
- Removing water from the boiler to control dissolved solids and sludge. Bottom blowdown clears the lowest point; surface blowdown removes concentrated water near the surface.
- Water hammer
- A banging or hammering caused by steam-line condensate or sudden flow reversal. It can crack fittings and injure personnel, so the line must be drained before restart.
- Safety valve lift test
- Manually lifting the safety valve lever while the boiler is under pressure to confirm the valve opens freely and reseats; done on a set schedule and logged.
- Boiler explosion
- A pressure-part rupture that releases stored energy suddenly. It is not a furnace puffback; low water and overheated metal are classic precursors.
- Normal water level
- The water line at about the middle of the gauge glass, where the boiler is designed to operate. It is the reference for low-water cutoff settings and operator rounds.
- Warm-up procedure
- Bring a cold boiler up under low fire, open the header drain until steam appears, then close it gradually to limit thermal stress and differential expansion.
- Fire-tube boiler
- A boiler with hot combustion gases inside the tubes and water surrounding them. It is limited to lower pressures than a water-tube design.
- Water-tube boiler
- A boiler with water inside the tubes and hot gases outside. It suits higher pressures and responds faster to load changes than a fire-tube boiler.
- Steam pressure gauge
- An instrument showing steam pressure, fitted with a siphon to protect the Bourdon tube. It indicates pressure but is not a protective device.
- Gauge glass
- A direct visual indicator of boiler water level, with upper and lower connections and try cocks. Its lower connection is most likely to plug with sludge.
- Try cocks
- Small valves on the water column used to confirm water level independently of the gauge glass, showing water, steam, or a mixture at each level.
- Feedwater check valve
- A one-way valve in the feedwater line that prevents backflow from the boiler into the feed system; a stop valve is placed downstream for isolation.
- Fusible plug
- A plug with a low-melting core in a fire-tube boiler that melts on low water over the crown sheet, warning of overheating; it does not replace the low-water cutoff.
- Maximum allowable working pressure
- The highest pressure at which a boiler is designed to operate, stamped on the nameplate. Safety valve set pressure must not exceed it.
- Three T's of combustion
- Time, temperature, and turbulence. Insufficient time, low temperature, or poor mixing causes incomplete combustion, producing carbon monoxide and smoke.
- Stoichiometric air
- The theoretical air needed for complete combustion of a fuel. Practical firing supplies excess air above this amount to ensure complete burning.
- Excess air
- Air supplied above the theoretical requirement. Too little raises carbon monoxide; too much wastes heat up the stack and lowers efficiency.
- Flame safeguard
- A programmer that sequences pre-purge, pilot proof, main fuel valve opening, and main flame proof, locking out firing on flame failure.
- Flame scanner
- A UV or IR sensor that proves flame presence at its own burner. Loss of signal causes a lockout, and the scanner must not be bypassed.
- Natural gas density
- Natural gas is lighter than air and rises, so leaks collect at high points. Propane and heavier gases settle in low areas instead.
- Stack temperature
- The flue gas temperature leaving the boiler. A rise above design suggests fouled surfaces or excessive excess air and signals lost efficiency.
- Combustion air opening
- A dedicated outdoor air supply sized for the burner. A boiler room under negative pressure can back-draft flue gases into the space.
- Pre-purge
- A timed air purge of the furnace before ignition that clears any accumulated combustible gases, preventing a furnace explosion on light-off.
- Certificate of operation
- A state-issued document allowing a boiler to operate after a satisfactory inspection. It must be posted at or near the boiler.
- Internal inspection
- An examination of the boiler's internal surfaces, typically annual for power boilers, with the boiler cooled, drained, and opened for the inspector.
- External inspection
- An examination of the boiler's exterior, fittings, and appurtenances while it is in service, checking the gauge glass, safety valve, and certificate.
- Licensed boiler operator
- A person holding the license or certificate required by the state to operate boilers above the size and pressure thresholds set in regulation.
- Unsafe condition order
- A state order to shut down a boiler and withhold its certificate when it fails inspection or is operated unsafely; it must not be fired until cleared.
- Accident reporting
- The requirement to notify the state authority of boiler accidents and dangerous conditions, with the operator's log and inspection records kept as evidence.
- Pressure-part repair
- Welding or alteration of a pressure part must follow the applicable code and be done by qualified persons; unauthorized work can void the certificate.
- Department of Administrative Services
- The Connecticut agency that administers boiler regulation, with inspection and permitting carried out by authorized inspectors under state rules.