Question 1

Allowable Stress

Accepted Answer

The maximum stress a material can safely withstand without experiencing failure or excessive deformation.

Question 2

Annealing

Accepted Answer

The process of heating a metal to a specific temperature, holding it there, and then cooling it slowly to reduce its hardness and increase ductility.

Question 3

Archimedes' Principle

Accepted Answer

The buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Question 4

ASME

Accepted Answer

American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a professional organization that sets codes and standards for mechanical engineering, including boiler construction and operation.

Question 5

Baffle

Accepted Answer

A device installed within a boiler to redirect the flow of combustion gases, improving heat transfer and boiler efficiency.

Question 6

Blowdown

Accepted Answer

The process of removing suspended solids and impurities from boiler water by draining a portion of the water from the system.

Question 7

Boiler Horsepower

Accepted Answer

A unit of measurement for a boiler's output capacity, equal to 34.5 pounds of steam per hour at 212°F (100°C) and 0 psi.

Question 8

Boiler Makeup Water

Accepted Answer

Fresh water added to a boiler system to replace water lost through evaporation, blowdown, or leaks.

Question 9

Brazing

Accepted Answer

A process of joining two pieces of metal by melting a filler material between them, which solidifies and forms a strong bond.

Question 10

Brinelling

Accepted Answer

Permanent deformation of a bearing's raceway due to excessive static or impact loads, leading to reduced bearing life.

Question 11

Btu

Accepted Answer

British Thermal Unit, a unit of heat energy equal to the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

Question 12

Calorific Value

Accepted Answer

The amount of heat energy released when a fuel is completely burned, usually expressed in Btu per pound or per cubic foot.

Question 13

Circulating Pump

Accepted Answer

A pump used to circulate water or other fluids through a heating or cooling system.

Question 14

Combustion Analysis

Accepted Answer

The process of measuring the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process, such as in a boiler or furnace.

Question 15

Condensate

Accepted Answer

The liquid formed when steam or other vapor cools and condenses back into a liquid.

Question 16

Conduction

Accepted Answer

The transfer of heat energy through a solid material by direct contact between its atoms or molecules.

Question 17

Convection

Accepted Answer

The transfer of heat energy through a fluid (liquid or gas) by the motion of the fluid itself.

Question 18

Corrosion

Accepted Answer

The chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material and its environment, leading to the deterioration of the material.

Question 19

Creep

Accepted Answer

The slow, permanent deformation of a material under a constant load, typically occurring at high temperatures.

Question 20

Deaerator

Accepted Answer

A device used to remove dissolved gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, from boiler feedwater.

Question 21

Delta T

Accepted Answer

The temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of a heat exchanger or other system component.

Question 22

Dew Point

Accepted Answer

The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and condensation occurs.

Question 23

Draft

Accepted Answer

The difference in pressure between the inside and outside of a boiler or furnace, which causes air and combustion gases to flow through the system.

Question 24

Eddy Current Testing

Accepted Answer

A non-destructive testing method that uses electromagnetic fields to detect flaws or changes in the properties of a material.

Question 25

Efficiency

Accepted Answer

The ratio of useful output to the input energy or resources, often expressed as a percentage.

Question 26

Emissivity

Accepted Answer

The ability of a surface to emit thermal radiation, expressed as a value between 0 and 1.

Question 27

Excess Air

Accepted Answer

The amount of air supplied to a combustion process in excess of the theoretical amount required for complete combustion.

Question 28

Flash Point

Accepted Answer

The lowest temperature at which a liquid will produce enough vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Question 29

Flue Gas

Accepted Answer

The mixture of combustion gases and excess air that exits a boiler or furnace after the combustion process.

Question 30

Fluidized Bed Combustion

Accepted Answer

A combustion technique in which a bed of solid fuel particles is suspended in a flowing gas, resulting in improved combustion efficiency and reduced emissions.

Question 31

Forced Draft

Accepted Answer

A system that uses a fan to supply combustion air to a boiler or furnace, creating a positive pressure within the combustion chamber.

Question 32

Fouling

Accepted Answer

The accumulation of deposits on heat transfer surfaces, reducing heat transfer efficiency and potentially causing operational problems.

Question 33

Heat Exchanger

Accepted Answer

A device that transfers heat between two fluids without allowing them to mix, often used to transfer heat from a boiler's combustion gases to the water or steam in the system.

Question 34

Hydrostatic Test

Accepted Answer

A pressure test performed on a boiler or pressure vessel by filling it with water and applying a specified pressure to check for leaks or structural weaknesses.

Question 35

Latent Heat

Accepted Answer

The heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change, such as when water turns to steam, without a change in temperature.

Question 36

Low Water Cutoff

Accepted Answer

A safety device that shuts down a boiler if the water level drops below a predetermined level to prevent damage caused by overheating.

Question 37

NDT

Accepted Answer

Non-Destructive Testing, a set of techniques used to evaluate the properties or condition of a material or component without causing damage.

Question 38

Oxidation

Accepted Answer

The chemical reaction of a substance with oxygen, often resulting in the formation of an oxide layer on the surface.

Question 39

Passivation

Accepted Answer

The formation of a thin, protective oxide layer on the surface of a metal, which can help to reduce corrosion.

Question 40

pH

Accepted Answer

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, expressed as a value between 0 (acidic) and 14 (alkaline), with 7 being neutral.

Question 41

Radiant Heat

Accepted Answer

The transfer of heat energy through space by electromagnetic waves, such as infrared radiation.

Question 42

Refractory

Accepted Answer

A heat-resistant material used to line the combustion chamber and other high-temperature areas of a boiler or furnace.

Question 43

Saturated Steam

Accepted Answer

Steam at the same temperature and pressure as the boiling water from which it is generated, containing the maximum amount of heat energy possible at that temperature and pressure.

Question 44

Scaling

Accepted Answer

The formation of hard, crystalline deposits on heat transfer surfaces, often caused by the precipitation of minerals from boiler water.

Question 45

Slag

Accepted Answer

A byproduct of the combustion process, consisting of fused ash, unburned carbon, and other impurities, which can accumulate on boiler surfaces and reduce heat transfer efficiency.

Question 46

Stack

Accepted Answer

The vertical pipe or chimney through which flue gases are vented to the atmosphere.

Question 47

Superheated Steam

Accepted Answer

Steam that has been heated to a temperature above its saturation point, allowing it to contain more heat energy and produce a higher output.

Question 48

Thermal Expansion

Accepted Answer

The change in size or shape of a material due to a change in temperature, which can cause stress and deformation in boilers and pressure vessels.

Question 49

Turndown Ratio

Accepted Answer

The ratio of a boiler's maximum firing rate to its minimum firing rate, indicating the range of output it can achieve without causing operational problems.

Question 50

Water Hammer

Accepted Answer

A sudden increase in pressure within a piping system, caused by the rapid change in velocity of a liquid, which can result in damage to pipes, valves, and other components.

Red Seal Exam Boilermaker: Advanced Concepts Flash Cards