SOPHOS ENGINEER FINAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A boiler generates 284,000 lbs./hr. of steam and 5% of this passes
through a continuous blowdown valve. What is the pound of water
blown out of the boiler and what would be the total daily heat loss in
BTUS when the temperature if the water is 400-degree F?. Answer:
A. pounds of water blown down= 280,000 x .05 = 14,000 Lbs./Hr.
B. Total heat in the water= 14,000 x (400-32) = 5,152,000 BTU's/ Hr.
C. Total heat lost per day= 5,152,000 x 24 = 123,648,000 BTU's/day
◉ What is subcooling or undercooling. Answer: it is the difference
between the exhaust steam temperature and the condensate
temperature in the hotwell.
◉ List and describe the functions of the auxiliaries used in the
operation of a condensing turbine.. Answer: A. Condenser-
condenses steam from the turbine exhaust, forming a vacuum.
Lowers back pressure on steam turbine.
B. Circulating Water Pump- Provides condenser with cooling water
needed to condensate steam and maintain vacuum.
C. Condensate or Hotwell pump- Remove condensate from the
condenser hot well and discharges it to a receiver then to a
feedwater heater to be reused as boiler feed water.
,D. Air Ejectors- Single or two-stage ejectors used to remove air and
noncondensable gases from the condenser, which increases the
vacuum.
◉ A boiler rated for 150,000 lbs./hr. delivers only 135,000 lbs./hr..
List 4 probable causes.. Answer: 1. The baffle directing the flow of
gases of combustion are broken or deteriorated.
2. The boiler tubes are coated with soot, resulting in a high chimney
temperature.
3. The water side of the boiler tubes are scaled, retarding heat
transfer.
4. There are improper combustion conditions, mixture, atomization
temperatures, and time. (High Excess air).
5. the boiler feedwater temperature is lower than that specified by
the manufacturer.
◉ What are two adjustments can be made on a safety valve? What is
required if either one of these adjustments are made?. Answer:
Popping pressure and blowback
Any changes require a new name plate from the manufacturer.
◉ What is the difference between a bleed steam and an extraction
steam taken from a steam turbine?. Answer: Bleed Steam-Steam
removed from the steam turbine at various stages for use in heating
,feedwater. The pressure of the bleed steam varies with the load on
the turbine.
Extraction Steam- Steam removed from the steam turbine at various
stages at a controlled pressure for plant process. On Extraction
turbines, the load will vary to maintain a constant pressure on the
extraction lines.
◉ Name the 7 principal heat losses in a boiler. Answer: 1. Up the
stack
2. Incomplete combustion
3. Moisture in the fuel
4. Water vapor from burning hydrogen in the fuel
5. Moisture in the air used for combustion
6.Unburned combustibles
7. radiation
◉ How is the extraction piped up from an extraction steam turbine
for safety?. Answer: must have a relief valve set at slightly over the
maximum extraction pressure. A check valve must also be put in the
extraction line.
, ◉ What is galvanic corrosion, what causes it and how can it be
prevented?. Answer: is a general pitting condition caused by a
difference in the electrical potential between dissimilar metals.
it occurs when two dissimilar metals are connected and exposed to a
conductive water environment with one metal acting as an anode
and the other at a cathode.
metal loss occurs on the anode.
This can be avoided when the use of two dissimilar metals is avoided
in construction.
◉ You are the chief engineer at a small plant. The owners have given
you the responsibility to ensure that the oil pressure to the bearings
on the new turbine is going to be satisfactory based on the system
they have designed. You are reviewing the design and see that it is
required to have 8 psi oil pressure supplied for ma gravity tank to
turbine bearings. The oil has a specific gravity of .75. It shows that
the tank will be installed at a height of 20 feet. Is that high enough?.
Answer: A column of water 2.31 feet high exerts 1 psi
So, 2.31 x 8 ft = 18.48 ft
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A boiler generates 284,000 lbs./hr. of steam and 5% of this passes
through a continuous blowdown valve. What is the pound of water
blown out of the boiler and what would be the total daily heat loss in
BTUS when the temperature if the water is 400-degree F?. Answer:
A. pounds of water blown down= 280,000 x .05 = 14,000 Lbs./Hr.
B. Total heat in the water= 14,000 x (400-32) = 5,152,000 BTU's/ Hr.
C. Total heat lost per day= 5,152,000 x 24 = 123,648,000 BTU's/day
◉ What is subcooling or undercooling. Answer: it is the difference
between the exhaust steam temperature and the condensate
temperature in the hotwell.
◉ List and describe the functions of the auxiliaries used in the
operation of a condensing turbine.. Answer: A. Condenser-
condenses steam from the turbine exhaust, forming a vacuum.
Lowers back pressure on steam turbine.
B. Circulating Water Pump- Provides condenser with cooling water
needed to condensate steam and maintain vacuum.
C. Condensate or Hotwell pump- Remove condensate from the
condenser hot well and discharges it to a receiver then to a
feedwater heater to be reused as boiler feed water.
,D. Air Ejectors- Single or two-stage ejectors used to remove air and
noncondensable gases from the condenser, which increases the
vacuum.
◉ A boiler rated for 150,000 lbs./hr. delivers only 135,000 lbs./hr..
List 4 probable causes.. Answer: 1. The baffle directing the flow of
gases of combustion are broken or deteriorated.
2. The boiler tubes are coated with soot, resulting in a high chimney
temperature.
3. The water side of the boiler tubes are scaled, retarding heat
transfer.
4. There are improper combustion conditions, mixture, atomization
temperatures, and time. (High Excess air).
5. the boiler feedwater temperature is lower than that specified by
the manufacturer.
◉ What are two adjustments can be made on a safety valve? What is
required if either one of these adjustments are made?. Answer:
Popping pressure and blowback
Any changes require a new name plate from the manufacturer.
◉ What is the difference between a bleed steam and an extraction
steam taken from a steam turbine?. Answer: Bleed Steam-Steam
removed from the steam turbine at various stages for use in heating
,feedwater. The pressure of the bleed steam varies with the load on
the turbine.
Extraction Steam- Steam removed from the steam turbine at various
stages at a controlled pressure for plant process. On Extraction
turbines, the load will vary to maintain a constant pressure on the
extraction lines.
◉ Name the 7 principal heat losses in a boiler. Answer: 1. Up the
stack
2. Incomplete combustion
3. Moisture in the fuel
4. Water vapor from burning hydrogen in the fuel
5. Moisture in the air used for combustion
6.Unburned combustibles
7. radiation
◉ How is the extraction piped up from an extraction steam turbine
for safety?. Answer: must have a relief valve set at slightly over the
maximum extraction pressure. A check valve must also be put in the
extraction line.
, ◉ What is galvanic corrosion, what causes it and how can it be
prevented?. Answer: is a general pitting condition caused by a
difference in the electrical potential between dissimilar metals.
it occurs when two dissimilar metals are connected and exposed to a
conductive water environment with one metal acting as an anode
and the other at a cathode.
metal loss occurs on the anode.
This can be avoided when the use of two dissimilar metals is avoided
in construction.
◉ You are the chief engineer at a small plant. The owners have given
you the responsibility to ensure that the oil pressure to the bearings
on the new turbine is going to be satisfactory based on the system
they have designed. You are reviewing the design and see that it is
required to have 8 psi oil pressure supplied for ma gravity tank to
turbine bearings. The oil has a specific gravity of .75. It shows that
the tank will be installed at a height of 20 feet. Is that high enough?.
Answer: A column of water 2.31 feet high exerts 1 psi
So, 2.31 x 8 ft = 18.48 ft
