OHIO STATIONARY STEAM ENGINEER
PRACTICE EXAM
Classes Covered: 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple Choice with Answer & Rationale
1. What is the primary purpose of a safety valve on a boiler?
A) To regulate feedwater flow
B) To prevent the boiler from exceeding maximum allowable pressure
C) To maintain constant steam pressure
D) To improve steam quality
Rationale: Safety valves automatically release steam when pressure
exceeds the set point, protecting the boiler from explosion.
2. The water level in a boiler should be maintained:
A) Below the lowest visible part of the gauge glass
B) Above the top of the steam drum
C) Within the visible range of the gauge glass
D) At the top of the boiler shell
Rationale: Maintaining water within the gauge glass ensures safe
operation and prevents overheating or carryover.
3. The function of the steam drum in a water tube boiler is to:
A) Collect blowdown water
B) Separate steam from water
,C) Contain superheated steam
D) Store feedwater
Rationale: The steam drum allows separation of water and steam,
sending dry steam to the superheater.
4. The Hartford Loop is used to:
A) Control feedwater temperature
B) Measure steam pressure
C) Prevent loss of water from the boiler due to a broken return line
D) Control chemical feed
Rationale: The Hartford Loop prevents the boiler from draining
completely if a condensate return line breaks.
5. A manometer is used to measure:
A) Temperature
B) Water hardness
C) Pressure
D) Steam quality
Rationale: A manometer measures pressure by the difference in liquid
column height.
6. Steam traps are used to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Purify feedwater
C) Remove condensate without losing steam
D) Maintain water level
,Rationale: Traps discharge condensate and air but retain live steam in
the system.
7. A boiler blowdown is performed to:
A) Reduce stack temperature
B) Remove sediment and control dissolved solids
C) Increase water temperature
D) Decrease feedwater flow
Rationale: Blowdown removes sludge and reduces dissolved solids to
prevent scale and carryover.
8. Boiler efficiency is improved by:
A) Increasing excess air
B) Preheating combustion air with an air preheater
C) Lowering feedwater temperature
D) Reducing insulation
Rationale: Preheating combustion air increases fuel combustion
efficiency.
9. The primary function of the economizer is to:
A) Reduce steam pressure
B) Preheat feedwater using flue gas heat
C) Superheat steam
D) Cool exhaust gases
Rationale: An economizer captures waste heat from flue gases to
preheat feedwater, improving efficiency.
, 10. A high stack temperature indicates:
A) Normal operation
B) Poor heat transfer due to soot or scale
C) Excess water level
D) Low firing rate
Rationale: High flue gas temperature usually means fouling on heat-
transfer surfaces.
11. The function of a feedwater regulator is to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Maintain proper water level automatically
C) Control combustion air
D) Regulate steam flow
Rationale: Feedwater regulators ensure consistent water level
without manual adjustment.
12. Which device measures steam flow?
A) Manometer
B) Pyrometer
C) Orifice meter
D) Tachometer
Rationale: An orifice meter calculates flow based on pressure drop
across a restriction.
13. The fusible plug is designed to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Melt and relieve pressure if water level drops dangerously low
PRACTICE EXAM
Classes Covered: 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple Choice with Answer & Rationale
1. What is the primary purpose of a safety valve on a boiler?
A) To regulate feedwater flow
B) To prevent the boiler from exceeding maximum allowable pressure
C) To maintain constant steam pressure
D) To improve steam quality
Rationale: Safety valves automatically release steam when pressure
exceeds the set point, protecting the boiler from explosion.
2. The water level in a boiler should be maintained:
A) Below the lowest visible part of the gauge glass
B) Above the top of the steam drum
C) Within the visible range of the gauge glass
D) At the top of the boiler shell
Rationale: Maintaining water within the gauge glass ensures safe
operation and prevents overheating or carryover.
3. The function of the steam drum in a water tube boiler is to:
A) Collect blowdown water
B) Separate steam from water
,C) Contain superheated steam
D) Store feedwater
Rationale: The steam drum allows separation of water and steam,
sending dry steam to the superheater.
4. The Hartford Loop is used to:
A) Control feedwater temperature
B) Measure steam pressure
C) Prevent loss of water from the boiler due to a broken return line
D) Control chemical feed
Rationale: The Hartford Loop prevents the boiler from draining
completely if a condensate return line breaks.
5. A manometer is used to measure:
A) Temperature
B) Water hardness
C) Pressure
D) Steam quality
Rationale: A manometer measures pressure by the difference in liquid
column height.
6. Steam traps are used to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Purify feedwater
C) Remove condensate without losing steam
D) Maintain water level
,Rationale: Traps discharge condensate and air but retain live steam in
the system.
7. A boiler blowdown is performed to:
A) Reduce stack temperature
B) Remove sediment and control dissolved solids
C) Increase water temperature
D) Decrease feedwater flow
Rationale: Blowdown removes sludge and reduces dissolved solids to
prevent scale and carryover.
8. Boiler efficiency is improved by:
A) Increasing excess air
B) Preheating combustion air with an air preheater
C) Lowering feedwater temperature
D) Reducing insulation
Rationale: Preheating combustion air increases fuel combustion
efficiency.
9. The primary function of the economizer is to:
A) Reduce steam pressure
B) Preheat feedwater using flue gas heat
C) Superheat steam
D) Cool exhaust gases
Rationale: An economizer captures waste heat from flue gases to
preheat feedwater, improving efficiency.
, 10. A high stack temperature indicates:
A) Normal operation
B) Poor heat transfer due to soot or scale
C) Excess water level
D) Low firing rate
Rationale: High flue gas temperature usually means fouling on heat-
transfer surfaces.
11. The function of a feedwater regulator is to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Maintain proper water level automatically
C) Control combustion air
D) Regulate steam flow
Rationale: Feedwater regulators ensure consistent water level
without manual adjustment.
12. Which device measures steam flow?
A) Manometer
B) Pyrometer
C) Orifice meter
D) Tachometer
Rationale: An orifice meter calculates flow based on pressure drop
across a restriction.
13. The fusible plug is designed to:
A) Increase boiler pressure
B) Melt and relieve pressure if water level drops dangerously low
