Minnesota Boiler License Practice Exam

Priming is a condition in which water is:

1. Too hot for pump

2. Too low for pump to lift

3. Suddenly discharged with steam

4. Overheated in the boiler

The correct answer is: Suddenly discharged with steam

Priming is a specific phenomenon that occurs in steam boilers when water is carried out of the boiler along with the steam being generated. This can happen when the water in the boiler becomes too turbulent, leading to a mixture of water and steam being expelled through the steam outlet. When steam is suddenly discharged with water, it indicates that there is an issue with the separation of steam and water, often due to rapid boiling or changes in pressure. This condition can result in an insufficient supply of water to the system and potentially damage equipment as well. In context, the other conditions mentioned do not define priming. Water being too hot for a pump would refer to thermal limits of pump operation rather than the steam generation process. Water being too low for a pump to lift relates to the capacity of the pump to draw water, which is not relevant to the description of priming. Likewise, overheated water in the boiler pertains to the temperature conditions rather than the interaction between water and steam. Thus, the correct understanding of priming is distinctly related to the discharge of steam and water, as captured in the accurate definition.