Minnesota Boiler License Practice Exam

What happens to steam temperature when the pressure increases?

1. It goes up

2. It goes down

3. It remains the same

4. It fluctuates

The correct answer is: It goes up

When the pressure of steam increases, its temperature also increases. This relationship is fundamental to the principles of thermodynamics and steam generation. In a closed system, steam is a saturated vapor, and any increase in pressure results in an increase in the saturation temperature of that vapor. To better understand this, consider the steam tables, which are commonly used in the industry. They show the relationship between temperature and pressure for water and steam. As the pressure rises, the temperature corresponding to that pressure also rises. This phenomenon is crucial in industrial applications, including boiler operations, where maintaining the right pressure and temperature is vital for efficient steam generation and system performance. In essence, if you increase the pressure in a boiler, the steam produced will have a higher temperature, which affects both the efficiency and safety of the system.