Plant Operation Practice Test

What is necessary to ensure good heat transfer in air heaters?

1. Using soot blowers

2. Regular water feed

3. Adjusting the temperature

4. Increasing fuel supply

The correct answer is: Using soot blowers

To ensure good heat transfer in air heaters, using soot blowers is essential due to their role in maintaining clean heat transfer surfaces. Over time, exhaust gases can lead to the accumulation of soot and other particulate matter on the surfaces of air heaters. This buildup acts as an insulating layer, reducing the efficiency of heat transfer between the combustion gases and the air that is being heated. By employing soot blowers, operators can regularly clean these surfaces, which enhances thermal conductivity and promotes efficient heat exchange. In this context, while regular water feed, adjusting temperature, and increasing fuel supply can all have important roles in a plant's overall operation and efficiency, they do not directly address the issue of maintaining optimal heat transfer conditions as effectively as proper soot removal does. Regular water feed could help with certain aspects of system operation but does not prevent fouling. Adjusting temperature and increasing fuel supply might impact the rate of heat generation but will not necessarily ensure that the heat transfer surfaces remain effective, which is primarily managed through cleaning mechanisms like soot blowers.