🔍 Key Concepts

• Function of a DC (de-aerating) heater in a steam plant during start-up • Behavior of feed pumps and condensate when lines and heaters are initially cold • Purpose of vents and drains on heaters and condensers

💭 Think About

• When a steam plant is cold, what is actually inside the DC heater and its connected lines before you open valves—liquid water, air, or something else? • Think about what could happen to a centrifugal feed pump if it does not have a solid column of water going to it during start-up. • What role do vents on heaters and similar equipment play during initial warm-up—are they mostly about pressure, gases, or mixing?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify what a DC heater is mainly designed to remove from the feedwater, besides simply heating it. • Consider what the feed pump needs at its suction to avoid damage—does opening these valves help establish that condition? • Ask yourself whether opening these valves is primarily about pressure control, pump protection, gas removal, or improving mixing/atomization.