Excessive water loss from the main feed...

🔍 Key Concepts

• Main feed system water balance – what actually removes water from the closed cycle versus just recirculates it • Difference between internal leaks/recirculation (water stays in system) and discharge to atmosphere (water is lost from system) • How drain tanks, traps, and vents can send condensate overboard or to a place where it does not return to the main condenser/feed system

💭 Think About

• For each choice, trace the exact path of the water: does it stay within the closed feed/condensate loop, or does it get discharged somewhere it cannot return? • Ask yourself which option would cause a slow but continual loss of water inventory, requiring frequent makeup from the feed make‑up system. • Consider what happens when a component is "frozen" or blocked in the closed position versus when a component is leaking internally but still discharging back into the same system.

✅ Before You Answer

• For each answer, verify whether the water ultimately returns to the main condenser/feedwater system or is lost to atmosphere/drains that don’t come back. • Check which component, when malfunctioning as described, would continuously pass condensate/steam to an atmospheric or non‑recoverable drain. • Be sure you distinguish between a condition that causes poor pump performance or circulation and a condition that actually reduces the total water inventory in the main feed system.

Excessive water loss from the main feed system can be caused by __________.

excessive recirculation of condensate from the outlet of the air ejector condenser to the main condenser

a leak in the desuperheater internal gasket

a vapor bound main condensate pump

an atmospheric drain tank trap frozen in the closed position

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer