🔍 Key Concepts

• Boiler water testing is done to see the true condition of the water inside the boiler drum. • Blowdown removes concentrated dissolved solids and sludge; it changes the water condition. • Adding makeup water and treatment chemicals also changes the water condition from its normal operating state.

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: At what point in the boiler operating cycle will a sample best represent the actual working condition of the boiler water? • How would blowing down the boiler right before sampling affect the concentration of dissolved solids in the sample? • If you add makeup water or treatment chemicals, does the water immediately reach a stable, uniform condition, or does that take some time?

✅ Before You Answer

• Make sure you consider when the boiler water is in its normal, stable operating condition. • Think about whether the sample should be taken when the total dissolved solids (TDS) are highest, lowest, or at a representative average level. • Verify which options involve a condition that has just been artificially changed (by blowdown or by adding water/chemicals) versus the natural running condition.