🔍 Key Concepts

• Heat transfer in boilers – how clean water vs. oil-coated surfaces affect heat flow • Boiler water quality problems – what typically causes foaming, carryover, and poor steam quality • Effects of oil contamination on tube surfaces and water characteristics

💭 Think About

• Think about whether oil is a good conductor or a poor conductor of heat, and what that means for heat transfer from the flame to the water. • Consider what types of contamination usually lead to foaming and water getting carried with the steam into the system. • Ask yourself: does oil contamination help prevent scale, sludge, or acid attack, or does it usually create additional operating problems?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify whether oil films on metal surfaces increase or decrease heat transfer efficiency. • Recall what foaming and carryover are, and what contaminants typically cause them in marine boilers. • Check if oil in boiler water would realistically reduce other problems (sludge, acid attack), or if it would introduce new hazards instead.