🔍 Key Concepts

• Function of burner front refractory in a boiler furnace • Effects of slag accumulation on combustion and heat transfer • How flame pattern, flame scanners, and burner tips are affected by furnace conditions

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: What is the FIRST serious operational problem that slag on the refractory is likely to cause? • Which option describes a condition that directly affects safe combustion monitoring or burner operation, rather than minor wear-and-tear? • Consider which condition would make the engineer decide to shut down and repair immediately, not just schedule for later maintenance.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice reflects a safety-critical condition rather than normal aging of refractory brick. • Think about how flame scanners detect flame and what might cause them to misread conditions. • Decide which options describe minor damage vs. serious functional interference with the burner’s operation.