🔍 Key Concepts

• Steam pressure reducing valve purpose and operation – what they do to high-pressure steam before it goes to users • Thermal expansion and condensate – what happens inside steam lines/valves when they are first opened or heated • Routine safety and maintenance practices – what is realistic and required versus unsafe or impractical procedures

💭 Think About

• Think about what must be done to any steam component before putting it under pressure so it is not damaged by water hammer or thermal shock. • Consider whether throttling a valve downstream of an automatic pressure-reducing valve helps it control pressure, or can interfere with its operation. • Ask yourself if any steam safety/relief device is truly “absolutely reliable” and whether regulations and good practice assume that.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which action deals with condensate removal and gradual heating of the valve body and internals. • Check whether downstream throttling of an automatic pressure control device is normally recommended or discouraged in steam systems. • Eliminate any option that suggests no maintenance or unrealistic testing frequency that doesn’t align with normal engineering practice and safety culture.