Plant Operation Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for your Plant Operation Exam. Utilize interactive flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations and hints for each question. Get ready to excel on your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does the term "chattering" refer to in the context of a safety valve?

When a valve sticks open
When a safety valve opens and closes rapidly
When a pressure gauge fails
When steam escapes uncontrollably

The correct answer is: When a safety valve opens and closes rapidly

Chattering in the context of a safety valve refers to the situation where the valve opens and closes rapidly. This phenomenon often occurs due to fluctuations in pressure that reach the valve's setpoint, causing it to oscillate between the open and closed positions. Such rapid cycling can lead to excessive wear on the valve components, ultimately affecting its reliability and performance. In contrast, sticking open refers to a valve being unable to close properly, which would not fit the definition of chattering. A pressure gauge failure relates to measuring the system pressure, which doesn't involve the valve's operation. Lastly, uncontrollable steam escape describes a scenario more associated with valve failure or malfunction rather than the rapid opening and closing characteristic of chattering. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effective operation and maintenance of safety valves in plant operations.