Question 39General Subjects - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is B) leaky discharge valves on the LP cylinder. Excessively low air pressure in the intercooler of a reciprocating air compressor is caused by leaky discharge valves on the low-pressure (LP) cylinder. This is because the leaky valves allow compressed air to escape back into the LP cylinder instead of flowing through the intercooler, resulting in reduced air pressure in the intercooler. The other options are incorrect: A) leaky discharge valves on the high-pressure (HP) cylinder would cause high pressure in the intercooler, not low pressure; C) low ambient air pressure would not directly affect the intercooler pressure; and D) insufficient intercooler cooling would cause high intercooler pressure, not low pressure.