Question 95General Subjects - Assistant Engineer

You are correct, the answer is C) leaks in the demister baffles. The demister baffles in a flash-type distilling plant are responsible for removing entrained brine droplets from the distillate, preventing them from being carried over into the distillate output. If there are leaks or defects in the demister baffles, these brine droplets can bypass the filtration and result in a distillate with higher than normal salinity. The other options are incorrect because: A) Carrying the brine level below normal would typically result in lower salinity, not higher. B) Reduced feed water heater temperatures would affect the distillation process but not necessarily the demister performance. D) Operating at reduced vacuum conditions would affect the overall distillation efficiency but not specifically the salinity of the distillate.