Question 437Steam Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is B) sulfuric acid corrosion. Proper water washing of the water-tube boiler firesides is essential to prevent sulfuric acid corrosion. Improper water washing can leave behind deposits that react with the combustion byproducts to form sulfuric acid, which can then corrode the boiler tubes and drums. This is the main reason why improper water washing can cause sulfuric acid corrosion. The other options are incorrect because: A) erosion of tubes and drums is more likely caused by mechanical wear, C) decreased heat transfer capabilities is a consequence of the buildup of deposits, not the improper water washing itself, and D) loss of ductility in boiler tubes is not a direct consequence of improper water washing.