Question 81Steam Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is C) inability to maintain proper boiler water pH or phosphate levels. A leak in a desuperheater can allow water/steam to bypass the desuperheater, which can lead to an inability to maintain proper boiler water chemistry. This includes difficulties in controlling the boiler water pH and phosphate levels, as the leaking water/steam bypassing the desuperheater can disrupt the chemical balance in the boiler. The other options are incorrect because a desuperheater leak would not directly affect boiler water compound levels (A), dissolved oxygen (B), or suspended solids (D). Those issues would be more likely symptoms of other boiler system problems.