Basic Systems

Question 1

What are systems?

Answer 1

A series of interconnecting pipes and components that will deliver a substance from one point to another

Question 2

What is an open loop system?

Answer 2

The working fluid is consumed e.g. fuel, domestic fresh water

Question 3

What is a closed loop system?

Answer 3

The working fluid is reused e.g. lub oil system, fresh water cooling system

Question 4

What are the three types of tank?

Answer 4

Header tank, service tank, drain tank

Question 5

What is a header tank for?

Answer 5

Reservoir to top up a system

Question 6

What is a service tank for?

Answer 6

Supply of clean, water-free fuel

Question 7

What is a drain tank for?

Answer 7

Collects oil returning from a system

Question 8

What are the three types of gauge?

Answer 8

Contents gauge, gauge glass, sounding tube

Question 9

What is a contents gauge for?

Answer 9

A clock/dial for how much fluid is in a tank

Question 10

What is a gauge glass for?

Answer 10

Visual indication for tank level (press button to read)

Question 11

What is a sounding tube for?

Answer 11

Used to measure the depth of liquid in a tank (dip tape and conversion chart)

Question 12

What are strainers?

Answer 12

Used to remove large course particles, usually metal plates with holes in or a wire basket. Usually washable and re-usable

Question 13

What does the type of pipework depend on?

Answer 13

Service being supplied (the fluid);
Operating temperature and pressures;
Other types of material used in the system

Question 14

What are the 5 types of pipe?

Answer 14

Phosphor bronze
Copper
Copper nickel
Brass
Plastic

Question 15

What are phosphor bronze pipes used for?

Answer 15

High pressure salt water (HPSW)

Question 16

What are copper pipes used for?

Answer 16

Domestic fresh water

Question 17

What are copper nickel pipes used for?

Answer 17

Lub oil

Question 18

What are brass pipes used for?

Answer 18

Castings (valves, couplings, junctions, taps etc.)

Question 19

What are plastic pipes used for?

Answer 19

Sewage/waste systems and pre-wet

Question 20

What does the type of seal used depend on?

Answer 20

System pressure;
The fluid being used;
Temperatures involved

Question 21

What are the 4 types of seal?

Answer 21

Gaskets
Mechanical seals
Keeler ring couplings
Gland packing

Question 22

What are gaskets?

Answer 22

Used to create a seal between two flat surfaces. Can be made from various materials, including: Non Asbestos Fibre (NAF), paper, leather, cork, copper, rubber

Question 23

What are mechanical seals used for?

Answer 23

Used on rotating components such as pump shafts

Question 24

What are keeler ring couplings used for?

Answer 24

Used on high pressure air system pipework connections

Question 25

What is gland packing?

Answer 25

Made of silicone, wool or wax depending on fluid type, pressure and temperature

Question 26

What is the purpose of valves?

Answer 26

To provide a method of controlling flow or pressure of a fluid or to provide a means of isolating various systems or components

Question 27

What are the types of valve

Answer 27

Globe valve Gate valve Flap valve Saunders valve Ball seated cock Relief valve Reducing valve Non-return valve Pressure control valve Remote operation valve

Question 28

What are relief valves?

Answer 28

Used to prevent over pressurisation (prevents something bursting or being damaged if pressure gets too high by returning excess pressure back to the tank or before a pump)

Question 29

What are reducing valves?

Answer 29

Used to reduce pressure for part of a system (rest of system still at higher pressure)

Question 30

What are non-return valves?

Answer 30

Prevents reverse flow (common types - piston type and flap valve)

Question 31

What are pressure control valves?

Answer 31

Maintains pressure in a system at a set level, monitors the outlet pressure from the valve (to adjust the valve position as required)

Question 32

What are remote operation valves (ROV)?

Answer 32

Rod gearing to manually open or close a valve from another location or automated e.g. a solenoid operated valve

Question 33

What are the two types of pump?

Answer 33

Positive displacement pumps and dynamic displacement pumps

Question 34

What are positive displacement pumps?

Answer 34

Less flow, increases pressure e.g. gearwheel pump, rotary pump

Question 35

What are dynamic displacement pumps?

Answer 35

Large flow, low pressure e.g. centrifugal pump and axial pump

Question 36

What is a motor used for?

Answer 36

Converts electrical energy into mechanical motion to drive a pump

Question 37

What types of system indicators are used?

Answer 37

Pressure and vacuum gauges - bourdon tube and manometer; Tachometer; Thermometer; Flow meters; Voltage meters

Question 38

What are bourdon tubes?

Answer 38

Tube extends as pressure increases, moving a needle round a dial

Question 39

What is a manometer?

Answer 39

U Tube - pressure increase pushes liquid round the U bend

Question 40

What is a tachometer?

Answer 40

Measures rotational speed (e.g. speed of a motor or pump)

Question 41

What are the three types of thermometer?

Answer 41

Fixed brass Standard pocket Clock/dial face

Question 42

What are thermometer pockets?

Answer 42

A plug fitted to systems to screw in a fixed brass thermometer. Filled with oil to aid heat conduction

Question 43

What are filters?

Answer 43

Used to remove small fine particles. Type used depends on system/fluid

Question 44

What are the two types of filters?

Answer 44

Metallic - wire wool, steel plates and gauze screens. Reusable, can be washed and refitted when blocked Absorbent - fabrics, felt, yarn, paper. Not reusable

Question 45

What are accumulators?

Answer 45

They store potential energy (pressure) which is released as required, also used as pulsation - bladder (bag) type and piston type are the most common

Question 46

What is Bernoulli's Principle?

Answer 46

As the speed of a moving fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases. Narrowing pipe: speed increases, pressure decreases. Widening pipe: speed decreases, pressure increases.