Operating Engineer Practice Exam

The term that describes the heat produced by a boiler divided by 970.3 is known as the factor of evaporation. This factor is a crucial unit used in steam generation and boiler operations, as it provides a way to relate the amount of steam produced to the fuel consumption. Specifically, it is an indication of how many pounds of water can be evaporated by the heat generated in the boiler.

In boiler performance measurements, the factor of evaporation translates the thermal energy produced into a more manageable unit for evaluating efficiency and performance. Using 970.3 is standardized because it reflects the latent heat of vaporization for water at standard conditions. This allows engineers and operators to make meaningful assessments of a boiler's operational capability and efficiency in producing steam.

Understanding this term and its calculation is essential in the field of operating engineering because it directly relates to the effective utilization of energy in steam generation, influencing both efficiency and the economic aspects of boiler operation.