An interview question about boiler 7

[stonetech]

I once attended an interview. There is a question " what would you do if you find the leg (shell)'s thickness is not big enough?" Could you please help me with this question?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Run?
Shut down the boiler?
Look for an error in my math?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Zapster]

Try to correct the situation within your company first by bringing it up through the proper channels, and if an explanation of facts did not seem safe or code compliant, contact the state regulatory agency.

 

[JStephen]

I'd inspect it and fix it. Or replace it. Or call someone that knew what they were doing.

Actually, this is a general question, so you can't hardly expect useful replies. Maybe they meant "What method would you use to repair it?" Or maybe it was boiler-operator question. There's not always a good answer for that type of question.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Or, it may have been a trick question of a more devious kind. In many places, the acceptable answer would be something like "Politely point it out verbally to your supervisor, then shut up, never speak of it again, and never ever write it down.".

An ethical and correct answer like Zapster's could cost you the job ... in which case you wouldn't want the job anyway.

If you suspect it's a question intended to discover any aberrant tendency toward taking the moral high road, it might be better to limit your discussion to technical issues like repair alternatives or methods for rerating for limited operation, and other technical stuff that a recruiter probably wouldn't understand.

In an interview, most engineers, because of their generally helpful nature, will actually try to teach you whatever you don't know about their product line. HR weenies, OTOH, are _only_ looking for some excuse to disqualify you.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[dtn6770]

I'd suggest answering the question as if it were a real life situation which it is or has been for many of us.

The question probably contained as much information as you conveyed to us so you'd have to answer in a "if that then this" manner. I don't know about everyone else but I'd spend a little time trying to figure out why the shell is too thin, the answer to which may direct your eventual solution. Was it a botched design? Is corrosion involved? None of that will change the situation so you eventually have to explore the re-rate/de-rate avenues; does reducing the desing temperature buy you any addtion material allowable stress? Can the process be changed by generating lower pressure steam?

The interviewer was probably wanting a feel for how you would approach such situations and wanted to hear you describe a methodically and technical approach.

Of course you're much better off if you have experience to draw from. College grads or engineers from different fields could be easily derailed by these types of questions.

Did you get the job?

 

[JLSeagull]

Discussing a reduction in the operating pressure pending tube replacement would seem appropriate.

 

[0707]

You should first calculate the MAWP (maximum allowable working pressure)then see if you can keep going on working at a pressure lower than the MAWP.If no stop the boiler.

Cheers

Luis

 

[stonetech]

Thank all of you for your pertinent answers. Your nice help make me feel I'm in the right place. Thanks!!!!

 

[BigInch]

JLS, You already wrote my answer, so nothing left for me to do but to give you a star.

BigInch-born in the trenches.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com