Question 264Steam Plants - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is A) a contaminated distilled water tank. The high salinity reading in the main hotwell indicates that there is saltwater contamination in the freshwater system. The most likely cause of this is a leaking or contaminated distilled water tank, which is the source of freshwater for the main hotwell. Leaks in the air ejector condenser, excessive water pressure in the lube oil cooler, or leaks in the third-stage heater would not directly introduce saltwater into the freshwater system and cause high salinity readings. Maintaining proper salinity levels in the main hotwell is critical for proper operation of the steam plant, so identifying and resolving issues with the distilled water supply is the appropriate troubleshooting step.