What is required when there are varying flows of condensate and additional condensate storage is needed?

Study for the First Class Steam License Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Boost your confidence for exam day!

When there are varying flows of condensate and additional storage is needed, a surge tank is specifically designed to accommodate these fluctuations. A surge tank acts as a buffer, storing excess condensate during periods of low demand and supplying the system when demand increases. This helps to stabilize the flow of condensate and ensures that the steam system operates efficiently, avoiding issues like water hammer or excessive cycling of pumps.

In this case, feedwater heaters, expansion tanks, and condensate return systems, while all important elements in a steam system, do not serve the same specific function as a surge tank. Feedwater heaters are used to preheat the water added to the boiler, which can improve efficiency but does not address the flow variations directly. Expansion tanks are intended to manage thermal expansion and pressure changes in closed systems, not the storage of fluctuating condensate. A condensate return system is responsible for returning used steam back to the boiler, but when looking specifically at managing variable condensate flows, a surge tank is the most appropriate solution.

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