If a priming situation occurs, what should be done?

When a priming situation occurs in a boiler, it indicates that water is being carried over with steam, which can lead to water hammer, equipment damage, or safety hazards. The correct response to this situation is to reduce the firing rate and blow down the boiler to regain control over the water level. By reducing the firing rate, the steam production is decreased, allowing the boiler to stabilize and preventing excessive steam generation that could carry water with it.

Blowing down the boiler helps to remove some of the water from the system, which can assist in managing the water level and reducing the risk of priming. It's important to ensure that water levels remain within safe operating limits, and adjusting the firing rate along with the blowdown procedure effectively addresses the issue of priming.

Increasing the firing rate would worsen the situation by generating more steam, potentially exacerbating the priming. Closing all valves immediately could lead to other complications and does not address the underlying problem. Adding more water may further increase the risk of priming and does not resolve the excess water being carried with the steam. Therefore, the approach of reducing the firing rate and implementing a blowdown procedure is both effective and essential for ensuring safe boiler operation.