Facility Operations & Maintenance Flashcards

Which predictive maintenance technique uses lubricant analysis to detect internal machine wear?

Answer: Oil analysis

Oil analysis detects metallic particles and chemical changes in lubricant that indicate internal wear before failure occurs.

A facility's HVAC system is experiencing high energy consumption. The FIRST diagnostic step should be to:

Answer: Check and replace air filters

Clogged air filters are the most common and easiest-to-fix cause of increased HVAC energy consumption.

What is the purpose of a lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedure during maintenance?

Answer: To prevent accidental equipment energization during service

LOTO procedures ensure energy sources are isolated and cannot be re-energized while personnel are performing maintenance.

A boiler's flue gas analysis shows high CO2 and low O2 levels. This indicates:

Answer: Insufficient air causing incomplete combustion

Low O2 in flue gas indicates insufficient combustion air, leading to incomplete combustion and potential CO formation.

Which maintenance metric is defined as the average time between consecutive failures of a repairable system?

Answer: MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)

MTBF measures the average operating time between failures of a repairable system, indicating reliability.

In a compressed air system, which component is MOST responsible for reducing moisture-related equipment damage?

Answer: Air dryer

Air dryers remove water vapor from compressed air, preventing corrosion, freezing, and contamination in pneumatic equipment.

What does a high vibration reading in the axial direction of a rotating machine most commonly indicate?

Answer: Misalignment

High axial vibration is a classic signature of shaft misalignment between coupled rotating components.