If a boiler produces 284,000 lbs per hour with a 5% blow down, how many lbs are blown down per hour?

To determine the amount of water blown down per hour from a boiler that produces 284,000 lbs of steam with a 5% blow down, you need to calculate 5% of the steam production.

5% of 284,000 lbs can be calculated using the formula:

Blow Down = Steam Production × Percentage Blow Down

In this case:

Blow Down = 284,000 lbs × 0.05

Calculating this gives:

Blow Down = 284,000 lbs × 0.05 = 14,200 lbs

The correct answer is 14,200 lbs per hour, which represents the amount of water being removed from the boiler to maintain the water quality and minimize the concentration of impurities. This maintenance is vital for operating efficiency and safety in steam boilers.