Port Harcourt Office

PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area

S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax: 084 - 235737

Assessment Programme

Questionnaire : MECHANICAL TECHNICIANS

Company:

Category: Mechanical

Date:

Assessment Number:

Candidate Name:

Candidate Signature:

Candidate Company No.:

The following pages contain multiple choice questions relating to your particular
job skill.

Please tick the choice that you believe to be the correct answer.

Only tick one choice from each question .

Multiple selections will be marked as a wrong answer.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 1

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax: 084 - 235737

Assessment Number:

CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

1 What is the purpose of the Wear Rings in a Centrifugal pump?

A To minimise the leakage of fluid B
out of the end of the shaft.
C To minimise the leakage of fluid D
from the impeller’s suction eye
back to the packing gland.
To minimise the leakage of fluid
from the pump’s discharge back to
the impeller’s suction eye.
To minimise the leakage of fluid
from the gland sealing line.

2 What type of energy conversion takes place as the fluid in a Centrifugal

pump enters the volute chamber?
A Pressure is converted into kinetic B Kinetic energy is converted into heat
energy. energy.
C Heat energy is converted into D Kinetic energy is converted into
kinetic energy. pressure energy.

3 Select the choice that best describes how cavitation causes damage to a
Centrifugal pump.
A Friction between impeller and B When the impeller turns too fast, it
casing causes wear to the impeller. causes bubbles in the fluid, which
causes the pump to lose priming.
C Shock waves caused by collapsing D The impeller is damaged by the heat
bubbles damage the metal surfaces from boiling water.
of the impeller and the inside of
the casing.

4 Besides positioning the impeller at the proper position on the shaft, what
other consideration is important when reinstalling the impeller of a
Centrifugal pump as part of an overhaul?
A The impeller vanes must be going B The lantern ring must fit the impeller
in the right direction. properly.
C The shaft must not be lubricated, D The impeller placement is the guide
because the impeller will slip as for positioning the throat bushing.
the shaft rotates.

5 When the upper half of the casing of a Centrifugal pump is being

reinstalled, how should the casing bolts be tightened to avoid warping the
casing?
A The casing bolts are tightened in a B Tighten the casing bolts in sequence
recommended pattern to the around the circumference of the
correct torque. flange.
C Tighten one side of the casing D Tighten the casing bolts as much as
before tightening the other side. possible to avoid leaks.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 2

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax: 084 - 235737

Assessment Number:

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS

6 From these choices, select the advantage that a duplex single-acting pump
has over a simplex-acting pump.
A It has a greater capacity. B It has a smoother suction.
C It is quieter in operation. D It has less leakoff.

7 Why is it important to handle mechanical seals very carefully as they are

removed from a pump?
A Any seal that is exposed to bright B Any seal that comes in contact with
light for a prolonged period of air must be replaced.
time must be replaced.
C The rotating stainless steel face is D Carbon sealing faces are highly
very brittle. susceptible to etching caused by acids
in human skin.

8 In a sliding vane pump, what causes the vane to maintain contact with the
pump's casing?
A Axial thrust. B Centrifugal force.
C Gravity. D Positive displacement

9 Inspecting each of the rotors from a two-screw rotary pump involves a

surface inspection and what else? Select the best answer.
A Checking the rotor’s electrical B Checking to see if the rotor is bent or
resistance. out of round.
C Checking the rotor’s insulation. D Checking the rotor’s conductivity.

10 During which stroke of the plunger pump will the discharge valve be open
and the suction valve be closed?
A The discharge stroke. B The inlet stroke.
C The low pressure stroke D The suction stroke.

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

11 In which part of a Centrifugal compressor does the air or gas expand,

slowdown, and gain pressure?
A Intercooler. B Moisture separator.
C Volute D Impeller.

12 Which of these is an adjustment that is typically made during the

reassembly of a centrifugal compressor?

A Pinion runout. B Gear ratio of pinion and bull gears.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 3

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax:pinion
084 - 235737
C Inactive thrust bearing position. D Torque ratio of and bull gears.

Assessment Number:

13 If an impeller is installed on its shaft with a close-tolerance fit, which of

these actions may be necessary before the impeller can be pulled off the
shaft?
A Pack the impeller in dry ice. B Ground the shaft to discharge static
electricity.
C Coat the impeller with grease. D Heat the impeller.

14 What is typically the function of a thrust bearing and thrust collar in a

Centrifugal compressor?
A To support the weight of the bull
gear and shaft.
C To limit the amount of axial
movement of a shaft.
B To connect the motor and bull gear
shafts.
D To dampen vibration caused by
surging.

15 What components separates each stage of a multi-stage Centrifugal

compressor?
A Mechanical seal. B Diaphragm
C Lower casing. D Balance piston

ROLLING CONTACT BEARINGS

16 In which of these situations would you be most likely to use a hydraulic

press to remove a rolling contact bearing from a shaft?
A When the shaft can’t be removed B When the bearing is mounted with a
from the machine. tapered sleeve.
C When the shaft can be removed D When the bearing is mounted with an
from the machine. end plate mounting.

17 Why are the balls evenly spaced by the retainer on a rolling contact ball
bearing?
A To keep the shaft spinning too fast B To slide against the smooth surface of
the bearing.
C To create an even roll path on the D To ensure that loads on the bearing
shaft. are distributed equally on each ball.

18 What are angular contacts designed to do?

A Handle both radial and axial loads. B Handle only heavy radial loads.
C Handle only light radial loads. D Handle only axial loads.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 4

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax: 084 - 235737

Assessment Number:

19 From these choices select the roller bearing that is designed to handle loads
even when the bearing is slightly misaligned.
A Needle roller bearing. B Cylindrical roller bearing.
C Roller thrust bearing. D Barrel roller bearing.

20 What is the purpose of shields on a sealed bearing ?

A To prevent the bearing from B To prevent lubricant from leaking
touching the shaft. out.
C To keep the balls from touching. D To keep lubricant out of the bearing.

REVERSE ALIGNMENT

21 What is normally done to correct a soft foot condition?

A Adjust the baseplate runout. B Add washers above the anchor bolts.
C Recalculate the magnetic centre. D Shim under the foot.

22 What type of misalignment could be corrected by adding or removing the

same amount of shims under each foot of the movable component?
A Parallel misalignment in the B Angular misalignment in the vertical
vertical plane. plane.
C Parallel misalignment in the D Angular misalignment in the
horizontal plane. horizontal plane.

23 When is a motor’s shaft most likely to be at its magnetic centre?

A When it is as far inward as B When it is rotating during normal
possible. operation.
C When it is as far outward as D When the motor is shut down.
possible.

24 Which of these choices best describes how to correct angular misalignment

in the horizontal plane.
A Add the same amount of shims B Shift the movable component,
under each foot of the stationary moving one end more than the other.
component.
C Add different amounts of shims D Shift the stationary component,
under the feet of the movable moving each end the same amount.
component.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 5

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria) Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Fax: 084 - 235737

Assessment Number:

25 A pump and a motor that are operating at their normal temperatures are
shut off, and dial indicators are mounted at the 6 o’clock position under
each shaft. What are the dial indicators most likely being set up to
measure?
A Shaft strain. B Thermal growth.
C Shaft runout. D Heat balance.

VALVES AND SAFETY VALVES

26 Which one of these valves is most likely to be used in an on/off application

in which straight flow is desired?
A Gate valve. B Globe valve.
C Diaphragm valve. D Needle valve.

27 From these choices, select the valve that allows fluid flow in only one
direction and is best suited for application that involves a fluctuating flow.
A Swing check valve. B Lift check valve.
C Multiport plug valve. D Angle valve.

28 Which of these actions is typically done to determine the exact position of

the compression screw when a safety valve is being disassembled?
A Taking a runout reading with a B Measuring and recording the original
dial indicator. position of the screw before
removing it from the valve.
C Applying blueing to the screw D Counting the number of notches that
before removing it from the valve. are passed as the screw is out of the
yoke.

29 If a two-ring huddling chamber safety valve opens too late when its
popping pressure is tested, which of these actions should typically be done
to correct the problem?
A Lower the upper adjusting ring. B Tighten the compression screw.
C Raise the lower adjusting ring. D Loosen the compression screw.

30 Which of these conditions is a cause of safety valve leakage that may be

corrected by handlifting the valve?
A The spring tension on the valve B The catch tray in the discharged
disc is incorrect. piping is filled with condensate and
debris.
C The valve is chattering as a result D Foreign matter has become trapped
improper blowdown. between the valve’s seat and disc.

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 6

 Port Harcourt Office
PP 26 – 28 Trans Amadi Layout Area
S PROCESS PLANT SERVICES (Nigeria)
Ltd Port Harcourt
Tel: 084 - 2336791
Total Score as a percentage: ________________________________
Fax: 084 - 235737

PPS Assessment form (ppsaf01) 7