TEST FOR OPERATORS

ETHYLENE, UTILITIES, LDPE & LLDPE

Olefins & Polyolefin Departments
Operations Group

❖ Please do not write on this booklet.

❖ Mark your answers on the answer sheet only.
❖ Test contains 50 questions.
❖ Booklet contains 9 pages.
❖ Time to answer this exam is 30 minutes.
Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q1 . In a distillation column, what is flooding?

A. It is the level increase in the column.
B. Pressure drop in the column.
C. It occurs when the liquid/vapour traffic is disturbed due to high velocity of the vapour and
liquid is entrained upwards.
D. It occurs when the liquid/vapour traffic is disturbed due to low velocity of the vapour and
liquid weeps through the plates.

Q2 . In a distillation column, what is the sensitive tray?

A. It is the tray at which the feed to the column is placed in order to minimize temperature
upsets.
B. It is the tray at which temperature in the stripping section is controlled.
C. It is the tray at which most of the light and heavy components are separated and
fractionation occurs.
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q3 . In cracking furnaces or fired heaters, what is the advantage of using excess air
in combustion?
A. Fuel consumption will be reduced.
B. Temperature will be better.
C. Complete combustion is ensured.
D. All the above (A + B + C).

Q4 . For centrifugal pumps, what is cavitation?

A. Cavitation occurs due to low level in suction drum.
B. Cavitation occurs when the NPSH available is less than the required NPSH.
C. It is the presence of vapour in the suction drum.
D. None of the above(neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q5 . Why is saturated steam used in the different reboilers in the plant and not
superheated steam?
A. To prevent corrosion
B. To reduce reboiler duty
C. To limit thermal exchange
D. None of the above(neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q6 . For steam turbines, why is heating necessary before start up?

A. To get more power.
B. More discharge pressure.
C. More speed.
D. To avoid thermal shock.

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Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q7 . What is Latent Heat?

A. It is the heat of a substance at ambient temperature.
B. Heat required to vaporise or to condense a gas.
C. Heat required to increase the temperature of 1 kg a substance by 1C.
D. Heat required to melt or to freeze a liquid.

Q8 . What is Partial Pressure?

A. It is the pressure of a substance at ambient temperature.
B. Pressure required to vaporize or to condense a gas.
C. It is the pressure of individual component in a mixture of gas.
D. All the above (A + B + C).

Q9 . What is Boiling Point?

A. It is the temperature required to vaporize the liquid.
B. Pressure and temperature drop in the column.
C. It is the temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid is equal to the atmospheric
pressure.
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q10 . Complete the following chemical reaction:

10.1 2NaOH+CO2= …………

(A) Na2CO3+H2O (B) NaCO3+H2O (C) Na2+H2CO3

10.2 2NaOH+H2S= …………

(A) Na2HS3+H2 (B) Na2S+H2S+H2O (C) Na2S+2H2O

10.3 CH4+O2= …………

(A) CO2H3+H2O (B) CO2+2H2O (C) CO2+H2O

10.4 2C2H6+7O2= …………

(A) CO2H3+4H2O (B) 4CO2+6H2O (C) CO2+H2O+C 2H

10.5 S+O2= …………

(A) SO2+H2 (B) SO2 (C) SO2+O2

Q11 . Sulphur dust is:

A. Irritant & flammable
B. Irritant and toxic
C. Toxic
D. Corrosive only

Q12 . Loading/unloading ethylene requires:

A. Loading arm overhaul
B. Loading arm dismantling
C. Loading arm cooling-down
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

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Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q13 . Why is pH measured in the boiler blowdown?

A. To adjust the flow
B. To prevent corrosion
C. To inject detergent
D. To inject polyelectrolyte

Q14 . What is the physical meaning of saturated steam?

A. It is a steam at low pressure.
B. Steam at Dew point or at a point where all water transferred to vapor.
C. It is a steam at high pressure.
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q15 . In Centrifugal compressors, why does surge occurs?

A. Surge occurs due to low pressure in the suction drum.
B. Surge occurs due to low flow at suction.
C. Surge occurs due to high speed.
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q16 . How many carbon moles are in 6.00 g of C?

A. Two moles.
B. Three moles.
C. Half mole.
D. One mole.

Q17 . In steam boilers, why is a continuous blowdown provided.

A. To control level in steam boiler.
B. To control the quality of steam.
C. To control the pressure.
D. All the above (A + B + C).

Q18 . What is the purpose of the fast purging in a steam boiler?

A. To remove the sludge from the boiler bottom
B. To replace part of the water with fresh make-up water
C. To sample the water to check for composition
D. To check the level inside the boiler drum

Q19 . Which of the following is not a quality principle?

A. Customer focus
B. Continuous improvement
C. Process approach
D. Maximum production on-specification

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Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q20 . Which of the following statement is not correct?

A. Traceability of the product is optional
B. Processes transform inputs into outputs
C. Quality policy determines organisational objectives
D. Efficiency is the relationship between result and resources

Q21 . On process plants why are process/utilities connections equipped with

flexibles and specific fittings?
A. To make sure operator will recognize them
B. To prevent any mix of utilities
C. To facilitate the work of the operator
D. To prevent purging with the wrong utility and/or hydrocarbon contamination

Q22 . Which of the following is a correction?

A. Rework
B. Concession
C. Deviation
D. Scrap

Q23 . In case of H2S smell Outdoor operator must:

A. Try to detect the leak
B. Take safety shower
C. Start water curtain
D. Put escape mask and inform control room

Q24 . Which of the following is correct?

A. Forklift operators hold a specific permit
B. Maintenance has a permanent traffic permit
C. Inspection is checking the forklift every day
D. Forklift speed limit is 40 Km/h

Q25 . In the case you see a fire the first thing to do is:
A. To find foam extinguisher
B. To inform control room
C. To find a fire hose for watering
D. To find CO2 extinguisher

Q26 . Usage of scaffolding requires:

A. A special permit
B. Maintenance authorisation
C. A safety authorization
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Operators Test Page 5

Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q27 . Purging is performed with:

A. Air flushing
B. Water flushing
C. Pressurization/depressurization with nitrogen
D. Pressurization/depressurization with CO2

Q28 . Waste water specifications for release to the environment includes:

A. TAH B. NOx C. Viscosity D. COD

Q29 . Which greenhouse gas is covered by the Kyoto Protocol?

A. Nitrogen B. Oxygen C. Hydrogen D. CO2

Q30 . Which document provides HSE information on chemicals?

A. Delivery sheet
B. Specification
C. Technical bulletin
D. MSDS

Q31 . What is the colour of mandatory signs?

A. Blue B. Red C. Yellow D. Black

Q32 . Why are polymers liquid or solid at ambient condition?

A. Because they are thermoelastic
B. Because they have a very high molecular weight
C. Because polymers are extruded
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q33 . Which of the following characterises a polyolefin polymerisation reaction an

industrial processes
A. It generates heat
B. It generates cooling
C. All the monomer is consumed immediately
D. It is very slow

Q34 . What is a runaway polymerisation reaction

A. A very dynamic plastic
B. A reaction starting too early
C. An auto accelerating reaction beyond control
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

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Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q35 . How is the viscosity of a polymer measured

A. From its colour
B. From the process parameters
C. From the amount of polymer flowing in a calibrated hole in a specific time
D. None of above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q36 . What is the difference between a volumetric pump and a centrifugal pump?
A. Centrifugal pumps are rotating and volumetric are not
B. Volumetric pumps are positive displacement pumps
C. Centrifugal pumps are positive displacement pumps
D. There is basically no difference between the two

Q37 . How is the flow controlled in a centrifugal pump system

A. By throttling the suction valve
B. By throttling the discharge valve
C. By increasing the suction pressure
D. By slowing down the pump

Q38 . Which one is not correct?

A. Reciprocating compressor flow can be adjusted through opening of the machine bypass
B. Reciprocating compressor flow can be adjusted through the suction pressure adjustment
C. Reciprocating compressor flow can be adjusted by throttling the discharge valve
D. Reciprocating compressor flow can be adjusted by cylinder dead volume adjustment

Q39 . Why is it required to increase the pH of Boiler Feed Water ?

A. Because boilers work better at high pH
B. Because boilers generate acid at high temperature
C. Because pure demineralised water can be very acidic and aggressive if polluted by
traces of acid
D. Because the boss says so

Q40 . Why is conductivity preferred to pH to follow Demineralised water quality?

A. because demi water pH is always 7
B. because demi water conductivity is easier to measure
C. because demi water is good electrical isolator
D. because demi water has very low ionic content concentration

Q41 . Why may additives be used in polymer extrusion?

A. In order to improve the transformation characteristics in customers’ machines
B. To protect the polymer in applications that are exposed to direct sunlight
C. To neutralise the residues in polymers where catalyst residues
D. All of the above (A + B + C)

Operators Test Page 7

Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q42 . What is observed in a centrifugal compressor if the suction temperature

increases (suction and discharge pressure remain constant)?
A. Discharge temperature decreases
B. Power consumption decreases
C. Possible risk of condensing small droplets of liquid at the suction
D. All of the above (A + B + C)

Q43 . What is observed in a turbine if the inlet temperature decreases (suction and
discharge pressure remain constant)?
A. Discharge temperature decreases
B. Power delivered by the turbine decreases
C. Possible risk of condensing small droplets of liquid at the discharge
D. All of the above (A + B + C)

Q44 . How can you detect a nitrogen leak?

A. By its distinctive colour
B. By its characteristic odour
C. By the fact that it spontaneously combusts in contact with air
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q45 . What is a “double block and bleed”?

A. A chronic illness of which operators in the Petrochemical Industry suffer due to incorrect
use of Personnel Protective Equipment.
B. A method of isolating process circuits prior to carrying out maintenance activities
C. A system used by maintenance to carry out lifting operations when a crane is not available
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q46 . Nitrogen is often used to remove oxygen in process systems. If a vessel at

atmospheric pressure containing 21% oxygen is pressured to 6 barg using
nitrogen, what will be the oxygen concentration after this operation?
A. 3%
B. 3.5%
C. 21%
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q47 . In solids handling, what is meant by dilute/lean phase conveying?

A. A system where the solids to gas ratio is low
B. A system which uses water to convey the solids
C. A system which uses a mixture of air and water to convey the solids
D. A system where the conveying air pressure is very high (above 3 barg)

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Department: Description:
Olefins/Polyolefin Written Test

Q48 . In a refrigeration loop, what happens if the refrigeration compressor suction

pressure is increased?
A. No impact on the process fluid being cooled
B. The temperature on the process fluid being cooled decreases
C. The temperature on the process fluid being cooled increases
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C)

Q49 . In any polyolefin polymerisation process what will have an impact on the reaction?
A. Presence of oxygen B. Presence of water
C. Presence of acetylene D. All of the above (A + B + C)

Q50 . Introduction of an olefin onto a freshly regenerated molecular sieve in a

purification vessel without taking adequate precautions could lead to what
effect taking place?
A. A rapid drop in temperature due to physical absorption of the olefin on the molecular sieve
B. A chemical reaction between the molecular sieve material and the olefin
C. An increase of temperature due to physical adsorption of the olefin on the molecular sieve
D. None of the above (neither A, nor B, nor C) since molecular sieves are totally inert
materials

Wish you

GOOD LUCK

Operators Test Page 9