A flame scanner is used to verify what in boiler operations?

A flame scanner is an essential component in boiler operations, specifically designed to detect the presence of a flame, such as the pilot flame. Its primary function is to ensure that combustion is taking place safely and efficiently by verifying that the flame is active. This is crucial for the operation of a boiler because the absence of a flame could indicate a potentially dangerous situation, such as a fuel leak or an incomplete combustion process that could lead to hazardous conditions.

By ensuring that the pilot flame is present, the flame scanner plays a vital role in safety systems; it helps prevent the boiler from operating if a flame is not detected, thus mitigating the risk of explosions or carbon monoxide buildup. This function highlights the importance of flame scanners in maintaining safe operational conditions in steam engineering.

In contrast, while steam pressure, fuel flow, and flue gas temperature are all vital parameters in boiler operations, they are not the primary focus of a flame scanner. Instead, these parameters are monitored by other instruments specifically designed for measuring pressure, flow rates, and temperature, respectively. Therefore, the successfully detection of a pilot flame is the definitive role of the flame scanner in boiler operations.