Adjusting the fuel oil header pressure during a white smoke condition can lead to what risk?

Adjusting the fuel oil header pressure during a white smoke condition poses the risk of a boiler explosion because white smoke typically indicates that there is incomplete combustion of the fuel. This situation often arises from an excess of fuel oil that is not being efficiently mixed with air, leading to a build-up of unburned fuel.

If the header pressure is adjusted to increase fuel flow during this condition, it can exacerbate the situation by providing even more fuel for combustion without the necessary air to burn it adequately. This can lead to an accumulation of unburned fuel in the combustion chamber, which, if ignited improperly, can generate excessive pressure and potentially result in an explosion. Therefore, maintaining appropriate fuel oil header pressure and ensuring proper combustion is critical to preventing catastrophic failures in the boiler system.