Final answer:
A safety relief valve on a hot water boiler may not relieve all the pressure if it is only sized for liquid and not for the rapid expansion volume of steam. ASME-approved valves that are appropriately sized for steam will operate effectively. Additional safety systems like auxiliary cooling water and pumps are required to handle the heat from radioactive fission products in a loss of coolant accident.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is c) no, because such a valve may be sized to handle liquids only. A safety relief valve installed on a hot water boiler is designed to relieve excess pressure and prevent explosions. However, if the boiler is low on open water and the water is flashing into steam, the valve may not be able to handle the steam and relieve all the pressure.
If the boiler was approved by the A.S.M.E, it means it has been designed and manufactured according to the standards set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. However, even if the boiler meets the A.S.M.E. code, it does not guarantee that the safety relief valve is capable of handling steam.