Engineering & Technology Disciplines
Detailed mechanical engineering principles, rotating equipment specifications, and condition-based asset reliability standards.
1. Rotating Equipment
Centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, process compressors, fans, blowers, and heavy industrial gearboxes. Governing standards include API 610, API 617, and ISO 10816.
2. Static Equipment & Pressure Vessels
Design and integrity monitoring for ASME Section VIII Division 1 & 2 pressure vessels, TEMA shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and ASME B31.3 process piping systems.
3. Power Transmission & Precision Alignment
Shafts, flexible membrane couplings, hydrodynamic journal bearings, and laser alignment offset targets to compensate for thermal pedestal growth (< 0.05 mm tolerance).
4. Thermal Systems & Energy Management
Steam generation, boiler feed water deaeration, steam trap audits, and thermal insulation management to avoid Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI).
5. Materials & Degradation Mechanisms
Selection of stainless steels (316L, Duplex 2205) and nickel alloys. Mitigating stress corrosion cracking (SCC), cavitation erosion, and high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA).
6. Condition Monitoring & Diagnostics
Vibration FFT spectrum analysis, ISO 10816 velocity severity zones, lube oil particle counting (ISO 4406), and infrared thermography.
5-Step Engineering Workflow: How to Evaluate an Equipment Problem
- Define the Duty: Understand design envelope, flow, head, torque, pressure, and throughput.
- Understand Operating Context: Review process demands, fluid properties, ambient temperature, and upstream upsets.
- Evaluate Physical Evidence: Examine vibration trends, oil lab assays, and failed component fracture surfaces.
- Compare Options: Weigh safety, technical feasibility, capital cost, outage duration, and long-term maintainability.
- Verify Results: Record baseline post-overhaul data, update CMMS PM tasks, and verify non-recurrence.
