Pipe Vibration Training Experiences

[Patassa]

Hi guys,

I work in a oil refinery as a small projects engineer with some reliability and some maintenance tasks also. Myself and others in my role are frequently tasked with looking at pipe vibration issues around heaters and towers and attempting to access whether things are "OK" or if something needs to be done. Generally we, as a group, are very weak in this subject and have to call in an outside expert for everything.

It would greatly benefit the department for at least one or two of us to become stronger in this subject so I'm looking for the best training in terms of giving me practical tools to access vibration issues and provide remedies when needed. Trainings that I've found so far include ones by Becht Engr. and ASME has one also. Has anyone been to one of these or can anyone recommend one they've been to that they feel would be beneficial?

 

[pennpiper]

Patassa,
You may already know this, but it is worth repeating.
Vibration, is not a primary action but is self. It is normally a symptom of some other issue.
Example:
1, A whole Pump Discharge piping system was vibrating in a cycle of very light to very heavy. The Operators accused the Engineering Company (EC) of bad design. After a thorough investigation by the EC it was determined that the Liquid Level in the vessel on the suction side of the pump was drastically low causing cavitation in the pump and throughout the piping system. The Operators had not followed the Operating Procedure of "Trust but Verify". They had gotten lazy and did not want to climb up a 25 foot ladder to visually confirm the that the liquid level was indeed at the level the Control Panel readout indicated.

2. Compressor Piping Vibration - Cause, Loose bolts on the Hold Down supports

3. Pump vibration - Cause, Bad Baring caused by a malfunction of the Lubrication system

Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

 

[Patassa]

Most of our issues arise because we've drastically raised rates on every unit and with it, velocities.

 

[pennpiper]

Well, yes that will cause vvvvviiiiibbbbbrrrrrraaaaattttiiiiiooooonnnnnn. Oh! that hurts!
What are you trying to do, go out of business sooner.

Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

 

[DSB123]

Drastically increasing the flow rates above the original design parameters will cause problems BECAUSE the plant has not been designed based on the increased flows. The whole plant needs to be re-assessed for the new "Design" parameters. Basically you are trying to get two gallons of liquid into a one gallon drum - it will not work!!!!

 

[uaepiping]

Have you referred "Guidelines for the avoidance of vibration induced fatigue failure in process pipework" by Energy Institute?
If not please do. It is intended for use by engineers with no prerequisite knowledge of vibration.
You should be able to measure the field vibration (or hire some outside contractor), then compare it with the criterion given in this guideline to know if the vibration is acceptable, cause of concern or real problem. The vibration assessment criterion is a graph of frequency (HZ) vs Velocity (mm/sec).

 

[Patassa]

Thank you UAE piping, I will check that out.

As to the other two responses, does it sound like I own this refinery? Does it sound like these decisions are really up to me? Do either of you have any knowledge of the refining business at all? I work for one of the largest refiners in the country, the decision to raise rates are way above my pay grade.

 

[pennpiper]

Patassa, You wrote:
Does it sound like these decisions are really up to me? Do either of you have any knowledge of the refining business at all? I work for one of the largest refiners in the country, the decision to raise rates are way above my pay grade.

Why didn't you include this in your original post?



Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

 

[Patassa]

Oh geez, let's see...

"Work in a refinery"
"as a small projects engineer"
"tasked with"

Does it really sound like I own the place or make the decisions? Did I say that?

Besides, I'm asking for feedback on training, it would be helpful if we attempted to stay on topic, here. How we run our refinery and who owns it are irrelevant.

 

[spciesla]

Check out the following link for some piping vibration guidance:

http://www.engdyn.com/resources/detail/piping_vibration/

 

[Strong]

Here are a couple of companies offering training for pipe vibrations:

http://www.betamachinery.com/knowledge-center/training-courses

http://vibtech.co.uk/index.html

Walt