Static equipment training recommendation 1

[iangineer]

I work at a chemical plant in the United States as an engineer who deals with all pressure vessels, piping, tanks, any equipment that doesn't typically move. My job is to tell people how to fix stuff that breaks/leaks, let them know how long it is expected to last before it should be repaired/replaced, and work with flanged joint integrity. Manager recently said we could request training.

Do y'all have any recommendation for training that you think would be beneficial for my situation? My first thoughts are possibly API 579-1 Fitness-for-service training or possibly some training on using and understanding an FEA program.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dvd]

Find a good FEA contractor - it sounds like you are too busy to start doing FE analyses and you would just end up working late. A good FEA contractor will keep up to date on software and be able to bridge the gaps between reality and analyses.

 

[SWComposites]

learn the details of welding
learn how pipes etc degrade/erode/fail
learn NDT methods for pipes, tanks, etc
until you have a deep understanding of the above, don't bother with FEA

 

[EdStainless]

Go to ASNT for NDT training.
Find classes on reading and interpreting ASME B&PV Codes that are applicable to your situation. (usually be consultants)
You can get welding classes from AWI.
The corrosion/failure training is more difficult.
How big is your company? Is there a chance that they are a member of MTI?
If so find out who your rep is and beg to allowed to attend meetings.
These are the real experts in chemical process reliability, but it is a very closed group.
Dues are based on annual sales so it is very expansive.
They us the funds to back research of industry interest and then publish the results.
Some of these reports can be purchased by the public, for thousands of dollars each.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[iangineer]

The company I work at is a member of MTI, but i'm a nested contractor, so I'm not sure if I would get the benefit of their membership. Also, I never new NDT people had a society, but that could be good to look into. I work very closely with inspectors and it's usually their inspections that find stuff for me to work on. I have a pretty good understanding of their techniques, but I imagine it could always be better. Thank you for the suggestions.

For the FEA training, my thoughts were to just know how to do some simple analysis that we would otherwise not bother bidding out to a specialist.

 

[CWB1]

Not sure your experience level, but I would assess your basic skills before considering niche engineering courses like most of the suggestions above. Every engineer should take at least one course in the following as either an intern or first-year junior engineer, and IMHO they're critical for maintenance/industrial engineers.
Failure analysis
Design of experiments
GD&T
Tolerance stacks
Project management

 

[SnTMan]

I would encourage iangineer to take an introductory, self study course in FEA methods. Just to form an appreciation of how dam difficult it is for a "layman" to perform such analysis properly.

Also training in bolted joints, or at least a good reference such as Bickford and ASME PCC-1.

Regards,

MIke

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[EdStainless]

You also need a place to get real flange training.
I have taken classes where we actually bolt up an instrumented flange and we can see the difference in the loads based on very slight differences in bolt torques.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[TGS4]

I would start with a course like "Pressure Equipment Engineering Fundamentals" - here.

Possibly progressing to VIII-1 design - here. And possibly doing a ASME PCC-2 course - here.

Then a B31.3 course - here.

Then perhaps look at a API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 course - here.

If you want to understand Design-By-Analysis, then this is the one that you need - here. You goal as a plant engineer is to understand the Code requirements, possibly with an eye to doing some of the simple stuff yourself, but mostly with an eye to keeping your contractors/consultants honest.

I second EdStainless about finding a good hands-on bolted flange joint course.

 

[JStephen]

There are courses on API-653 if you have flat-bottom tanks. And API-650 for that matter.
My experience- training like this is useful if it's something you'll actually DO- otherwise, it won't be long before that knowledge disappears again.
So, for example, on the API-653- either you'll actually be the one doing the evaluation and analysis- or you'll be hiring an inspection company to do that. And if you're hiring somebody else to do that anyway, there's less motivation to get trained up in the details.
Another field is weld-inspection. There again, not so useful unless you actually inspect welds.

 

[r6155]

1) Forget FEA, this is not for you right now.
2) The codes are divided into design, manufacturing and inspection. You are now under inspection. This is the good way to "learn to look." Then compare the appearance with the code requirement.
3) Be careful. The inspectors don't know about design.
4) See "Pressure Vessel Design Manual" by Henry Bednar, and
“Pressure Vessel Design Manual,” by Dennis R. Moss and Michael Basic.
5) Your boss is the best way to select a training course for you.

Regards