Services

CIWH abatement

Condensate Induced Water Hammer (CIWH) is caused by very specific operating conditions where hot steam is mixed with cold water.  The risks of CIWH have been well documented in the nuclear power literature, and several industries (such as geothermal power generation) have similar issues with long steam lines in uneven terrain.  Recent literature has demonstrated that CIWH behaviour for high pressure steam (8000+ kPag) is markedly different from the behaviour of low pressure steam (less than 1500 kPag).  I can provide assistance with operating procedures for managing warmup, shutdown, and upset recovery for steam piping.

Operability Improvements

An operable process is one that deals with typical upsets without requiring intervention.  They are reliable, productive and profitable.  If a process does not operate as reliably as we would like, the result is frequent alarms and trips.  Abnormal operation and startups are frequently associated with hazardous incidents, such as firebox detonations.  Another symptom of a unacceptable operability is frequent tuning of control loops.  In many cases, the poor behaviour of the process is related to misunderstood process hydraulics.  Zero and low capital improvements can be realized by understanding the behaviour of the underlying process.

Relevant case studies.

• Kevin Dorma, “Resolving SAGD operability problems without additional capital: A case study of getting more from existing facilities”, presented at World Heavy Oil Congress, Calgary, AB (2016).
• Kevin Dorma, Dave Shook and Brent Mitchell, “Benefits of innovative control strategies for SAGD- increasing steam capacity on OTSG resulting in high ROI and capital avoidance,” World Heavy Oil Congress, Edmonton, AB (2011).

Data mining techniques are used in conjunction with interviews to identify areas that can improve process operability.

Conceptual design

Conceptual design defines the type of solution that is needed to solve a problem.  The experience gained from carrying projects through to detailed design and commissioning is valuable at the conceptual design phase.  Solutions can be developed to minimize the risk of rework by other disciplines, or to ensure that equipment will operate reliably in unique environments.  Examples include defining an appropriate type of pump for managing low NPSH service with dirty fluids, or methods to increase the NPSH available for a bubble point liquid.

Utility systems for mining

The process engineers in the gold mining industry are experts in extractive metallurgy chemistry. I provide the engineering support for defining the utility systems that are needed to make the extraction process reliable: gland seal water supply for slurry pumps, instrument air, pump speed control and control valve trim selection.