News & Insights from Dynaflow Research Group

Recently, fatigue cracks were discovered in the first-stage discharge line’s small-bore instrumentation branches of a hydrogen compressor. Initial investigations pointed to excessive out-of-plane vibrations as the primary driver of these failures. While the system was originally installed in 1995 with a pulsation study, and further axial supporting was added in

In industrial effluent systems, piping integrity is often threatened by the geotechnical behavior of the surrounding soil. This case study examines the peer review of a stress analysis for effluent pipelines situated between valve chambers. The primary challenge identified is differential settlement, where unpiled concrete pit walls shift relative to

Introduction This case study presents the finite element analysis (FEA) and verification process conducted for the pressure-containing parts of the F35-340 actuator, developed by Actuator Technology Company. The primary goal was to demonstrate the structural integrity of the actuator under specified operating conditions and to ensure compliance with the requirements

This case study presents the fatigue assessment of the 28L oil separator (Atlas part number 1625481501), performed to verify the vessel’s durability under cyclical internal pressure in accordance with the AD2000 S2 standard. The separator is subject to a cyclic pressure loading from atmospheric pressure up to 15 barg, which

This project examines the root cause of increased vibrations observed in the control valve 670FC005-VC at Shell Pernis following its replacement with a new valve from a different manufacturer. The resulting vibrations led to a critical mechanical failure at the connection between the valve stem and the actuator.  The objectives

At BP Geel, a new extension of the fire protection system experienced operational failures during start-up due to surge effects. A similar incident with line AFW-023025 had previously prompted a surge analysis, leading to the current study focused on the adjacent foam system, line AFW-023024. The foam line, running nearly

At the BP Geel facility, a previous failure of the fire protection system during start-up prompted a detailed investigation into surge effects within the network. The incident occurred on line AFW-023025, and subsequent studies identified hydraulic transients as the primary cause. Given the similar configuration and operating principle of the

The ONE GUYANA Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit has been designed to operate in deepwater conditions with a production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day. The FPSO is designed for a 20-year operational life, handling complex processes including water and gas injection. Previous projects highlighted the

During this project the optimal wearplate thickness for pipe supports on the FPSO Maria Quiteria was investigated, aligning with the Yinson project specifications. The primary objective was to validate whether the prescribed wearplate thicknesses—6mm for pipes of 10” and smaller, 10mm for larger pipes, and 12.7mm for pipes with higher

On the Goliat Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, significant vibration and cavitation phenomena were observed downstream of control valve 71PV1103 on the minimum flow line of pump B during maximum flow conditions. Additionally, pressure surges were reported during system start-up through this minimum flow line. Such issues posed

The Petrojarl I Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) facility, in operation since 1986 in the North Sea, underwent critical modifications to prepare for deployment at the Atlanta oil field offshore Brazil. The relocation entailed adapting the crude oil offloading system to manage Brazilian crude with higher viscosity and to

The client commissioned a surge analysis for the Waste Water (WW) system at the Rotterdam terminal. The analysis aimed to quantify transient pressures and unbalanced forces generated by various hydraulic events: pump trips, pump startups, pump switchovers, and the closure of two key butterfly valves. The analysis was performed using

This case study presents the findings of a comprehensive pipe stress analysis of several tank lines following a leakage incident at an expansion joint. The analysis was initiated after segments of the tank lines were replaced with new routing. Upon operation of the system, a leak was detected at the

The project focused on evaluating the mechanical integrity and support strategy of a glass-reinforced plastic (FRP) piping system lined with unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U), designed to protect the glass-reinforced plastic structural layer against the corrosive gas mixture. The temporary installation provides an additional gas cleaning stage for the sulphuric acid

This case study presents a technical assessment of the Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) piping system installation at a power plant, based on a visit conducted at its site. The evaluation focused on the material quality, engineering, and site installation activities for the project’s cooling water and firewater systems. Particular attention

The client experienced multiple unexpected failures in the underground firewater (FW) network at one of their facilities. The network utilizes fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) piping. To determine the root causes of these failures, a material investigation was conducted by Dynaflow Research Group on pipe samples. This case study presents the methodology,

A heat exchanger was found to have fluid leakage from the tube side into the shell side after approximately 3 years of operation. Initial inspections suggested that flow-induced vibrations (FIV) were causing support rods to puncture through tube walls. To diagnose and address the source and effects of the FIV

This project presents a detailed technical assessment of two vertical tube cooker (shell-and-tube heat exchanger) designs using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The analysis was conducted for Tanis, a manufacturer of candy production lines, with the objective of verifying and improving the thermal performance of the tube cooker, a critical process