Fatigue Assessment of Welded Pressure Vessels: A Comprehensive Review of ASME B&PV VIII Div.2 Methodologies
Introduction Pressure vessels are critical components in a wide range of industries, including power generation, petrochemical processing, and industrial manufacturing. These vessels are designed to contain fluids, gases, or vapors at elevated pressures and temperatures, and their structural integrity is of paramount importance for safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. One of the primary failure mechanisms […]
The Crucial Role of Vortex Shedding in Heat Exchanger Design
When Theodor von Kármán first discovered vortex shedding in 1911, he likely had no idea how pivotal his work would become for modern engineering, particularly in heat exchanger design. Vortex shedding, a phenomenon in fluid dynamics, has since emerged as a critical factor in maintaining the structural integrity and efficiency of these essential systems. Despite […]
Hydrogen vs. Natural Gas: Comparing Pulsation Damping Methods
In a previous article, we introduced the risks and design considerations of repurposing an existing natural gas compressor system for hydrogen. That discussion focused on the fundamental wave theory of pressure pulsations and explored the characteristics of a simple bottle as a basic pulsation damping device. A simple bottle functions by introducing a sudden increase […]
Hydrogen vs. Natural Gas: A comparative Study Of Compression Technologies
Hydrogen is considered to be a key element in the energy transition. This molecule is the most notable option for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors like transport, heavy industry, and the chemical industry. The storage, transport, and distribution of hydrogen requires equipment like compressors, piping, and pressure vessels. In many parts of the world, this […]
Surge Awareness In Firewater Systems
As part of our responsibilities at DRG, we conduct both standard pressure drop calculations and surge/slug analyses for firewater systems. Our involvement spans various stages, from design validation to conducting root cause analyses after system failures. Current codes and guidelines for firewater systems generally require a comprehensive surge analysis only if there is a likelihood […]
Well Integrity For Fiberglass-Casing Based Well Design
Geothermal energy is a promising renewable energy source, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Two significant issues in geothermal well operations are corrosion and scaling of steel casings. These problems can severely reduce the lifespan of the wells, lead to wellbore integrity issues, and potentially cause environmental contamination. In addition, corrosion degrades […]
Understanding Flow-Induced Vibrations in Piping Systems
Flow-induced vibrations in piping systems are a critical aspect of mechanical engineering, impacting the reliability and integrity of various industrial setups. The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) provides a helpful classification for these vibrations, enabling engineers to understand the different types and interactions with piping systems. Excitation Mechanisms JSME’s classification identifies three primary excitation […]
Accurate Deflection and Stiffness Assessment of Cement-Lined Pipe Spools through Finite Element Analysis
Introduction In the field of engineering design, the precision of pipe flexibility analysis models is critically important for accurately assessing nozzle loads in steel piping systems. The complexity of accurately modeling such systems increases particularly when dealing with non-standard piping designs, where specific details, such as the use of internal liners, are crucial. Internal liners, […]
Thermal expansion of trapped liquids
In 2013, a major incident occurred in a Louisiana chemical plant. In a nonroutine operation, plant operators attempted to start a heat exchanger which had been inactive for some time. Unbeknownst to the operators, the heat exchanger shell side was filled with liquid and was closed off from its pressure relief by a closed valve. […]
Surge Problems And Their Mitigation
To understand pressure surges in large piping systems, a good place to start is at home. When you finish washing your hands, turning off the tap halts the flow of water. In certain homes and when closing the tap very quickly, you may hear a soft bang as you do so. This is because the […]
