PT1 – Vibration Problems and Solutions in Pumps & Turbomachinery
- This course presents analysis and testing methods for pumps and turbomachinery. Focus is on centrifugal pumps of all types, centrifugal compressors, axial compressors, fans, steam turbines and gas turbines. Rotordynamics and bladed disk vibration are included as modules as well as discussion of fluid-induced vibration (e.g. rotating stall and blade pass frequencies), acoustics, and mechanically induced vibration (imbalance misalignment, rubs, looseness). Troubleshooting methods and fixes are discussed with many detailed case histories.
P2 – Introduction to Prognostics and Health Monitoring
- The targeted audience for this short course is process industry operators, maintenance professionals, and equipment end-users. Attendees will learn the basics of prognostics and health management (PHM), with a focus on how to implement the right solution for their needs, as well as how to maximize value from a predictive maintenance program from a technical standpoint. Different approaches to prognostics will be explored, including data-driven, model-based and hybrid approaches. After completing the course, operators and maintenance stakeholders will understand how to use prognostics to optimize their maintenance programs and minimize the cost associated with unplanned downtime.
Course material is derived from the classical literature on the subject of PHM published by various professional and academic organizations devoted to the topic. As such, the content of this course is applicable to a general audience of maintenance and operations practitioners without regard to a particular choice of vendors or solution providers – i.e. this course contains no commercial content.
P3 – Pumps 101
- This course is aimed at technical professionals who need a broad-based introduction to basic pump selection, application and operation. This course starts with the basics and builds to provide a full understanding of centrifugal, rotary and reciprocating pumps. The course will include the following topics: centrifugal, rotary and reciprocating pump similarities/differences; centrifugal, rotary and reciprocating pump configurations; nine fundamental principles for reliable pump operation; understanding pump curves; developing system curves; choosing a type of pump for a specific application. The course will answer the question ?What are the things I need to worry about when selecting, specifying and operating pumps?? At the completion of the course, the attendees will hold a strong understanding of basic concepts. This knowledge will act as a springboard to further growth understanding of more complex pump concepts. An emphasis is placed on providing useful information with minimal theory and thus, comprehension of the information presented requires little to no mathematical skills in hydraulic or mechanical design.
P4 – Motor and VFD Principles with Variable Speed Pumping Consideration
- Electric motors are a key driver within a plants rotating machinery applications. Safe and reliable operation, of the electric motor and the components that control them, are key to plant success. With the industrys push for more efficient systems with higher automation, the requirement to use electric motors with VFDs is becoming more popular. This course will educate the participant on the general function, application, installation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the electric motor and VFD as a system. It will also cover the interaction the motor and the VFD have with key turbo machinery applications. New this year, the course will cover aspects of variable speed pumping, optimization examples and operational limitation.
P5 – API 685 Sealless Centrifugal Pumps for Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Gas Industry Process Service, Latest Edition
The course provides an in-depth review of the latest edition of the API 685 standard addressing sealless pumps – both magnetic drive (MDPs) and canned motor (CMPs) – basis the standard published as the 3rd Edition in July 2022. This course is recommended for technical decision makers who deal with pump selection and reliability daily including Project Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Application Engineering, Rotating Equipment Engineering and Procurement. Other business sectors and personnel requiring knowledge or a refresher on fundamentals of sealless centrifugal pumps, design and operation (as required by API 685) will also find this course helpful. Addressed in detail are: requirements for all sealless pumps, specifics for MDPs, specifics for CMPs, use of the API data sheets, and the numerous Annexes. Though the scope statement in API 685 clearly states that the standard applies to “single stage overhung” pumps, multistage overhung designs are also addressed. TPS is providing a hard copy of the standard as part of the class material.
P6 – Know Your System Curves! Learn All About Pump Curves, System Curves, Cavitation, and Reliability
- This short course gives insight into roto-dynamic pump cavitation and provides deeper understanding of particulars like cavitation inception, three-percent head drop, 40,000 hours life criterion, cavitation damage potential, NPSHR scaling laws, the effect of dissolved gas, and thermodynamic effect for hot water and hydrocarbons. Empirical correlations for predicting various types of NPSHR and the use of CFD will be discussed, and suction specific speed will be critically reviewed, along with criteria for NPSHA margin. Furthermore, the effect of fluid transients and viscosity will be addressed. Cavitation damage potential will be fully explained by the Cavitation Modes Map, which reflects fundamental insight gained since the 1940s; here in particular the striking departure in shape from the NPSH3 curve for part flows is highlighted, being a key reason of many cavitation pump problems. Attention is further devoted to Impeller Life Expectancy and Cavitation Control with modern designs tools. In conclusion, four field case studies will demonstrate the use of cavitation failure analysis and solution strategy.
T2 – Lateral Rotordynamics of Petrochemical Equipment-Review, Examples, and Problems
- This short course, recently updated with several new case studies, will present the basics of rotordynamics and its application to turbomachinery. Shaft stiffness considerations, tilting pad journal bearing influence on stiffness and damping coefficients, influence of support stiffness and labyrinth and honeycomb seal impact on stability are some of the concepts covered. Basic rotordynamic analyses; undamped critical speeds, response to unbalance and rotor stability will be presented and their use in understanding the rotor behavior explained. Case studies showing problem solving using rotordynamic analysis are a key feature. The student should come away from the course with an appreciation for rotordynamic behavior, an ability to interpret rotordynamic predictions and an awareness of when this tool should be applied to ensure operability and reliability of equipment.
T3 – Centrifugal Compressors 101
- This course is aimed at engineers and technical professionals who need a broad-based introduction to centrifugal compressor design and analysis. This course starts with the basics and builds to provide a full understanding of a centrifugal compressor. The course will include the following topics: reciprocating, axial and centrifugal compressor similarities/differences; centrifugal compressor configurations; design consideration; and balancing aerodynamic, rotordynamic, and mechanical consideration. The course will answer the question “How do they work? factory testing, and future challenges. At the completion of the course, the attendees will hold a strong understanding of basic concepts. This knowledge will act as a springboard to further growth understanding of more complex centrifugal compressor concepts. An emphasis is placed on providing practical information with minimal theory. This is NOT a centrifugal compressor operations and maintenance class. Reciprocating, axial and centrifugal compressor similarities/differences History of compressors Configurations, straight-through, back-to-back, compound, side streams, double flow, overhung, integrally geared. – How do they work (potential energy, kinetic energy, PE, KE, ) Markets served Pressure containment – Case – Nozzles and flanges Selection process – Frame selection – Impellers – Coupling size – Bearing and seal sizes Impeller – Basic of creating velocitytie back to “How do they work” – Blade design – Shrouded and unshrouded Stationary aero components – Inlet, inlet guide – Diffuser, vaned and vaneless, LSD – Volute and collector – Return bend – Return channel Aerodynamics – Head, efficiency, work input, stall, surge, overload, stability – Gas variationsaffect on aero – Operationrecycle loop Rotordynamics – Critical speed maps – Synchronous unbalance response -Stability, log decrement – Damper seals – Bearings, seals – TP, sleeve, magnetic – Squeeze film damper – Steady-state and transient torsional Stress analysis – Impeller dynamics Acoustics – Sound power, sound pressure Seals – Gas seals – Oil film seals – Laby API requirement – Performance testing – Mechanical testing Vibration signatures of classic problems, surge, stall, bearing whirl, SSV, forced vibration Materials considerations Effects of fouling – Wear.
T4 – Centrifugal Compressors 201
- This course supplements the Centrifugal Compressor 101 course by covering in greater detail four key areas related to compressors: aerodynamics, rotordynamics, performance and mechanical testing, and surge control. It is intended for those who attended the 101 course and wish to learn more about these topics. The course is also structured for those practicing rotating machinery engineers who have a basic understanding of the topics covered in CC101 but wish to further their understanding in these key areas.
1. Aerodynamics Compressor design and analysis, CFD and its role, Performance Issues, Rotordynamics, Basic vibration theory, Modeling procedures, Bearing and seal analysis, API requirements, Instrumentation used
Sample vibration phenomena and case studies
2. Performance and Mechanical Testing, API 617 and ASME PTC-10 requirements, Instrumentation and test methods. Test gas considerations, Sample testing pitfalls, Aerodynamic case studies
3. Surge Control, What is Surge?, Scenarios, Surge Control system components, Surge control system operation in different scenarios, Modeling of the Surge Control System, Surge control system design considerations, Integration of compressor and compression system.
T5 – ASME Power Test Code (PTC-10 – 2022) Compressor Performance Testing
A revision of the ASME test code for performance testing of centrifugal and axial compressors, ASME PTC-10 – 2022, has recently been released. Culminating a more than six year effort, this significant revision of the 1997 edition of the code includes a number of modifications and expansion to existing requirements. Major changes that will be addressed include:
- Determination of thermodynamic properties used in performance calculations.
- Calculation methods for polytopic head and efficiency, including the relative differences introduced by the various polytropic work computational methods.
- Reynolds number corrections for test conditions.
- Treatment of significant internal seal leakages between testing and contract conditions
- Calculation of performance test result uncertainty.
In addition, a number of other amendments to testing requirements and calculations along with expanded coverage of existing requirements will be discussed in the short course. A number of examples that illustrate and differentiate new and existing code directives will be included. This short course is intended to be of interest to both new and experienced engineers involved in the design, selection, acceptance testing and use of centrifugal and axial compressors. Although developed for factory acceptance testing of these compressors, the guidance and requirements provided in the code can be extended to field acceptance and operational performance testing with consideration given to limitations that these alternative situations impose. The course will be instructed by members and major contributors of the PTC-10 – 2022 code committee. The course instructors strongly recommend that attendees obtain a copy of the ASME PTC 10 – 2022 code and have it available during the course for reference. They are aware that many companies subscribe to industrial code and standard supply services which may allow attendees to obtain a copy through their employers. If this benefit is not available to the attendees, they may obtain a pdf or print version of the PTC 10 code through the following link: https://www.techstreet.com/. If ordering the print version, allow one to two weeks for delivery. Approximate cost of the code is $250 depending on format and taxes assessed.
T6 – API 618 6th Edition Reciprocating Compressors for Petroleum, Chemical, and Gas Industry Services
- COMING SOON
T7 – Root Cause Failure Analysis for Industrial Turbomachinery
- This class covers the formal RCFA process and provides guidance on the various steps needed to investigate failures. A first responder’s job includes: observing and recording what is seen, securing all data sources, backing up all data recordings, identifying all personnel on duty, notifying all parties involved, overseeing teardown, and collecting all available evidence. Forming an RCFA team is an important part of the overall process. The team should have ownership of the problem. Defining the problem may require brainstorming and has a strong influence on the quality of an investigation.
T8 – Steam Turbine 201
- The class will provide the attendee with an overview of advanced steam turbine design, applications, operation, and maintenance topics. The topics will also cover advanced turbine design practices to optimize steam supply efficiency and how to maintain equipment reliability. The class will cover areas related to the interactions between the multiple critical components of a steam turbine and how to ensure long term operability. The course is intended and structured for those who already have a basic understanding of rotating machinery and wish to further their understanding in key steam turbine technology areas with a primary focus on oil & gas applications.
T9 – Bearings for Oil-Free Rotating Machinery
- The short course provides practicing engineers with a comprehensive review of existing gas bearing technologies including their principle of operation, analysis and experimental verification, comparison amongst other gas bearing types, as well as the integration of gas bearings, foil bearings in particular, into actual rotor-bearing systems (hot and cold). The course also includes an introduction to magnetic bearings and their applications.