PIPE-FLO Feature of the Month
Using a Piping System Model for Process Safety Management

Our Chief Engineer, Ray Hardee, P.E. has written a feature article published in the November 2007 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing magazine. The following is an excerpt from the article.

A Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (PSM) program is mandated by OSHA (standard, 29 CFR1910.119), to prevent the unwanted release of hazardous chemicals exposing employees and others to serious hazards. The PSM program requires a systematic approach for evaluating the process including the process design, process technology, operational and maintenance, emergency preparedness plans, along with a training program. It requires an evaluation of the total system to minimize or eliminate chemical releases occurring as a result of failures in the process, procedures, and equipment.

A properly conducted PSM is a team effort in which the company and employees work together to develop the necessary expertise, experience, judgment, and proactive initiative to implement the plan. This requires everyone involved with the PSM to have a clear picture and understanding of the process. Since many of the hazardous chemicals covered under a PSM are in either a liquid or gaseous state, being able to gain a clear picture as to the operation of all the elements in a piping system can be a key element of the plan.

To read the full article “Using a Piping System Model for Process Safety Management,” click here: http://www.eng-software.com/e-newsletter/HPArticle.pdf

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Training Opportunity
300-Hour Advanced Piping Technologies Program

The University of Zaragoza’s Polytechnic Engineering School (Spain) is holding the second edition of a 300-hour Advanced Program in Piping Technologies starting January 15, 2008. This program will be conducted through the Internet and is open to all engineers/technicians interested in piping throughout the world. The main language of the program is Spanish.

Over 40% of the program consists of real-world examples and includes theoretical explanations and analysis behind actual piping situations. The program’s team of instructors are made up of both faculty (professors) and industrial professionals (piping engineers, mechanical engineers, technicians, designers, etc), some of them with more than 30 years of experience in piping. The last part of the program consists of developing a comprehensive piping project from start to finish, including; process documentation, material/energy balances, drawings, piping calculation, material selection, and equipment sizing, etc.

The course makes extensive use of the PIPE-FLO software in order to provide better understanding of the variety of problems that can arise in piping facilities. This also allows students in the class an opportunity to gain a certain level of expertise with the PIPE-FLO software.

The program also collaborates with the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) and with leading Spanish oil and petrochemical  companies, such as Repsol YPF, CLH and Nurel. Thus, the advanced program will offer the students the possibility of applying for SPED “Professional Piping Designer (PPD) Certificate” by taking the PPD test at University of Zaragoza once or twice a year. The companies involved provide the class with actual industrial examples of piping systems.

For more information on this course, please visit http://piping.unizar.es

Fall 2007 FLO-MASTER Seminars

The final FLO-Master class of this year is almost here! The class will be held November 15 – 16 and is SOLD OUT! If you missed your opportunity for this year, don’t worry, more are scheduled for 2008.

The seminars are two days, with the second day completely focused on real-world examples and hands-on use of the PIPE-FLO program. Examples will include advanced pump selection, variable frequency drive analysis, advanced controls, balancing a system, system expansion and building a system from scratch.

2007 FLO-MASTER Schedule:

• Las Vegas, NV November 15 – 16 SOLD OUT!

We are in the final stages of planning seminars for the upcoming year but we are taking suggestions for locations. If you would like to request a city near you, please let us know by emailing your suggestion to: training@eng-software.com

Here is our tentative schedule for 2008:

Las Vegas, NV ● February 7-8
Orlando, FL ● March 6-7
Houston, TX ● April 17-18
Cincinnati, OH ● May 8-9
Philadelphia, PA ● September 18-19
New Orleans, LA ● October 16-17
Las Vegas, NV ● November 13-14

These classes may change location or date, but will be confirmed by no later than December 3, 2007.

Log-on to the Web and check for updates about future FLO-Master Seminars on our website or call (800) 786-8545. The seminars qualify for 15 Professional Development Hours needed to fulfill Professional Engineers’ continuing education requirements in many states.

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