| Many problems in heavy industry are not necessarily the cause of the process or the mechanical response. It is the interaction of the process with the mechanical. KnightHawk has the unique capability to preform detailed analysis of the process and mechanical. The team leaders in both process and mechanical are headed up by highly qualified doctorate level engineers, each with over 20 years of experience. To "boot", we have our own accredited Lab to perform metallurgical and materials analysis. To top that we have certified field service personal to measure flows, vibration, temperature, and pressures. As well as a laser scanner equipped for field applications. KnightHawk Engineering is pleased to announce the opening of KnightHawk Engineering SA located in South Africa. The office is headed up by Kobus Stadler, who formally held the position of Chief Engineer with Sasol Technology, Research and Development. Kobus is also part of our global technology team and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Technical Food For Thought:
- My tubes are failing in my overhead condenser. What are the possible causes? There are several possible causes. It is possible that the local flow field is exciting the tubes leading to resonant vibration and failure. It is a good idea to evaluate the critical flow / velocity relationships. Many times a CFD analysis will provide insight to the local velocity regime. An FEA structural model will aid in the correlation of the flow field to the forcing function established in the CFD model. We are your one stop shop. Our static equipment group has over a hundred years of experience in vessels and many involving complex risk management issues.
- Are my boiler feed water pumps causing a pulsation that is exciting the condenser tubes? Dynamic pressure can be determined through a field study. However, a performance study might be in order to determine where the pump is running on the "pump curves". It is possible that cavitation is being introduced on the suction or discharge leading to the pulsation. KnightHawk has developed complex heat and mass transport CFD models that define the heat transfer and flow conditions throughout the flow field. KHE can evaluate the mechanical and process response using CFD and FEA tools. Our rotating equipment group has over 150 years of experience in dealing with complex problems in Turbomachinery.
- Is a forcing function present in my overhead condenser? The answer is found by instrumenting and monitoring the actual operation to determine the dynamic pressures in the system. Our field services group can serve your needs by developing and implementing a protocol to get the data you need. KHE has utilized water cooled pressure sensors to obtain dynamic pressure, in conditions greater than 1000 �F.
- What does the failed tubes fracture surface look like? Lab testing can provide useful information on what the mechanicm for failure is. Is it corrosion or vibration or a combination of both. Our Materials group can get to the bottom of it, in our lab.
KnightHawk Projects:
http://www.knighthawk.com/current-projects.html
Don't forget about the wealth of information in KHE newsletters:
http://www.knighthawk.com/newsletter.html Project Spotlights:
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Test rig design
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Structural vibration caused by acoustic pulsation.
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Vessel flange seal failure
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Steam turbine failure analysis
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Compressor Vibration
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Gear Pump Failure
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Pump Failure
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High Temperature Vessel Design
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Storage Tank Failure Analysis
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Piston Failure
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Piping Stress
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Acoustical Vibration - Reciprocating Compressor
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Gas Plant Failure Analysis
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Compressor Vibration Field Services
Tradeshow Spotlight: Come See KnightHawk at Corrosion 2015, March 15-19, Dallas Convention Center, Booth 15044 24/7 around the world
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Specialty Engineering
- Static Equipment
- Rotating Equipment
- Metallurgical & Materials Lab
- Field Services
- Registered Professional Engineer including International
Disciplines: Mechanical, Process, Controls, Metallurgical, and Electrical
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