Tharakan, J.
John Tharakan is a Static Equipment SME at Suncor Energy Inc.’s Enterprise Technical Department. He has a post-graduate degree in mechanical engineering design and more than 30 yr of experience in the oil industry. Mr. Tharakan renders consulting services to various business units of Suncor on complex problems involving static equipment and piping. He also leads a Suncor-wide static equipment and piping excellence network that develops best practices and proactively drives mechanical integrity. He previously worked for Kuwait Oil Co. in Kuwait and for Kochi Refineries in India.
Maintenance: Use of finite element analysis results in a future fitness-for-service
A low-pressure separator with 139-in. (inner diameter) × 0.59-in. thickness was found to have severe external thinning due to corrosion under fire (CUF) proofing.
Prevent buckling of tanks with external rafters
Most cone roof tanks are designed with roof-supporting structures inside the tank.
Engineering Practices: Develop a questioning attitude
A questioning attitude is a trait that all engineers should cultivate. Most scientific inventions have resulted from such an attitude, and the classic example is Sir Isaac Newton’s story of developing the law of gravity while seeking the answer to the simple question of why an apple had fallen from a tree.
Minimize engineering errors with competency and proper engineering review
Industry has seen numerous engineering errors during the commissioning phase of projects.
A deeper examination of thermal expansion issues in process equipment and piping
Piping and process equipment that operate at high temperatures experience thermal expansion. If free thermal expansion is restrained, mechanical stresses are created within the component.
Vibration studies offer valuable lessons for correcting problematic operations
All plants have a vibration monitoring program for rotating equipment. Portable instruments measure vibration at the bearing housing of machines at horizontal (x), vertical (y) and axial (z) directions. The frequency spectrum helps diagnose the causes of vibration.
Identify and correct coke drum foundation bolt failures
Coke drums in many operating plants experience foundation bolt failures.
Use root cause analysis to examine failure of a cooling water pump
Without a holistic approach and a structured root cause analysis, it is hard to unearth complex and multiple issues, particularly design deficiencies.
Evaluate piping for displacement-controlled loading
In a Canadian case study, new piping under construction suffered some settlement in the underground portion, as evidenced by soil movement and slight deflection of the above-ground section.
Flare header failure: An investigation
A 60-in. flare header suffered three identical failures with buckling and cracking at the circumferential weld at the bottom of the pipe. The failures are believed to have originated during hot relief..
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