PROFILE:
Experience in Unit Op'ns
Design of Process Plants
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All Unit Operations
From 2003 to 2005 taught “Process Analysis & Synthesis” course plus “Process
Design” project to Junior and Senior year undergraduate students in the
Chemical and Materials Engineering degree at University of Auckland. These two integrating courses built upon all of the standard unit operations courses
content, such as distillation, heat transfer, adsorption and absorption,
filtration, fluid transfer, freezing & drying, size reduction, reactors, bulk
handling, ion exchange & storage systems. These were applied to mini-FEED
class design projects for industries relevant to N.Z. e.g. oil refinery,
methanol &
ammonia, dairy processing, cement works, steel plant, distillery,
alumina processing.
Below are examples of career projects where Bob had a lead role in design of a
specific unit operation:
Distillation
In order to process a wider gravity range of crude oils for three refinery topping units.
did process simulation with maximum heat integration, added pumparound circuits
and split overhead condensers. Did valve tray selection, procurement and
installation. Reviewed licensor designs for azeotropic separation in a
petrochemicals plant.
Heat
Exchange
In a
smaller engineering firm, had direct responsibility for selection of TEMA type
and running HTRI software in order to size/rate heat exchangers. At N.Z. SynFuel
oversaw modifications to cryogenic equipment in an air separation unit to
achieve enhanced nitrogen purity. With my Materials Engineering background, had
an ongoing role in EPC firms on the selection of metallurgy for vessel cladding
and exchanger tubes. On several
refinery revamp projects, had the responsibility of selecting available
used equipment for new purpose, evaluating DP/DT conditions, maximum operating
conditions and overpressure protection. Recently met with HTRI to preview
upcoming Xchanger Suite 6’s capability of direct integration with HYSYS,
PRO/II, ASPEN.
Compression
Integrally
involved with RAM (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability) "N+1" decision
about large pipeline compressor(s) and power generation for an onshore oil & gas system, plus
subsequent detailed P&ID review of compressor and support systems
Filtration
- Developed the complete design for a plate-and-frame dewaxing filter system for a
lube unit
- Oversaw redesign of large rotating solvent/wax filter to drastically reduce
solvent emissions.
Scrubbing
- Process design and materials evaluation (duplex alloy vs. fiberglass) for SO2
scrubbing system
- Modification of nozzle spray system to manage grinding dust agglomeration in ore
milling system.
Reactors
- Debottlenecking
twin steam/gas reformers by modifying feed composition, burner flame
length.
- Detailed
P&ID design through IFD for world’s largest Hydrocracker, and kerosene
Hydrotreater.
Storage
- Process
and equipment design for refrigerated butadiene spheres and atmospheric
pressure tank
- Chaired
API Storage Tank Committee on MACT rule for Refineries, Distribution
Facilities & Marine
- Did peer
evaluation of EPA “TANKS” program, provided industry-wide data to
calibrate calculations
