All News
 
15 Feb 10 -- Integrity Assessment of FMC Pump Skid Base
 
The team at K.J. Beer has just completed an integrity assessment of an FMC pump assembly including 2 pulsation control devices, gear box and motor. The entire skid base was modelled using Caesar II's structural module, which was then analysed using 38 different load cases comprising dead weight, seismic and storm wind loads.
Caesar II model:
 
 
6 Oct 09 -- Australia's World Land Speed challenge
 
K.J. Beer has been approached by Rosco McGlashan and his team to design the two propellant tanks that will fuel Aussie Invader 5R’s hypergolic rocket engines.

We have been commissioned to design a carbon steel fuel tank capable of holding approximately 320 kg of kerosene bio-fuel and a stainless steel oxidizer tank with a capacity to contain approximately 2500 kg of High Test Peroxide (HTP). Each tank is to be rated for 500 psi of internal pressure.

The team at K.J. Beer are excited to be part of this project and wishes to thank Rosco for the opportunity.
1 Aug 09 -- Proof Engineering Study - Pluto Supply Base Fuels Project
 
The K.J. Beer team was contracted by Fuel Tank & Pipe and their customer, The Shell Company of Australia, to carry out a proof engineering study on a new diesel bunkering pipeline at the King Bay Supply Base in Western Australia. Caesar II piping software was used to analyse static and dynamic (surge) loads for the above-ground and underground pipelines. Load cases including sudden valve closure and pump trip were analysed to ensure a safe pipeline design. Buried pipe conditions were incorporated into the model.
Example Caesar II plot:
 
 
20 Jul 09 -- Post Weld Heat Treatment Error Saved by Fracture Mechanics Assessment
 
A box header of an Air Cooled Heat Exchanger (ACHE) for Apache Energy spent insufficient time at the post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) temperature specified in the PWHT procedure. This manufacturing error was discovered after the ACHE was installed at Varanus Island off the coast of Western Australia. K.J. Beer was asked to determine if the ACHE was safe to be put into service without removing the ACHE from the gas processing plant to repeat the PWHT.

The teat at K.J. Beer were able to conservatively determine the residual stresses in the box header and used these results in a fracture mechanics assessment. The results of the analysis showed that the ACHE could be commissioned and put into service. In addition, remaining life calculations provided the customer with an appropriate inspection strategy for the box header during its service life.
1 Jul 09 -- Heat exchanger and pressure vessel design for Worsley Alumina expansion project
 
K.J. Beer was engaged by GEA Process Engineering France (Division KESTNER) to design all of the pressure equipment for an evaporation plant expansion project at the Worsley Alumina refinery in Collie, WA. The scope of work included the design of 26 shell and tube heat exchangers and 18 pressure vessels. The 44 items of pressure equipment required approximately 500 tonnes of pressure vessel steel plate and efficient design, in accordance with AS 1210 and owner specifications, was required to keep manufacturing costs to a minimum. Design was performed using sophisticated 'in-house' VESSEL software and specialised FEA Software. The design engineers achieved high levels of efficiency and productivity throughout the project which was completed to a tight budget 4 weeks ahead of schedule.
12 Mar 09 -- Tank mechanical integrity and design modifications in accordance with API 650-2007
 
K.J. Beer was recently approached to assess the structural integrity of four existing flocculant and carbon-in-leach residue storage tanks and to perform the design of proposed modifications to the tanks in accordance with API 650-2007.

The tanks range in capacity from 60 m3 to 1200 m3 and the calculations included designs for shell and nozzles, flanges, floor plate, roof, wind and earthquake loads, platform loads, baffle loads, nozzle loads and anchorage requirements. The tanks also have several complex geometries requiring Finite Element Analysis such as internally fitted containment floors, complex floor drain nozzles and cyclically loaded internal baffle supports.
Example FEA plots:
 
1. Containment floor deformed FEA plot 2. Floor drain nozzle deformed FEA plot
22 Dec 08 -- K.J. Beer completes second power piping integrity assessment job
 
K.J Beer has recently completed integrity assessments on four high energy piping units for Verve Energy. This power station, located in Kwinana, is unique in that it can burn three types of fuels i.e. coal, gas and oil. There are a total of six power generation units.

K.J. Beer performed pipe stress analysis for the Main Steam, Hot and Cold Reheat piping units K1, K2, K5 and K6. Results of the analysis identified areas of high stress for further metallurgical study as well as identification of possible faulty hangers. The high temperatures required creep analysis to be carried out to determine the remaining life for the pipework.

For more information, please click here. (Picture courtesy of Verve Energy)

  
21 Jul 08 -- WA pressure vessel expertise reaches record heights
 
A naphtha splitter column was recently delivered to the BP Refinery in Kwinana. This massive pressure vessel was designed by K.J. Beer under contract to the manufacturer, United Group Resources. The vessel weighs 348-tonnes empty, is 4.572 metres in diameter and 61.675 metres high.

The team at K.J. Beer thanks our client, United Group Resources for the opportunity to be part of the project and we are proud to have designed a vessel that was fabricated in Western Australia. For the full article, please click here.