The eLearning Center for B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Overview

The motion of Floating Production Systems (FPS) in response to the motion of the sea presents a challenge for process vessel designers. The motion of the marine vessel causes fluid turbulence in process vessels, particularly separators, that can significantly influence the efficiency of the equipment. The process equipment designer must consider the impact of vessel motion when selecting the type of equipment to use (i.e. horizontal vs. vertical separators) and the physical location of the equipment on the marine vessel. Additionally, modifications to the vessel internals may be required. In this course, the student will review the six degrees of motion imposed on floating production systems and the impact of each on process equipment. Methods to mitigate the effects of motion on process equipment will then be discussed.

The course material is the technical paper "Improved Techniques for Wave and Turbulence Control in Process Equipment" by John J. Byeseda - Technical Manager, NATCO Singapore PTE. Ltd and Michael E. Clark - Vice President Floating Production, NATCO USA. The referenced technical paper is reproduced by permission of NATCO Group.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of fifteen (15) questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · The types of floating production systems (i.e. tankers, semi's, etc.) and their relative motion response capabilities
  · Review of separator design fundamentals, including inlet diverters, mist extractors and vortex controls
  · The relative advantages and disadvantages of horizontal vs. vertical separators
  · The impact of foam on separator efficiency and methods to predict separator foam volumes
  · Motion characteristics of floating production systems, including pitch, roll, yaw, surge, sway and heave
  · Problems caused by the motion of separation equipment, including spirit level effect, resonant waves, primary liquid turbulence, secondary liquid turbulence and instrument/control effects
  · Controlling the effects of motion through proper equipment location and process vessel internal design modifications

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).