issue 2 2015 pipeline - notch
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1
Issue 2 2015
PIPELINE
www.notch.com Follow Us
Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path by Steven Neveu, P.E.
University of Bridgeport 1.4MW Fuel Cell CHP Plant - page 4
Complimentary Tech. Tool - page 8
I grew up in a family where something was always being built or repaired. My aptitude for
science led me to UMass where I studied engineering. Going to college is the route I took toward
building career success in a mechanical field, but it’s not the only route.
My dad Roger was a pipefitter. He learned the trade, began leading crews and then formed his
own business – Notch Welding– which four decades later is still going strong. My brother Ron
entered the trades and became a master HVAC technician and electrician. Today he works at Notch
as a service technician on high-end mechanical systems. Right out of high school, my brother Doug
became an apprentice plumber and pipefitter. He also worked his way up in the trades and now
he’s VP of Operations for Notch.
This isn’t meant to be a story about the Neveu family, it’s meant to illustrate a point: college
isn’t the only route to career success. Skilled trades can provide a great career path doing work
that is meaningful, interesting, well-paying dropping odds football and hands-on. For the right
kind of person, the oppor-tunities are limited only by their work ethic and desire to learn.
So what is the “right” kind of person?
Someone with a mechanical aptitude and a predisposition for doing hands-on work.
Someone who is a sponge for learning. (A trade apprenticeship is all about learning).
Someone with good math skills. (As technology creates new ways to support the trades,math is more important than ever).
Someone with good communication skills. (That’s especially important as opportunitiesarise to lead team or manage projects).
Demystifying ASME B31 - page 2
EXPERIENCE. THE RIGHT FIT.
(continued page 6)
2
Meet Our Team
Which B31 code is applicable to my project? Do I have a choice on which code to use? What’s the difference? As a mechanical contractor specializing in installation of piping systems for
industrial and institutional facilities, we know that the B31 pressure piping
codes can sometimes seem confusing. In this article, we will provide an over-
view of the three most commonly used codes and provide some guidance to
help you select the best option for a given system.
First a little history. In 1905 at the height of the industrial revolution, a boiler
explosion in Brockton Massachusetts resulted in 58 deaths and 117 injuries.
This devastating accident highlighted the need for action. Up to that point,
there were no regulations for boilers. The result was the establishment of
state boiler laws, first in Massachusetts and then the rest of the country. The
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) stepped up and voluntarily
developed the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code which became the technical basis
for the new boiler laws.i
In 1926, the American Standards Association (predecessor to ANSI) saw a
similar need for a pressure piping systems and the B31 project was started.
Since then, ASME has led the effort developing and updating the pressure pip-
ing code. Initially, B31 was a comprehensive document intended to cover all
piping systems, but it became clear that a “one size fits all” solution did not
make sense. Over time, B31 sub-sections evolved as separately published
documents to meet the unique requirements and risks of various industries
and applications. While there are several other B31 sections, the three most
commonly encountered in the facilities realm are B31.1, B31.3, and B31.9.
Taking the Mystery Out ASME B31 Pressure Piping Codes by Philip Neveu, P.E.
Most recent to join the Notch team as Project Manager/Estimator is Nick Depalma. He graduated from UMass Amherst, Class of 2014, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Building & Construction, and an Associ-ates degree in Construction Management from STCC. Nick brings with him prior GC experience in charge of residential construction sites. Now he’s utilizing those skills in the industrial market with Notch.
Nick spends his free time with his wife and their two small children. He’s an avid sports fan and enjoys golf. Nick DePalma & Ryan Neveu were part of the winning team at the recent AFE Chapter 85 Golf Championship held at South Hadley Orchards Golf Club.
1905 Brockton Factory Explosion (Before & After) (Continued on page 3)
3
Taking the Mystery Out ASME B31 Pressure Piping Codes
B31 Pressure Piping Codes Overview (continued from page 2)
You will note that there is some overlap in the scope of the various B31 codes. If there is no local or state building code
requirement to use a particular B31 section, the determination would be made by the design engineer based on other factors
such as plant engineering standards, owner/insurer requirements, or installation costs. For instance, if cost is the driving
factor, B31.9 would be selected due to the more limited examination and QC documentation requirements, as well as some
lower cost materials that are allowed. Some examples:
Example #1 – 12 psig low pressure steam distribution main in a college building: B31.1 or B31.9 Example #2 - 175 psig medium pressure utility steam distribution piping in a pharmaceutical facility: B31.1 or B31.3. Example #3 - 750 psig steam line in cogeneration plant located at chemical process facility: B31.1 Example#4 –15 psi clean steam piping at a biopharmaceutical plant: B31.3 supplemented with BPE
________________________________________________
i
https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history
ii
www.asme.org
Code Name B31.1 Power Piping
B31.3 Process Piping
B31.9 Building Services Piping
Scopeii …piping typically found in electric power generating stations, industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems
…piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals
…piping in industrial, institutional, commercial and public buildings, and multi-unit residences, which does not require the range of sizes, pressures, and temperatures covered in B31.1
Pressure-Temperature Limits
None: limited only by the pres-sure-temperature ratings of components and the allowable stress of the materials
None: limited only by the pres-sure-temperature ratings of com-ponents and the allowable stress of the materials
Steam and condensate: 150psig, 366OF Other nonflammable liquids: 350psig, 250 OF Other nonflammable gases and vapors: 150psig, 200OF
Design life 40+ years 20-30 years 40+ years
Minimum radiographic examination requirements for butt-welds
Temp >750OF: 100% Temp between 350 OF and 750OF, and >1025 psig and over ¾”: 100% All others: none, visual only
Category D: none, visual only Normal: 5% Category M: 20% Severe Cyclic: 100%
None, visual only
24” Chilled Water Prefabricated Header - B31.9
4
Unique Feature: 1.4 MW Fuel Cell CHP Plant at University of Bridgeport
Through our installation of a 1.4 MW fuel cell-based combined heat and power (CHP) plant at the University of
Bridgeport (UB), Notch Mechanical Constructors contributed to Bridgeport’s energy renaissance, helping it
capture the title as one of America’s greenest cities.
The project was performed on a
fast-track basis and was completed
in December 2014, allowing UB to
utilize the thermal energy from the
fuel cell for the winter heating load
at its Wheeler Recreation Center as
well as nearby student apartments.
In addition to space heating, the
exhaust heat is used to generate
domestic hot water in the locker
rooms and heat the six lane swim-
ming pool. The project will slash
carbon emission by 7,000 tons a
year - equivalent to taking 1,220
vehicles off the road annually and
is expected to reduce UB’s energy
costs by $3.5 million over 12 years.
In addition to the complete mechanical installation of the fuel
cell and balance-of-plant, Notch provided the waste heat recovery
system on a design-build
basis. The heat recovery
system was designed to
seamlessly integrate with
the existing building
systems. The existing
heating infrastructure is
retained, but whenever
the fuel cell is operating,
it satisfies most of the
thermal needs of the
connected facilities. At
full load, the fuel cell can
provide 2.2 million BTUs
per hour of usable heat.
Heat Recovery System
Major Equipment Set in Place
(Continued on page 5)
5
Unique Feature: 1.4 MW Bridgeport Fuel Cell (continued from page 4)
The DFC1500 molten carbonate fuel cell system was manufactured in Connecticut by FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE),
a Danbury-based provider of highly efficient and virtually pollutant-free fuel cell power plants. This project was
the third home-state installation for the company.
According to Chip Bottone, FCE’s President
and CEO: “Universities are ideal candidates for
our ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power
plants due to their power usage profile that
requires baseload power, desire for sustainable
power generation, need for energy security,
and demand for reliability that on-site power
generation provides.”
Over the past decade, Notch has been involved
in the full range of CHP project sizes, from 200 kW
up to 15 MW for many types of facilities. This
project adds more diversity to Notch’s significant
CHP experience portfolio which includes:
fuel cells,
steam turbines,
reciprocating engines,
and gas turbines.
Each of these prime mover technologies has unique characteristics and installation considerations. If you
would like to learn more about which technology(s) might be the best fit for your CHP application, please
contact our President, Steven Neveu, P.E.
Completed Installation
Heat Recovery Duct
6
Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path
Marley
Today’s trade careers combine new, leading-edge technologies with time-tested techniques and methods. For
example, craft workers can use laser dimensioning tools to verify and layout a piping system, then apply their
skills in welding and pipefitting to construct a piping system.
Seeing the fruits of one’s labor, as craft workers see every day,
provides tangible satisfaction that a lot of us in an office-driven
environment don’t experience in the same way. There’s also a
great deal of variety in the trades. A craft worker could upgrade
piping in a pharmaceutical plant for a month, then work on an
emergency repair in a power station for a few days, then con-
struct a piping system in a brewery.
The importance of craft workers in today’s world is reflected
in the Notch mission statement: We sustain the common good
by constructing and maintaining the piping systems essential
to our modern society. The piping systems we create are largely
behind the scenes, but they matter. Food that sustains you,
electronic devices that keep you connected, heat that warms you
in winter, clean water and sanitation that keep you healthy – all
of these are made possible by an amazing variety of piping systems, and this list only begins to scratch the surface.
One reason why our craft workers take such pride in what they do is because they know it’s important. The
world depends on the work they do. They may be unsung contributors, but they understand that their work is
meaningful. Roughly a generation ago, America began steering more and more high school graduates toward
college. This shift has contributed to a shortage of skilled craft workers, leading to many career opportunities –
some quite lucrative – in the trades. Young people who want to work with their hands as well as their brains can
begin earning good money right out of high school. (Continued on next page)
Notch Office and Fab Shop Team (field crew not shown)
(continued from page 5)
7
Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path (continued from page 6)
A typical trade apprenticeship takes about four years,
depending on the field. Those who complete the rigorous
training emerge as licensed journeymen. Those who want
to grow further in the trade can go on for a master’s
license. During those same four years, young people who
go to college are paying out money, not earning it. Most
graduate from college with significant debt right when
they’re just beginning a career. In contrast, young people
in the trades have a significant head-start on building a
career path and financial independence. While their friends who went to college are working to pay down stu-
dent loans, young people working in the trades can be saving to put down money on their first house.
If you know someone who enjoys working with their hands, has good intelligence and problem solving ability,
and a willingness to be a sponge for learning, you might encourage them to look at entering the trades and
blazing their own career path:
Go through an apprenticeship, rise through the ranks and earn good money.
Develop a specialty and earn even more.
Gain experience as a crew leader or field supervisor and get into management and senior leadership.
The trades offer better job security than many fields because the work isn’t exported. Society will always need
clean water, power plants and industrial process piping. Sometimes craft work can be seasonal, but it isn’t going
overseas. How should a young person prepare to enter the trades? A vocational or trade high school can
provide a leg up, but it’s not a requirement. What every prospective craft worker should focus on is developing
math skills and communication skills. Practically every new learning experience for an apprentice involves one
skill set or the other, and both become increasingly important as craft workers advance on their career path.
(Continued on next page)
Construction Industry Career Paths
8 85 Lemay Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 (413) 534-3440
Put Safety First—Keep Customers Forever— Meet the Challenge—Work as a Team—Care About Family
Prospective craft workers should look to be part of a company
that’s committed to training and growth opportunities. Learning
a trade involves not only classroom theory, but watching other
people and being receptive to guidance and constructive criticism
from more experienced people on the crew. Apprentices must
develop good work habits as they learn to use their hands and
their brains to get challenging and exacting work done. They also
must learn to personally add value to their teams and projects.
So keep an open mind about the trades. With the
opportunities available for today’s young people,
a meaningful, satisfying, rewarding and well-paying
career doesn’t always have to include going to college.
For an insightful video on this topic, check out this link:
Success in the New Economy.
Notch Happenings
Early next spring in Boston, we will be exhibiting at the Globalcon 2016 Tradeshow on March 9 and 10th. The Association of Energy Engineers will hold free continuing educational seminars during the multi-track conference. Visit http://www.globalconevent.com/registration/ for more information and mention Notch when registering.
Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path (continued from page 7)
Free Tech Tool for Our Readers!! As a thank you for reading our newsletter, we would
like to offer you a complimentary pipe measuring caliper. Contact Doreen at ext . 122 to get yours.
282 Central Street, Suite 4, Hudson, MA 01749 (978) 293-3530
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