pls introduce uni regarding valve design or manufacture

[7431]

I have got a job regarding valve trade. However, sometimes some basic problems embarrassed me because of my business education background. I believe lots of experts here must have had a valuable studying experience.
I expect to be capable to deal with it. pls recommend a course or uni (UK or OZ preferred).

thanks!

 

[MikeHalloran]

You presumably got the job for your business expertise, not your valve expertise, so there's no reason to be embarrassed. When you have a technical question, ask the technical people around you. They'd rather educate you _before_ you cause problems for them.

For a more formal but still practical education, here in the USA we have 'community colleges', which teach subjects of interest to tradespeople, with simplified math and science. Perhaps you have something similar in your neck of the woods.

If you are the lucky sort who can learn from a book, go to Amazon and look at the "Audel's" series.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[7431]

Actually, I have looked through <Valve Handbook>(by Philip L. Skousen) and some API standards, while I feel a little bit not enough. Perhaps, need accumulating.

BTW, I am curious what the composition of knowledge regarding oil and gas industry valve that a capable trader should master.

anyway, THANK MikeHalloran!

 

[Ashereng]

7431, what do you mean by "valve trader"?

Anyway, in Canada, our colleges (I think the US call them community college), and technical institute offer courses for Instrumentation and Controls, which includes valves. Valves, and their selection may be covered in a university, but not in great depth for one working in that field. I would think that the UK and Australia may be set up similarly, scholatic wise, but I am guessing here.

 

[7431]

Thanks, Ashereng!

"valve trader" responsibilities include collecting potential clients information, promoting suitable valve, organizing transportion, and follow-up service etc. it's almost as same as sales.

 

[Ashereng]

For industry specific information, the local college (community college) would be my first place to start for formal instruction.

For industry specific information in general, and in your case, because you are in sales, and have a team of tech support guys/girls, I would probably go the learn on the job route. Talk to the technical sales guys, and field guys. They will know intimately what works, and what doesn't, in your particular industry.

As you read the postings in this web site, you will come across many many many industry/application/geographical/etc specific ways of doing things.

For example, in my industry, here in this location, in a very very general summation, we use:
- minimum 300# flanging for all flanged valves (2" and up)
- current trend towards standardizing on 600# minimum
- 316SS as default for valve internals
- no yellow metal, except in analyzers, water treatment and fire systems
- Fisher valves

If I were to change location, industry, etc, this can all change.

 

[JLSeagull]

You are unlikely to find classes at a college that will be helpful. Most technical types learn valve stuff on the job.

I have access to most US codes and standards at work. The universities that offer engineering should have some of these standards in their library.

Valves are categorized by valve pattern such as gate, ball, butterfly, globe, needle, etc. Applications for assorted valves are industry specific. Some valves are good for very hot or very cold applications. Some are good for ver dirty/abrasive services. Some are good for high pressure drop. You will read about fire-safe, cavitation, noise abatement, tight-shutoff, etc.

Fisher has a "Control Valve Handbook" available as a pdf online. Someone will post the path. This book hits the high point of many applicable codes and standards.

You will see many mentions of ANSI. For now forget ANSI and look for the associated ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and API (American Petroleum Institute) standards. OK I sound like a nationalistic zealote. Sorry but they wrote the early standards. You may also find API 6D in a library listed as ISO 14313.

ASME covers flange classes. People will speak and write about 600 pound raised face flanges. Nope, they do not mean 600 pounds per square inch. The pound thing is all wrong. If you are in sales try not to teach people about such things. Just know that they mean ASME Class 600 raised face flanges. Go to a valve warehouse and touch such flanges. BTW, there is no relationship between 1/4-inch pipe and the dimension 1/4-inch. That applies to 1/2-inch too. It is not my fault. ASME standards cover the flanges, pipe sizes etc. MSS has a few interesting standards too. (Manufacturers Standardization Society of The Valve and Fittings Industry Inc.).

Get help if people want to talk about the technical stuff, especially if phrases such as NACE MR0175 or cleaning for oxygen service show up in the documents.

 

[7431]

Thank you, Ashereng and JL Seagull!

I would seriously consider your advice.

 

[Ashereng]

7431, are you the only "valve trader" at your company? If not, ask the other guys/girls where they did the most of their learning. Or, ask someone technical in valves where they got their info.

As a last resort, you can always ask one of the valve traders from another company - although that has bad optics.

Best of luck.

 

[sairaj]

The story behind the success of any business is to understand its objective and requirements fully and work towards those requirements.

Technical expertise can be achieved by interest to learn and to reason further.The world is full of opportunities and solutions .good Luck

Sai Raj

 

[7431]

sairaj---philosopher

I have not thought of too much. But I have interest in mechanical equipment.

 

[petergg]

Hi

As a starting point a Process Operators course could be useful to gain a knowledge of the application of valves in the oil and gas industry.
There are similar courses in each state in Oz.

See the attached link for some more details

http://www.estb.com.au/trainpack_chem_certi_supp.html#certi

Good luck

 

[7431]

thanks , Petergg!
I am comparing several chemical process design master courses. maybe from next term.