PV Elite Design Calculation

[Joget005]

Hello everyone,

I am currently assigned to review PV Elite design calculations. Is there any tips as to what to look for in that design calculations?

Thanks

 

[GregLocock]

First tip, explain what you are talking about to your audience.

http://www.coade.com/products/pv-elite

is probably what you are talking about. if it isn't then you need to explain quick-smart.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[Joget005]

I am new graduate that is presently asked to help review the pressure vessel mechanical design calculation prepared by vendor using PV Elite, but being a new graduate I do not know where to start and what to look for in that design calculations and thus need some of you, the experience guys, tips.

Sorry for the confusion.

Cheers,
Jo Joget

 

[TGS4]

Do you have any experience with ASME Section VIII?

 

[dhengr]

PV means Photo Voltaic to many people, so I’d check the voltage, amperage and resistance. Make sure all the wiring connections are good. As a new graduate you might want to try speaking engineering and in full, real words, instead of alphabet, acronym and twit speak. You could get yourself some good text books on Strength of Materials, Theory of Elasticity, Design of Plates and Shells, Pressure Vessel Design, etc. The advantage of some of these texts as opposed to the actual codes is that they teach you to think like an engineer, and teach you some of the fundamentals and theory; while many of codes teach you to be a good cookbook recipe (I mean formula) follower, without much real engineering thought, you just plug-n-grind. Then you could go back to some of your Prof’s. and ask them why they charged you so much for a degree without imparting many productive engineering abilities. However, we do actually understand that new grads aren’t fully productive on the first day.

Also, lose your bashful and ego, and go talk with your boss or some senior engineers at your company, and ask for their help, ask them to be your mentors. They have a vested interest in your doing well, and doing it right, and are usually quite willing and understanding. These are really important relationships when you are starting out and they can be very rewarding for all/both parties involved in the process. You can be looking at the same sketch, or code, or text book paragraph at the same time, and he/she can give you more immediate guidance. Don’t b.s. them about what you know and don’t know, that can come back and bite you. Over time you’ll learn more this way, and with some self study, than you ever learned in school. Then come here for a few of the extra details, not as a basis for your total knowledge.

 

[SnTMan]

Joget005, I'd check the inputs. They should be listed out at the front of the calc. I'd check temperatures, pressures, diameters, sizes, thicknesses, materials, corrosion allowances and so forth.

But before that, I would determine what the proper inputs should be, that is, what I am checking to.

But before that I'd gain some familiarity with the Code of construction so that I'd know if the proper calculations are being performed in the first place.

Once I'd done all that, and assuming I had a feel for what reasonable answers should be, I'd look at the output.

Regards,

Mike

 

[Cockroach]

Why would a recent grad be dispensed to review and report on datum collected by a third party vendor? Seems kind of odd, you would expect "high level of experience" when dealing with this kind of topic.

Just makes me wonder, that's all.

Regards,
Cockroach

 

[SnTMan]

Cockroach, it can be useful if the idea is for the new employee to gain experience.

If the idea is for the new employee to be responsible for what the vendor is doing, really really bad idea.

Regards,

Mike

 

[dhengr]

Cockroach:
If that’s the only thing that makes you wonder about or question the state of affairs in the engineering profession these days, then we are in bigger trouble than either of us thought. SnTMan may have the real answer, but then my advice is all the more appropriate for Joget’s real learning process.

In any case it’s getting late in the day/week, so... let’s the three of us adjourn and have a few beers and talk about something interesting like sxxxx.

 

[SnTMan]

dhengr, motion carried, first rounds' on YOU

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Get one of your senior or more experienced engineers to guide you through the process. Otherwise - you will miss stuff and maybe make some poor decisions. That is why most of us had mentors starting out.

 

[Joget005]

Thanks all for the various replies/tips given. This is part of my training process as fresh graduate.I think I will start by doing what SnTMan suggests. Thanks everyone.

 

[SnTMan]

Joget005, If you have the time, it will serve you well to do some of the calculations by hand. Possibly your company has some "worksheets" left from the Stone Age of pressure vessel work whereby you can perform the calculations. Or just follow along in the output you are reviewing.

Very helpful for understanding what the important quantities are, and for developing the feel for correct answers I mentioned earlier. Also essential for understanding the limitations built in, but not readily apparent in canned software. Once you learn these you can learn how to "lie" to the software to get around some of the limitations.

You can then progress by building a few spreadsheets for, say, shell and head thickness, nozzle reinforcing, and if you are ambitious, bolted flanges. For the last and for external pressure calcs, you need not worry about programming the tabular data, curve functions and so forth. just pick the quantity of interest off the chart, you will be close enough for your purposes.

Good luck, and come back when you need some help.

Regards,

Mike

 

[Joget005]

Mike,

Thank you very much for your advice.


Jo Joget