by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 9, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
Several years ago, during a round of technical pump-related communications with a reliability engineer in Europe, he sent a particularly thought-provoking note. This engineer worked for a prominent oil refiner and, clearly, wanted to let me know all that glitters is...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 3, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
It is not the purpose, nor within the scope of this article to give detailed field erection and installation specifications for the many rotating machines found in modern process industry. However, field erection and installation specifications are not left to chance...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 27, 2021 | Lubrication Corner, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
Every so often, it’s time to ask if our knowledge of a reliability subject is up to date. The need to stay abreast of grease technology is a case in point: One case study showing the benefits of doing so dates back to around 2006. That’s when a Texas-based...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 19, 2021 | Plant Operations, Safety Matters, The Bloch Files
Engineers and other professionals involved in improving equipment reliability often observe that more work is to be done than budgeted or ever anticipated by management staff. Experienced observers frequently see a need to close the gap between “professed...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 12, 2021 | Asset Management, The Bloch Files
Angular contact ball bearings are used in millions of pumps and many other fluid machines. The rolling elements in these bearings are separated by cages. The main function of those cages is to maintain equal distances from ball to ball and to do so with minimum...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 5, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
Years ago, I had to learn about the associated filter-related terms “Beta Ratio” and “Beta Efficiency.” I had read that we can calculate fluid-filter efficiency after ascertaining the Beta Ratio. By convention, Beta Ratio is a measure of a filter’s efficiency....
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 27, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
Articles on “Eliminating Cooling Water from General Purpose Pumps and Drivers” date back to about 1976. The rationale for dispensing with cooling water in the bearing housings of most process pumps was later explained in many books. However, despite the...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 21, 2021 | Electrical Reliability, The Bloch Files
Unless you’re hiding in a cave, you probably will have heard what happened when severe winter weather hit Texas over the past week (starting Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021). It’s been an unimaginable catastrophe for all 254 counties in the state and the millions of...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 12, 2021 | Asset Management, Safety Matters, The Bloch Files
The overwhelming majority of small-turbine-overspeed-trip devices are mechanical: They incorporate a spring-activated trip bolt that moves out and contacts a trip lever whenever a preset overspeed is reached. The overspeed trip setting is selected at the time of...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 6, 2021 | Newsletter Column, The Bloch Files
Today (in 2021) as in 1975, I count bright Failure Investigators and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) among my trusted briefers and updaters. One of them recently sent me a 58-second YouTube video clip (TikTok Edition) of a hole-test exercise that caught my attention. In...
