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Ginger Connin |
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Participants Summer Internships 2002 Main Page
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The process side of engineering is more about troubleshooting and taking care of problems as soon as they arise. A problem I was given about two weeks before the summer ended was the problem of total net solids in a final product. The product was quite expensive and lost weight meant lost profit. I went through data back to 1999 and compiled it in Excel. Through looking at the data this way, I was able to narrow the variables affecting the process. Two seemingly independent variables actually looked like they worked together to give a low total net solid product. I was unable to see if my hypothesis had worked, since I left before they could implement the changes I suggested. The project engineer had work that was not as consistent, but of a much larger scale. I was given the methanol pipeline to do as my project. Guided by the project engineer on staff, I saw the pipeline from conception to the beginning of construction. I learned to draw isometrics of piping layouts, which was the initial step in the project. Ordering the various valves, PSV and ball, needed to build the pipeline was also part of the project. Another project I worked on was two reactors that are going to be placed on load cells. One reactor had horrible vibration (even according to the agitator representative who has seen a lot of vibrating reactors) and the vibration could have ruined the cells. By working with an agitator representative, the vibration problem was minimized. I also had to take the current piping on both reactors and redraw each line showing where to insert each flex hose needed to help the reactors float on the load cells. A flex hose is needed on each pipe, and there are a lot of pipes to the system. I also learned how to take a process and instrumentation design (PID) into the plant and match up real life to a picture. Operators of the process are extremely helpful in identifying piping. Piping is not always painted according to the specifications. The jacketed reactors were the most difficult with the various piping going into and out of a jacket. It is important for an engineer to be able to read a PID since it is the blueprint of the system. Due to the extensive construction during shutdown for the replacement of two reactors, I feel better equipped to handle large projects. The planning prior to shutdown was done before I arrived for the summer. Only three weeks were allotted for shutdown. In those three weeks, the old reactors were removed, steel and concrete were removed and replaced, along with two new reactors. I now understand how tight the schedule was and how important the planning was. I understand how a large project fits together with various contractors and plant personnel. In three short months, I learned so much about everyday chemical engineering. |
During Summer 2002, I worked at Anderson Development Company in Adrian,
Michigan. I worked on a methanol pipeline and a problem related to
processing of a product. I also experienced a variety of business
operations that do not occur every year. Anderson’s had to replace two
reactors during shutdown, and they were in the middle of discussing a
possible merger. By working closely with the engineers, I was able to get
a good idea of what everyday life is like.