Sean Moran's Blog, page 18
October 28, 2018
Water Engineering Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Effluent and Water Treatment
Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Effluent and Water Treatment seems to be the theme for me at the moment. The order book looks to be full for the rest of the year at least now. Interesting jobs...
October 21, 2018
A Busy Week in Pharma Water Engineering
I've had a few enquiries, and expect a large contract to land soon. None of the three candidates are in England, but all three are in Europe, so my Irish passport is coming in handy.
Meanwhile, design finalisation is continuing for the commercial lab effluent project. A combination of effluent segregation, negotiation with the EA, and revised spec for the effluent treatment plant looks likely to offer a cheaper and more reliable solution than plan A.
Meanwhile, design finalisation is continuing for the commercial lab effluent project. A combination of effluent segregation, negotiation with the EA, and revised spec for the effluent treatment plant looks likely to offer a cheaper and more reliable solution than plan A.
October 12, 2018
Water Treatment Engineering Expertise: The Full Package
I've spent the week working on industrial and commercial water treatment jobs, involving the design of systems for segregation of different effluent types, treatment of lower strength effluents, and tinkering of those which are uneconomic to treat. I've also been looking at the problems of supply of non-potable grades of process water, all at the most practical detailed level.
There was a misunderstanding with a potential client this week who thought that I might lack practical experience, perhaps because I have so much design experience. I have twenty seven years of experience. I have worked for EPC contractors, consultants and end users. I have worked in all stages of design, construction, commissioning and support of operations. I have personally operated plant, trained operators, and done a lot of troubleshooting of problems with plants.
I have also taught in academia, written three textbooks and many articles.
All of this experience is however in an area of specialisation. I'm a water / environmental chemical / process engineer. I know every bit of my specialisation, practical or theoretical very well indeed. I'm an expert in my area, with sound knowledge of the surrounding areas. These areas are chemical, process, environmental, hydraulic and water engineering, as well as chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
There was a misunderstanding with a potential client this week who thought that I might lack practical experience, perhaps because I have so much design experience. I have twenty seven years of experience. I have worked for EPC contractors, consultants and end users. I have worked in all stages of design, construction, commissioning and support of operations. I have personally operated plant, trained operators, and done a lot of troubleshooting of problems with plants.
I have also taught in academia, written three textbooks and many articles.
All of this experience is however in an area of specialisation. I'm a water / environmental chemical / process engineer. I know every bit of my specialisation, practical or theoretical very well indeed. I'm an expert in my area, with sound knowledge of the surrounding areas. These areas are chemical, process, environmental, hydraulic and water engineering, as well as chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
October 5, 2018
Waste Minimisation, Effluent Segregation and Treatment of Trade Effluent With Heavy Metal Contamination
Further interesting developments this week as I get into the detail of where the contaminants are arising at a lab facility, so that I can segregate high strength from low strength effluents.
It turns out that the heavy metals are present in the non-potable water supply at the site, as well as in test reagents.
The package plant supplier who had the sense to call me in rather than supply a simple replacement for the failed standard package plant on site was wise. There was a lot more to this job than met the eye, but I think we have it bottomed out now.
I'm on site next week for final measurements, allowing me to finalise the layout drawings we will use to order the necessary plant and plumbing.
It turns out that the heavy metals are present in the non-potable water supply at the site, as well as in test reagents.
The package plant supplier who had the sense to call me in rather than supply a simple replacement for the failed standard package plant on site was wise. There was a lot more to this job than met the eye, but I think we have it bottomed out now.
I'm on site next week for final measurements, allowing me to finalise the layout drawings we will use to order the necessary plant and plumbing.
September 27, 2018
International Water, Environmental and Chemical Process Engineering Consultancy
"International Water, Environmental and Chemical Process Engineering Consultancy" is what it says at the top of every page of my company website, so it's been gratifying to receive quite a few international enquiries recently. Some of them look very likely, so a bit of travel in my future...
Other than that, a site visit to conduct a water balance and suggest more radical waste segregation after an initial attempt to keep heavy metals and organics out of an effluent stream proved far less effective than promised.
Other than that, a site visit to conduct a water balance and suggest more radical waste segregation after an initial attempt to keep heavy metals and organics out of an effluent stream proved far less effective than promised.
September 20, 2018
Water Process Engineering Consultant : Engineer, Expert Witness, Author, Trainer
The usual mixed bag this week, with some process design, and adding the pictures to the second edition of my first book (the publisher agreed today to make illustrations all colour in the print version, which I'm very happy about)
I've also been answering enquiries for expert witness work, training etc, as well as some proper engineering overseas. The market appears to be picking up again, just in time for when the book gets sent to the publisher (a month or so early). I've got a proposal in for the next book, but I won't start writing that until the new year at the earliest.
I've also been answering enquiries for expert witness work, training etc, as well as some proper engineering overseas. The market appears to be picking up again, just in time for when the book gets sent to the publisher (a month or so early). I've got a proposal in for the next book, but I won't start writing that until the new year at the earliest.
September 13, 2018
Expert Witness Package Sewage Treatment Plant Engineer
A new enquiry for an expert witness job today, for a packaged sewage treatment plant.
Packaged plants are clearly problematic. They are the most common type of plant we receive enquiries about, whether that be as a troubleshooter or as an expert witness.
There are problems in how such plants are specified, supplied, installed, commissioned, operated and maintained which I expect will keep me busy until retirement.
Packaged plants are clearly problematic. They are the most common type of plant we receive enquiries about, whether that be as a troubleshooter or as an expert witness.
There are problems in how such plants are specified, supplied, installed, commissioned, operated and maintained which I expect will keep me busy until retirement.
September 7, 2018
Engineering Training Provider Process Plant Design and Chemical Engineering for Non-Chemical Engineers Process Safety Management
I've been finalising arrangements for overseas training courses next month (Process Plant Design, Chemical Engineering for Non-Chemical Engineers and Process Safety Management). It'll be nice to stretch my legs, not been outside the UK so far this year.
Other than that, just awaiting some analysis results to allow the order to be finalised for a RBC based industrial effluent treatment plant, and proofreading the second edition of "An Applied Guide to Process and Plant Design"
Other than that, just awaiting some analysis results to allow the order to be finalised for a RBC based industrial effluent treatment plant, and proofreading the second edition of "An Applied Guide to Process and Plant Design"
August 30, 2018
Industrial Effluent Treatment Plant Commissioning, Operation and Troubleshooting
In addition to my design work, I have spent a good few years supporting the operation of water treatment plants I have designed.
I have also carried out troubleshooting, optimisation and forensic engineering on process plants of all kinds designed by others on many occasions.
I've had an enquiry this week to spend a while managing an industrial effluent treatment plant overseas. I think it might be interesting, and it's a lot closer to the training engagements I have towards the end of the year than Wirksworth is!
August 24, 2018
Avoiding Contractual Disputes: Expert Witness Water Treatment Plant Construction
I've been addressing some contractual / technical issues with the order for the wastewater treatment plant I'm due to be supervising the commissioning of at the end of the year.
There are a number of issues I have seen many times in expert witness engagements, but unlike those cases, my clients engaged an expert at this stage to avoid these issues becoming a problem at a later stage.
Getting it clear who carries design responsibility, what tests are required to prove that the plant works, making sure that the contractor has been provided with sufficient data to allow them to design their plant properly, having the design and proposed equipment reviewed by an expert before site start at the latest, and having a rigorous testing protocol agreed in advance to show that the plant works at the point where the contractor leaves site.
All of these issues, if left unresolved can result in the situation I see all too often in expert witness engagements, where the plant does not work, and it isn't really clear whose fault that is, as responsibilities have not been defined. This leave the allocation of rights and responsibilities to be determined by a court after the fact of plant failure.
It is best to not to have the plant fail, by having it designed and commissioned by an expert. Failing that, it is best to have an explicit contractual relationship, clearly allocating the responsibility for making the plant work to one or both of the parties.
There are a number of issues I have seen many times in expert witness engagements, but unlike those cases, my clients engaged an expert at this stage to avoid these issues becoming a problem at a later stage.
Getting it clear who carries design responsibility, what tests are required to prove that the plant works, making sure that the contractor has been provided with sufficient data to allow them to design their plant properly, having the design and proposed equipment reviewed by an expert before site start at the latest, and having a rigorous testing protocol agreed in advance to show that the plant works at the point where the contractor leaves site.
All of these issues, if left unresolved can result in the situation I see all too often in expert witness engagements, where the plant does not work, and it isn't really clear whose fault that is, as responsibilities have not been defined. This leave the allocation of rights and responsibilities to be determined by a court after the fact of plant failure.
It is best to not to have the plant fail, by having it designed and commissioned by an expert. Failing that, it is best to have an explicit contractual relationship, clearly allocating the responsibility for making the plant work to one or both of the parties.
