Mechanical technical project support entails:

Preparation of project specifications for their field of expertise
Expert support to mechanical equipment engineers and other technical discipline engineers
Liaison with client and authorities for their field of expertise
If required, participation in (pre-)inspection meetings and final acceptance meetings Equipment specialists and mechanical technical specialists play an important role in the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) on our projects. The high Fluor standards on QA/QC are verified through their participation in technical audits. These audits are organized in close cooperation with Fluor’s Quality department and Project management.

What functions do we have within mechanical?Mechanical Originating (Equipment) Engineer:Scope of activities:Specification of mechanical equipment in accordance with client requirements, authority regulations etc. Responsible for the complete cycle of equipment specification, supplier selection, purchase of equipment, supplier drawing review, equipment acceptance and delivery to site, site (erection) support and turn-over. Responsible as originating engineer for quality, cost and schedule.Key responsibilities:
Planning and organizing the work
Writing and reviewing of mechanical specifications
Procurement of mechanical equipment
Management of suppliers (quality, cost, schedule)
Preparing and maintaining schedules
Preparing and maintaining equipment estimates
Cooperate with client, third parties and project disciplines/field

Mechanical Originating (Equipment) Engineer:Scope of activities:Specification of mechanical equipment in accordance with client requirements, authority regulations etc. Responsible for the complete cycle of equipment specification, supplier selection, purchase of equipment, supplier drawing review, equipment acceptance and delivery to site, site (erection) support and turn-over. Responsible as originating engineer for quality, cost and schedule.

Key responsibilities:

Planning and organizing the work
Writing and reviewing of mechanical specifications
Procurement of mechanical equipment
Management of suppliers (quality, cost, schedule)
Preparing and maintaining schedules
Preparing and maintaining equipment estimates
Cooperate with client, third parties and project disciplines/field

Mechanical lead engineer:

Scope of activities:Serve as mechanical lead on assigned projects or project areas. Provide guidance/supervision to mechanical engineers assigned to the project or project area. Delegated responsibility from the mechanical department manager for quality, cost and schedule for the assigned project or project area. Utilize vendor/project data and work with other disciplines as required for the execution of the work. Contribute to the personal development of mechanical engineers assigned to his project or project area.

Mechanical Equipment Specialist / Mechanical Technical Specialist:

Scope of activities:Work from a central location in support of all active projects in the Haarlem office.Have an active contribution to the personal development of mechanical engineers working in his specific functional discipline

Key responsibilities:

Preparation of the project specifications for their field of expertise
Expert support to the mechanical equipment engineers and other technical discipline engineers
Liaison with client and authorities for their field of expertise
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Maintain network with key clients and suppliers
Capture equipment information (technical, cost) for re-use on our projects
Validating mechanical equipment cost estimates
Transfer of Knowledge (through documentation/training /mentoring) to mechanical engineers
Representing Fluor in national and international committees (HTRI, ASME, API, etc.)

What does mechanical do on our projects?

The roles & responsibilities of the mechanical engineer on our projects are very diverse and challenging. First of all mechanical is responsible for the handling of all equipment items that we have on our projects like pressure vessels, pumps, heat exchangers, compressors etc. Further, mechanical supports our projects on general technical matters like noise engineering, material selection and corrosion, welding, painting and insulation. This is not only for mentioned equipment items, but also for piping systems, instruments and structural systems.Within the department there are a number of disciplines, each handling their specific equipment items. As you can imagine, handling pressure vessels requires different expertise than handling compressor systems. Within mechanical the following disciplines have been identified:

HVAC
Fired Heaters
Rotating Equipment (pumps, compressors, steam- & gas turbines etc.)
Special process equipment & Packaged Units
Material handling equipment (solids handling)
Static Equipment (pressure vessels, reactors, columns, tanks, etc)
Unfired heat transfer equipment

The mechanical engineer generally handles his equipment items from the beginning of the project up to and including the delivery of the equipment to the construction site. On some occasions he may even be involved in the start-up of the plant.Handling of mechanical equipment items may be described as follows:
(Preliminary) Equipment selection and design calculations based on applicable codes and standards (authorities, client, Fluor).
Preparation of equipment data sheets and specifications.
(Technical) Evaluation of supplier equipment proposals.
Participation in clarification meetings.
Preparation a technical recommendation.
Preparation of purchase order documents.
Management of suppliers (quality, cost, schedule) through review of supplier documents & drawings, progress meetings, participation in (pre-)inspection meetings and final acceptance meetings.
Interface management towards other technical- (process, civil, structural, piping, electrical, instrumentation) and non-technical (project management, procurement, contracts) disciplines.
Cooperation with client, authorities and other third parties.
If required, support field installation, testing and start-up of equipment during the construction phase. As you read from the above, the mechanical function encompasses both technical as well as commercial elements. In the end, it is the responsibility of the mechanical engineer that the right equipment (i.e. meeting all specifications) is delivered to the job site in time and for the agreed price.As you read from the above, the mechanical function encompasses both technical as well as commercial elements. In the end, it is the responsibility of the mechanical engineer that the right equipment (i.e. meeting all specifications) is delivered to the job site in time and for the agreed price.Apart from equipment engineering there is the mechanical technical project support for:
Noise engineering
Thermal design of heat transfer equipment
Material selection and corrosion
Welding and materials
Painting and insulation

Fire Pump Systems & Skids

Systems

Skids
Pumphouses
Electric Motor Driven
Diesel Engine Driven
Combination
Vertical Turbine
Horizontal Split Case
Vertical In-line

Features
Third Party Listed
Built to NFPA 20
UL Listed / FM Approved Components
Pre-Engineered Packages
Custom CAD Layouts
Pre-Assembled for ease of installation
Over 20 years experience / Expertise in manufacturing and assembly

J-5954Fire Pump System in Building with Tank

Electric Horizontal Split Case Fire Pump (500 GPM @ 100 PSI) packaged system with 4" altitude valve for automatic tank fill, 6" flow meter, single point electrical service connection with prewired power distribution system, alarms and supervisory switches prewired to common junction box, all in a 10'-8" W x 17'-4" L x 9'-6" H metal building with 6" double door, exhaust fan, intake louver, unit heater, interior lights, exterior light with photocell, emergency light, and exterior rotating beacon. Columbian TecTank bolted steel NFPA 22 compliant fire water storage tank.

SA’s first lubricants franchise being set up

Lubricants blender and supplier Blue Chip Lubricants is overhauling its branding and business structure, and this includes expanding through the establishment of a lubricants franchise, the first of its kind in South Africa.
“Blue Chip Lubricants is breaking new ground by being the first in its industry sector to expand through franchising,” says franchising expert Franchising Plus consultant Eric Parker, one of the cofounders of successful fast-food franchise Nandos.
He says that by replicating the franchise business format through owner-operator franchisees throughout the country, Blue Chip Lubricants would be able to gain a significant advantage in its industry sector, while creating small business opportunities for other entrepreneurs.
“By having a premium product, providing exceptional service and exceeding customer expectations through a strict mechanism of duplication and with the commitment of owner-operator franchisees, any business can thrive to become a recognised brand,” he adds.
Blue Chip Lubricants’ expansion plans include gaining a national market share through franchising its brand and tapping into the largely untapped agricultural and retail markets, which would be in addition to its current involvement in the mining, industrial, engineering and automotive markets.
The proposed franchise roll-out would see the company follow a three-tier strategy.
Initially, the company would own its own franchise outlets, allowing the franchisor to keep close tabs on how the business is run and what improvements are needed.
The second tier would involve joint venture outlets, where the co-owned franchises would operate jointly in partnership with franchisees.
The final tier would see the establishment of fully fledged operator-owned franchises in outlying areas, affording entrepreneurs the opportunity to buy into the brand. These franchisors would depend on the blenders for their services and products, reducing transportation costs and delivery times, while increasing the level of service to outlying customers.
The franchise expansion plan was initiated through a pilot operation in Rustenburg, which has performed beyond the company’s expectations, breaking even in only two months.
Blue Chip Lubricants co-owner Gary Marais tells Engineering News that the Rustenburg pilot’s success is attributed to the concentration of mining and related industrial activities in the area. He says that the market holds a lot more potential and so further expansion of the franchise in the region is likely.
In light of the global financial crisis, which has left many companies scrambling to retain capital, it may seem odd timing for the company to launch a large-scale expansion plan. However, Marais explains that this seems to have worked in the company’s favour, in that many companies would rather increase their efforts to maintain their existing vehicles and equipment than replace them, which has translated into increased expenditure on consumables such as lubricants.
The expansion plan calls for 12 franchises to be set up in major metros and big towns, starting with the establishment of four franchises in the first year.
“Once the model has been perfected in South Africa, the potential to master-franchise into the rest of Africa is a very real possibility,” concludes Marais

Power generation company expands product base, diversifies market sector focus

Power generation company Alstom Electrical Machines, a division of the Alstom South Africa Group, has expanded its product offering in an effort to broaden its sector focus, explains Alstom Electrical Machines MD Paul Cuthbert.“In the past, the company only used to supply diesel-powered generators with a running capacity of 2 MVA and up. We were not industry participants below that rating. Many factors influenced our decision to expand our product base. The main factor came about as a result of interactions with our stakeholders and our client base. We saw that there was a need in the market for generator sets with a running capa- city of 10 kVA to 1,5 MVA; these will be supplied across all market segments. We realised that there were not many reputable companies serving that market and we took advantage of the gap,” says Cuthbert. He adds that the company has put more emphasis on industrial and commercial sectors.Cuthbert reports that the second factor that influenced the com- pany’s decision to expand its pro-duct base came off the back of Alstom Electrical Machines’ ability to offer its services to all market segments through either cost-effective standard format imported generator sets, or custom-built, locally assembled specialised generator sets.The standard imported generator solutions that Alstom Electrical Machines offers are sourced in China. “The Chinese sets that we are importing are high end but still remain very cost-effective. They are also of good quality and the components that are installed in the generator sets are all well-known branded products,” says Cuthbert.
Alstom’s Diesel Generation business manager Paul Lepora tells Engineering News that as customers discover the need for specific generation products, there is often a need for those products to have unique features. “People who are purchasing the generators are either businesses or top-end domestic users. They have come to the company and have expressed a need for the generator sets to be customised to their specific needs – this may relate to anything from special sound proofing aspects, to special multiset syncronised applications, both fixed or mobile in nature. We offer the client a complete turnkey solution based on the specific application, including the supply of plant, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the generator.”He adds that locally assembled generator sets can be more expensive than the imported standard format Chinese sets, but that this is often owing to the customised nature of the local products, in addition to the fact that there are no local manufacturers of cost-effective generator engines and alternators.Lepora reports that another key factor that has encouraged the pro-duct range expansion is that the generator and standby power industry have increased in importance as a result of the recent ongoing power outages that have occurred across the country, and the need for clients to align their alternative power systems with reputable soloutions providers.He comments that, because of the low barriers for a basic entry into the industry, there is an increasing number of new competing companies. “The result of this is that there are companies in the industry that are importing or assembling and supplying generator sets of poor quality to end-users and are taking advantage of the fact that the end-user is not fully aware of the technicalities pertaining to the product being purchased,” says Lepora.Nevertheless, Cuthbert points out that these companies do not typically last more than a few years. “There are only really a handful of reputable companies operating that have been in the industry for a significant time period.” He adds that generator sets remain a grudge purchase for most clients, but it is expected that, owing to the change in the Alstom Electrical Machines’ business model, the company should able to offer cost-effective solutions to suit clients’ needs for a lower-price generator set, coupled with a good balance of high quality, reliability and back-up service.Lepora adds that by word of mouth and the company’s reputation in the market, Alstom Electrical Machines has been able to generate a good volume of locally based clients over the last year. He says that the company is currently opening up the nature of its business to be more visible in the market, thereby raising the profile of the company. “The company has experienced exponential and sustainable growth over the last year with the completion of many projects. We hope to expand on that growth and take the business into Africa. Initially we will be focusing on the countries in the Southern African Development Community and, as capacity allows, expand into the wider sub-Saharan Africa region,” says Lepora.Cuthbert reports that the company’s short-, medium-, and longterm goals are seen as a process that is going to be structured towards achieving sustainable growth. “Initially, we want to develop a sustainable alternative power source business that serves a defined market. This is going to be achieved by interacting with clients that have specialised power needs. We would also like to develop a sustainable client base,” concludes Cuthbert.Meanwhile, Alstom Power Systems has been awarded a further three contracts to boost the electricity distribution capacities of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s high-voltage substations to meet rapidly growing demand for power in and around Pretoria.The three additional contracts, awarded in February and March this year and totalling R40-million in value, are for extensions to the existing Njala, Pumulani and Win-gate substations. Added to the contracts awarded previously, involving establishing two new substations and expanding and upgrading two others, the latest contracts bring the total value of substation contracts awarded by Tshwane municipality to the company to over R100-million in the past two years.The extensions to the Njala substation, which is one of Tshwane’s main infeed substations from Eskom, of between 132 kV and 275 kV, will substantially bolster present power supply capacity to a total 750 MW with the addition of a fourth 132 kV, to 250-MVA capacity transformer bay. The contract also includes extending the substation’s existing protection system and the erection of an additional transformer bay.While the Njala substation extensions are scheduled for completion early next year, as they are aimed mainly at ensuring that the electricity supply to the municipality keeps pace with current growth in demand, the extensions to the other two substations are longer-term projects to cater for anticipated future growth. Consequently, the contracts for them are phased for completion towards the end of 2008.Pumulani, an 11-kV to 132-kV sub- station situated north-east of Pretoria and supplying areas that include Pumulani township and expanding commercial and industrial areas in the vicinity of Roodeplaat dam, is to increase in size and capacity by 25% with the addition of two new 35-MVA transformer bays and a bus coupler, as well as new protection equipment and a supervision control and data acquisition link to the Capital Park control centre.The 11-kV to 132-kV Wingate substation, serving the Pretoria suburb of that name and currently compris- ing four bays, is to have nine new bays added to it, with special space-saving Areva disconnecting circuit breakers installed owing to severe space constraints resulting from the extent of infrastructure expansion outstripping servitude constraints.

Mechanical equivalent of heat

For other uses, see Conservation of energy.

Joule's apparatus for measuring the mechanical equivalent of heat in which the "work" of the falling weight is converted into the "heat" of agitation in the water.
In the history of science, the mechanical equivalent of heat was a concept that had an important part in the development and acceptance of the conservation of energy and the establishment of the science of thermodynamics in the 19th century.
The concept stated that motion and heat are mutually interchangeable and that in every case, a given amount of work would generate the same amount of heat.

History

The idea that heat and work are equivalent was proposed by Julius Robert von Mayer (1842) and independently by James Prescott Joule (1843). Similar work was carried out by Ludwig A. Colding (1840-1843). Central to these developments, however, was Joule's famous 1843 paper, entitled "The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat", in which he published the value A for the amount of work W required to produce a unit of heat Q. Joule contended that motion and heat were mutually interchangeable and that, in every case, a given amount of work would generate the same amount of heat.
Joule experimented on the amount of mechanical work needed to raise the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit and found a consistent value of 772.24 foot pound force (4.1550 J·cal-1).
Though a standardised value of 4.1860 J·cal-1 was established in the early 20th century, in the 1920s, it was ultimately realised that the constant is simply the specific heat of water, a quantity that varies with temperature between the values of 4.17 and 4.22 J·g-1·°C-1.
The change in unit was the result of the demise of the calorie as a unit in physics and chemistry.

Priority

Both Mayer and Joule met with contemporary neglect and resistance owing to the eminence of the caloric theory of heat. Colding's work was little known outside his native Denmark. Hermann Helmholtz probably first became aware of the principle through Joule's work, on which he based his definitive 1847 declaration of the conservation of energy, but by 1862 he had come to credit both Joule and Mayer.
Also in 1847, Joule's presentation at the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Oxford was attended by the precocious and maverick William Thomson, later to become Lord Kelvin. Thomson was intrigued but initially sceptical. Over the next two years, Thomson became increasingly convinced of Joule's theory, finally admitting his conviction in print in 1851, simultaneously crediting Mayer. Thus began a fruitful collaboration between the two men, mainly by correspondence, Joule conducting experiments, Thomson analysing the results and suggesting further experiments. The collaboration lasted from 1852 to 1856. Its published results did much to bring about general acceptance of Joule's work and the kinetic theory in England.
However, in 1848, Mayer had first had sight of Joule's papers and wrote to the French Académie des Sciences to assert priority. His letter was published in the Comptes Rendus and Joule was quick to react. Thomson's close relationship with Joule allowed him to become dragged into the controversy. The pair planned that Joule would admit Mayer's priority for the idea of the mechanical equivalent but to claim that experimental verification rested with Joule. Thomson's associates, co-workers and relatives such as William John Macquorn Rankine, James Thomson, James Clerk Maxwell, and Peter Guthrie Tait joined to champion Joule's cause.
On May 18, 1850, Mayer attempted to commit suicide, possibly in part owing to distress caused by the controversy.
However, in 1862, John Tyndall, in one of his many excursions into popular science and many public disputes with Thomson and his circle, gave a lecture at the Royal Institution entitled On Force[1] in which he credited Mayer with conceiving and measuring the mechanical equivalent of heat. Thomson and Tait were angered, and an undignified public exchange of correspondence took place in the pages of the Philosophical Magazine, and the rather more popular Good Words. Tait even resorted to championing Colding's cause in an attempt to undermine Mayer.
Though Tyndall again pressed Mayer's cause in Heat: A Mode of Motion (1863) with the publication of Sir Henry Enfield Roscoe's Edinburgh Review article Thermo-Dynamics in January 1864, Joule's reputation was sealed while that of Mayer entered a period of obscurity.

Notes


^ The usage of terms such as work, force, energy, power, etc. in the 18th and 19th centuries by scientific workers does not necessarily reflect the standardised modern usage.
By electrical method Joule's constant,
Where,
V is the applied voltageI is the current passedt is the time (in seconds)m1 is the mass of calorimeterm2 is the mass of waterc1 is the specific heat capacity of calorimeter = 0.09 cal / g °Cc2 is the specific heat capacity of water = 1 cal / g °CT1 is the initial temperature of waterT2 is the final temperature of water

Further reading