FITNESS FOR SERVICE

The ultimate objective of performing Fitness-For-Service is to utilize American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Petroleum Institute (API) codes to determine run-repair-replace decisions for equipment containing flaws, which have been identified by inspection, which can continue to operate safely for a predictable period. 

Fitness-For-Service analysis performed by our licensed professional engineering staff ensures:

1. Safety 

2. Operational Cost Savings 

3. Regulatory Compliance

4. Asset Life Extension  

Comprehensive and systematic analyses are performed by certified, licensed, professional engineers to asses the integrity of pressure retaining equipment. Our professional engineering team can ensure that pressure equipment is safe to operate, reducing the risk of catastrophic failure and protecting the enviroment and human life. 

Our professional engineers evaluate the in-service conditions of the assets and identify defects and damage that may require re-rating, repair, or replacement. This may result in re-instating retired assets, avoiding un-necessary maintenance or replacements, as well as reduce downtime and lost production. 

API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 may be required by regulatory agencies and standards organizations for the safe operation of assets. Compliance with these regulations and standards are necessary to ensure safe operation of pressure retaining components. 

By assessing the Fitness-for-Service of a pressure retaining asset, or atmospheric storage tank, our Professional Engineering team can identify potential issues before they cause equipment failure. This analysis will help to ensure the asset is in operation to the maximum permissible extent avoiding premature replacement and repairs. 

Feedwater Heaters are critical plant components. They can operate at extremely high pressures and temperatures and can directly affect the overall plant heat rate. Furthermore, they can force units offline all together in forced outages, or turbine derates. A RUN-REPAIR-RERATE is critical on this equipment. At the temperature and pressure on these units, lives depend on the right decisions. Rest assured, we specialize in this equipment from Small 100MW Biomass Plants, to Large 1200MW Nuclear Units, and Ultra-Super Critical Power Generating Facilities.  

Main Steam Condensers operate at much lower pressures than Feedwater Heaters. The water boxes are subject to thinning from various mechanisms. Tubeside tube damage and plugging can also directly affect performance. Tubesheet delamination, corrosion and erosion can directly affect component life. As condenser life ages, it is advisable to perform a Water Box Fitness for Service evaluation to determine if water boxes, and tubeside components, should continue in operation with a RUN-REPAIR-REPLACE decision process. Contact OnSite Precision, LLC to perform this turnkey engineering and inspection service. 

Independently from the condenser waterbox, it is recommended to periodically inspect the shellside portion of the main steam condenser. Shellside tube failure from high energy impingement, and erosion is common. Shellside thinning from erosion and corrosion are also common as these units age. Generally REPLACMENT is out of the question, so this comes to RUN or REPAIR.  Contact OnSite Precision, LLC to perform these confined space inspections, and Fitness for Service on the Condenser Component Shellsides. 

Turbine Lube Oil Coolers are simple heat exchangers typically in complex conditions. Their availability is crucial to plant operations. With them out of service, means that the plant might be forced to an outage, or derated. RUN-REPAIR-REPLACE is crucial decisions on this equipment. 

Piping in Power Generation is obviously critical to operations. Commonly piping is overlooked, however it can get damaged, or see mechanical failure. It is critical to evaluate piping similarly to the major equipment. Generally replacement of spools in this piping is economical, however it is crucial to understand and determine if the piping segment in question should be RUN as is, REPAIR in place, or REPLACE a spool. 

Component Cooling Water Heat Exchangers are subject to corrosion, particularly on seaside applications, tubeside thinning of the channel, tubesheet, etc. Shellside flow can induce substantial vibration, or pressure drop issues. Using quantitative analysis it is possible to determine RUN, REPAIR, or REPLACE your CCW components. 

When it comes to your equipment at your power plant it is critical to determine RUN, REPAIR, or REPLACE determinations. The ultimate objective of performing Fitness-For-Service is to utilize American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Petroleum Institute (API) codes to determine run-repair-replace decisions for equipment containing flaws, which have been identified by inspection, which can continue to operate safely for a predictable period.