Certifications
Unlike some other engineering disciplines, there are no formally established requirements for education, training, certification for NDE engineers. Most NDE engineers were formally educated in other disciplines and then stumbled into the NDE field during their careers and obtained additional education, training, and experience on the job to enable them to fulfill their job responsibilities.
Additionally, job responsibilities for an NDE engineer may vary widely from one place of employment to another, and even across different physical or organization locations within a single place of employment.
Examples of responsibilities that might be performed by an NDE engineer include:
Management of the NDE technician/inspector workforce to include assigning inspection duties, ensuring training/certification requirements are met and maintained, and developing and proctoring certification testing
Providing insight and/or oversight of NDE organizations at contractor/subcontractor locations that are responsible for NDE of incoming products (e.g. raw materials, component and subcomponent assemblies, and finished hardware) or for periodic inspections of structures in use (e.g. fleets of ships, airplanes, etc.)
Read more on Education for NDE Engineers @ NDE-ED.org:
#NDT #Engineers
Inspection + Testing
In today’s fast-paced and data-driven world, the concept of predictive quality has emerged as a game-changer for businesses and industries across the board. Predictive quality is not merely a buzzword but a transformative approach that leverages data, technology, and advanced analytics to foresee and prevent quality issues before they arise. In this article, we will delve into the concept of predictive quality, its significance, and the ways in which it is revolutionizing various sectors.
Understanding Predictive Quality
Predictive quality can be defined as the ability to anticipate and address quality issues in advance through data analysis and modeling. It goes beyond traditional quality control methods that rely on post-production inspection and reactive problem-solving. Instead, predictive quality aims to predict potential defects, failures, or deviations in real-time or even before they occur.
Key Elements of Predictive Quality
Data Analytics: The foundation of predictive quality lies in data. Organizations gather and analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, including production processes, supply chains, customer feedback, and historical quality records. Advanced analytics tools, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, are then used to extract meaningful insights and patterns.
Real-time Monitoring: Predictive quality systems continuously monitor and collect data from various sensors, IoT devices, and production lines. This real-time monitoring allows organizations to identify deviations from expected quality standards instantly.
Read more @ Metrology and Quality News
#predictivemaintenance #inspection #maintenance
Inspection + Testing
Repair of storage tanks can be a major expense for oil, gas and petrochemical facilities.
Corrosion can lead to leaks, environmental damage and even the shutdown of operations, costing millions of dollars a day. Identifying products and processes that reduce downtime for repairs and extend the time between repairs is critical.
Industry standards and recommended practices highlight biggest challenges
API Recommended Practice 652 provides guidance on achieving effective corrosion control in above-ground storage tanks by application of tank bottom linings. Tank bottom linings are the key to preventing internal corrosion of steel tank bottoms because when stored, oil and water separate due to gravity. Water falls to the bottom due to its heavier weight and then acts as a corrosive because of its electrolytic properties. To minimize this corrosion and the downtime it can cause, industry has focused on improvements in tank bottom lining materials, surface preparation, lining application and cure speeds.
Lining innovation driven by storage tank design
Storage tanks come in a variety of sizes, with diameters sometimes exceeding 250 feet. As tanks have gotten bigger with increasing demand for storage and processing, the properties of the floor linings — and their ability to perform under greater commodity loads — have become critical.
The design of storage tank bottoms presents special challenges to linings. Tank floors are typically lap plate construction, consisting of a set of steel plates joined together using lap welds. Linings must be able to adhere and provide adequate edge retention at these weld joints. Floating roof tanks, which feature support legs and welded-in-place contact striker plates on the tank floor, also offer tests which the lining must address.
Read more @ BIC Magazine
#corrosion #turnaround #storagetanks #inspection #maintenance
Inspection + Testing
Bill Gates-Backed Group Supporting New Energy Storage Technology
A Massachusetts-based group developing an energy storage system to support renewable energy resources is moving forward with plans for a prototype facility outside Boston.
Fourth Power said it received $19 million in funding to help scale its technology, which the company said is more cost-effective than lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries and will provide higher power density. The group on Tuesday said its technology can help solve issues with the intermittent nature of power generation from renewables such as solar and wind.
The company said its “thermal energy storage technology uses renewable energy to heat carbon blocks to temperatures so hot they glow like the sun,” and then later releases that heat “on demand to the grid as electricity.”
The investment round was led by the venture capital firm DCVC, a San Francisco Bay Area-based group that provides capital for companies in the high-tech sector. Other investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), founded in 2015 by former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, and the Black Venture Capital Consortium, a group representing HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities).
Read full article @ Powermag.com:
#energy #engineering #energystorage
