The Durban branch held a well attended Technology Evening at the Durban Country Club on Wednesday 7 August. The attendance could partly be attributed to interest in the topic of compressor anti-surge control, titled ‘Protect Your Vital Assets’, and partly due to the presenter being Pulen Govender, a well known and knowledgeable control systems specialist at Engen refinery.
The evening was opened by the Durban branch chairman, Howard Lister, who formally welcomed new members Lindeka Khanyeza, Lucas Esterhyse and Farai Nyamayazo, before congratulating Waseem Rawat, the deserving winner of the prize awarded to the best student in the C&I discipline at Durban University of Technology. Waseem achieved the highest mark and a distinction in Process Control IV.
Howard thanked all the companies that have sponsored the Durban branch for the current year and announced that there will be a site visit to Engen refinery on the morning of Thursday 12 September. There is limited space available, so early booking is advisable. He then introduced Pulen as the guest speaker.
Howard Lister (right) thanks Pulen Govender after the presentation.
Pulen began by giving a typical example to show the installation, maintenance and operating costs of a large compressor, emphasising the importance to any business of running compressors as efficiently and reliably as possible. He followed with a well illustrated summary to show the operating principles of the different types of compressors and their various configurations, explaining the range of characteristics and interacting with the audience before moving on to explain what is meant by ‘surge’ and the physical mechanisms that can cause it to occur. His subsequent talk, together with graphic examples of the control systems that may be used to avoid surge occurring to an extent that can cause damage, prompted an interesting question and answer session with the attentive audience.
The evening concluded with a meal of the usual high standard we have come to expect of the Durban Country Club, and, of course, some enjoyable and productive networking over a few drinks.
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