Heat Exchanger Training

A two days interactive workshop on "Design, Operation, Performance & Maintenance of Heat Exchangers, Air Fin Coolers/ Condensers and Cooling Towers" is scheduled in the month of July 2018 under the banner of M/s International Business Conferences in four Metro cities in India.

In the recent past, similar "Open House" program was undertaken by myself with another co-faculty. This program was well attended & participants were from variety of Industries both across India and abroad. Our experience was quite good & encouraging.

Designing any Open-house training program poses a peculiar challenge to the Trainer, since the exact profile of participants & years of experience is not known. One could be just a fresher in a particular industry or well versed with various aspects of Heat Exchangers. The type & usage of equipment is not very clearly known. Each industry may have diversified application these equipment. While similar program being done as In-house training, will not have these predicaments. The information about the extent of coverage & contents gets well defined as preset. The profile of participants are known. Also there is a clarity available to the trainer about exact application of Heat Exchangers in that particular industry.

Therefore this particular Open-house program was tailored keeping in mind the basic theme of "Safe Operating Principles" for Heat Exchangers. It really means an equipment is properly specified during procurement (Process parameters & duty conditions with margins of operating range). Thereafter it is designed & manufactured following adequate quality standards, followed by adherence to proper installation & commissioning procedures and finally being operated within specified operating range. This in turn will result into higher availability and run length of Heat Exchangers. Of course, it goes without saying that due care taken during its preventive & predictive maintenance activities, will greatly contribute to safe & smooth operation of the equipment. Taking this philosophy in general, we designed our earlier program & accordingly inputs were given to participant in each of these aspects. Besides theoretical deliberation, it was topped with faculties' own past experiences, which really adds value to the program.

The program was went of well. Of course during sessions and offline discussions, we also gathered as to what topic/s could be curtailed being basics about Heat Exhcangers or of less interest to participants. The ensuing workshop/ program in July 2018 takes care of feedback from participants.

The program was very well appreciated by the participants. One of the participants from plant Operations stream stated "Now I know as to why we shall Operate the Heat Exchangers within operating parameters. Also I realise that whenever it is easy, I shall release the standby Heat Exchanger for its periodic scheduled maintenance, instead of waiting till emergency or break down or lower performance warrants for handing over to maintenance."

This statement from a participant gave indirect assurance to the Trainers that they have justifiably done their job.