Today we recieved our shipment of Tattle’s for the new engine room.  We would like to thank Brad Bergman for working this up for us and supporting GCAP.  This a great product and look forward to getting use them in GCAP’s new edition.  The Tattle pressure relief vent indicator offers a simple yet innovative solution to quickly identify when a pressure relief valve has been activated. A Tattle installed on the outlet of a pressure relief valve (PRV) can be the first line of defense against the costly and potentially hazardous release of refrigerants such as ammonia, Freon, steam, or other compressed gasses. By providing a visual indication of what can be an intermittent event, the Tattle allows the system operator a quick, reliable, and cost effective solution to a problem that could go undetected for a significant amount of time.  Visit this website fore more information.

Every year in Kansas City Kansas for about the last decade GCAP has hosted an annual ammonia safety day.  The last few years proceeds have been used for scholarships for local students from Finney county Kansas.  Thank you all for the support of the safety day.

Two area students have been named the 2^nd recipients of the Ronnie Peek Memorial Scholarship for 2016 funded by Garden City Ammonia Program known as GCAP. The scholarship fund, named in memory of 16 year Garden City fire department veteran Ronnie Peek whom died during a training exercise in 2015.

Each recipient has recieved $1,500 scholarship of the 2016/2017 school year.

This is Maria’s second year to to receive the the scholarship and she is in her sophomore year at K-State University studying Psychology.  She is an alumni of Garden City High School and her parent is employed with the Garden City Police Department.

Nicholas is a recent graduate from Garden City High School.  His parents are employed by the Garden City Police Department and Garden City Fire Department.  He will be studying localy at Garden City Community College and plans on becoming a EMT/Paramedic.  He enjoys tennis, computer programming, robotics, and attends Bible Christian Church.

We at GCAP wish you be best for you education and hope in launches you into a rewarding career.

To apply for future scholarships one must be a resident of Finney county and be a child of a current parent whom works for the Garden City police department, Garden City fire department, Finney county EMS, sheriff’s department,  or state patrol department and resides in Finney county.  More info at this link .

Ammonia Technician One

The only true technician course in the industry.  Commissioning and decommissioning a 11 screw multi-pressure two stage system, 5 different pressures, and over 25 different loads.

Must have GCAP’s Level I & II credentials and supply a full face ammonia respirator with fit test records.

Course Competencies:

• IIAR’s: Ammonia Refrigeration Training Guideline (ARTG): Technician Compentencies
• ANSI/IIAR 5 – 2013: Start-up and Commissioning of Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
• ANSI/IIAR 8 – 2015: Decommissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

Register Today

Refrigeration Engineers and Technicians Association will be hosting there annual RETA conference this year in Las Vegas!!! It will be October 4-7, 2016. Hope to see you there.  Information about registration can be found by clicking here. 

[youtube width=”480″ height=”320″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5eJAF3Yc7Y[/youtube]

“All in For Education!” is theme for the RETA 2016 National Conference.

Topics and Hands-On – We are taking this to heart by offering attendees a truly robust program full of a variety of topics, including Technical Sessions in the areas of Compliance, Engineering, Manufacturing & Operations. Hands-On sessions will also be available, as well as Manufacturer Specific Sessions.

Certification and Training – Attendance accrues RETA professional development hours (PDH) applicable to maintaining RETA certification. Earn up to 15 RETA PDH from the Conference program or up to 28 RETA PDH with a combination of the Refrigeration Review Course and Conference program. RETA PDH may be applied toward CIRO, CARO, CRES and RAI certification maintenance.

Exhibitors, Guest Programs and more – Besides educational tracks and the review and certification program, attendees will have an opportunity to discuss and exchange information, meet vendors in the field through the exhibition & Hot Point Tracks, and attend events like the RETA Business Lunch, Rumble, & Awards Banquet.

 

Region 7 OSHA gave the PSM update for 2016 @ GCAP’s 8th Annual Ammonia Safety Day this last month.

Much emphasis was placed on;

• RAGAGEP (Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices) such as IIAR, ASHRAE, Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), and others.
• Retail Exemption Changes
• Re-write of 1910.119
• Emergency Planning and Response

View the presentation by clicking this link GCAP OSHA PSM 2016 Update Region 7

Regions 7 EPA gave a yearly update and explained the new proposed rule, and top 10 list for EPA inspections.  They also explained Region 7 highest citations by element and examples of best practices.

Top 10 List by EPA for Inspection:

1. Releases
2. Facilities that have EHS Chemicals
3.  Poorly maintained equipment / poor chemical housekeeping
4. Chemical staining, spillage, dumping, burial
5. Vessels/containers leaking and no action being taken
6. Appearance of dumping untreated waste/chemicals down drains, storm sewers, or waterways
7. More than 500 pounds of NH3, 100 pounds of chlorine gas, or 10,000 pounds of any chemical and local responders do not know
8. No emergency procedures/plans in the event of a chemical spill
9. Significant tankage of oil/petroleum without secondary containment
10. Visual dense smoke or dust (not steam) leaving facility

Region 7 Highest Citation by Element for last rolling year

1.  Process Hazard Analysis (11%)
2.  Compliance Audits (10%)
3.  Process Safety Information (9%)
4.  Standard Operating Procedures (7%)
5.  Mechanical Integrity (6%)
6.  Training (5%)

For more information download EPA’s presentation: EPA RMP Region 7 Update 2016

This years safety day topped them all.  We want to thank you all whom came, and support of our sponsors and exhibitors.  If you did’t get a chance to come this year, don’t miss next years event.

We had lectures on ammonia and it’s properties, PSM/RMP updates within the last years, and Region 7 OSHA and EPA updates.  We had some live ammonia releases and also tried to ignite ammonia in GCAP’s new explosion chamber.  OSHA and EPA updates will be posted soon on www.ChemNEP.com  

 

 

GCAP is expanding their boiler division to add three new boilers in it’s second boiler lab for hands on training.  We have recieved two of three new boilers.  One is the Sellers S Series and the other is a Superior Condensing Creek XL Boiler. Great opportunities for advanced training and new technology.

The Creek XL condensing boiler can be used as a high efficiency heating boiler. The heart of the Creek XL is a robust titanium infused stainless steel heat exchanger – the key to its high efficiency. This design allows the boiler to withstand the corrosiveness of condensed flue gases for years of reliable operation. A large horizontal combustion chamber limits the formation of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and is matched with a specially engineered vertical condensing section of AISI 316 Ti stainless steel.

The Creek XL is a flow-through design which means no dedicated boiler pump is required. The Creek XL has no limit on return water temperature, and is designed with TWO hot water returns, allowing for a system with two distinct loops and two different return temperatures. This makes the Creek XL a very flexible boiler that can be used in many situations.

Sellers Manufacturing Company was founded in Chicago in 1931 when new industries were looking for ways to take advantage of natural gas energy. Sellers pioneered gas-fired equipment such as boilers, burners, water heating equipment and bakery equipment.

Sellers is well known throughout the world as offering the highest quality equipment with unrivaled reliability, efficiency, ease of maintenance, durability and cost effectiveness.

The Sellers immersion fired S-Series steam boiler is a horizontal, single pass, firetube boiler designed to burn natural gas. The unique burner assembly delivers pre-mixed air and gas through multiple nozzles. The air-gas mixture is ignited as it exits each flame retaining nozzle at high velocity The resulting flames are long and small in diameter. The flame from each of these nozzles is directed into a 2″ O.D. tube that is completely immersed in liquid. There is a separate tube for each flame with the same amount of heat going into each tube. These small diameter flames burn in the first half of the tube lengths. Therefore, the “fire shines“ on half of the heating surface in the single pass boiler — 50% of the total heating surface is radiant heating surface.

The high percentage of radiant heating surface, the low heat input into each tube, and the even distribution of heat throughout the multiple tubes virtually eliminate thermal stress problems that are common in multiple pass boilers.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLPuBhNBSA[/youtube]

We had a great time once again at the IIAR conference this year in Orlando.  Many exciting things happening in the industry.  Miguel Beremudez of GCAP even one a nice acoustic guitar from the RETA folks.

A tragic ammonia accident occurred last week in Massachusetts. Brian Caron, 43, died Wednesday in an ammonia leak at a Stavis Seafoods warehouse in South Boston, where he worked as the facilities manager. Caron was overcome by ammonia fumes inside the cold storage warehouse on Channel Street in South Boston. He was one of five workers who smelled the fumes just as their shift ended Wednesday at 6 p.m.

The workers pushed an emergency switch in hopes of stopping the leak, then rushed out the door. Four workers made it out safely, but Caron could not. A hazmat team found his body in a stairwell on the second floor.

The ammonia leak was found in a ruptured 1½-inch metal pipe, said Steve MacDonald, a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department. The department is investigating the fatal leak, along with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the pipe to burst, but it could take several weeks, MacDonald said. Here is a link to the report.

Brian was a member of the GCAP family. Our prayers are with his family and dear friends. There is no words that can say what we feel at this time of lost. Here is a link for a chance to donate to his memorial fund for his wife, and two daughters during this time of need.

Brian Caron Memorial Fund

 

The Annual IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition is simply the best place for industrial refrigeration professionals to connect, collaborate and discuss the latest innovations and complex issues facing the industry today.  It is the best place to learn about the newest ideas, applications and techniques being utilized in the field.

The 2016 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition being held in Orlando, FL on March 20-23, 2016 offers an unrivaled opportunity for companies to showcase their latest products, services, innovations and technologies and for attendees to meet, network and learn from other industry professionals.

Look forward to seeing some great friends and meeting some new folks.  Come by and say high, we will be in booth 522.