LDARtools Employee Spotlight: Nick Gable

Nick Gable has written software for companies such as Lockheed Martin and Halliburton. Initially, he was drawn to LDARtools because it was closer to home. Now, after talking to Rex and Philip (our Director of Software Innovation) and after just the right amount of prayer, he discovered the charms of the tight-knit group of individuals that make up the LDAR Think Tank.

Right now, he’s doing some training to work on improving our current products and developing our future projects. “I’m looking forward to solving interesting issues and creating cool stuff that’s sure to help our customers do their jobs better,” says Nick.

During the weekends, he goes to the beach with his family or hikes the nearby trails.

nick-gable

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July Site of the Month

PBF Energy (formerly Exxon Mobil) – July Site of the Month

6 years of extraordinary Level 1 Repair performance with 24 phx21s and minimal downtime and off-site repair costs.  They have also provided major contributions to development and success of phx21.

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Since our first delivery of phx21s in January of 2010 to Exxon in Torrance, CA they have become one of our top sites to work with because of the dedication that their level one technicians have shown.
Luis and Kam, level one certified technicians, keep up with the daily and weekly maintenance items as well as any phx21 Level One maintenance tasks, minimizing the down time they experience with their fleet and preventing their units being sent in for routine tasks that that can be completed on site. This is no small feat since their fleet has 24 phx21 analyzers.
Luis and Kam also make the repair process more efficient by always reporting issues effectively by:
  • Using the LDARtools “Report an Issue” tool on LDARtools website.
  • Including log and spans files from the unit in question.
  • Waiting for a response from LDARtools Support Team.
  • Always answering any questions Support might have about the unit.
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LDARtools Technical Updates: Safety First!

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Yep it’s true! The phx21 is certified as a whole – this means all the parts. A part that is introduced without going through the certification process is NOT intrinsically safe.

Not being intrinsically safe may also create an opportunity for Method 21 non compliances and is also likely an OSHA violation. Use of parts not provided by LDARtools also voids ALL warranties, flat rate repair rates and requires us to either re-certify the machine or remove the “Met Labs Class 1 Division 1” markings. The cost to re-certify the machine is $1000.

The liability assumed by using uncertified parts (parts not provided by LDARtools) is huge and it’s just plain dangerous.

Keep in mind, we are asking Technicians to strap a phx21 full of Hydrogen to their backs. Saving a little money is not a good reason to make it more dangerous.

Safety-first
download-technical-tips
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Meet June 2016’s LDARtools Customer of the Month!

LDARtools is proud to present The LDARtools Customer of the Month Award to Mr. Brian Weaver of TEAM Industrial. Brian went the extra mile by coming in on Fridays to check the health of his phx21s (and to make sure everything was functioning properly) BEFORE they went out into the field. A true “no down time” rock star. Way to go Brian!

“Friday Maintenance Rock Star”

ROCK

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LDARtools Technical Updates: Why are Filters so Important?

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Probe tip filters are designed to protect the ability of the phx21 to deliver a very precise sample to the FID chamber. These flows are measured in cubic centimeters per minute (tiny). At the proper flow rate it would take ~10 hours to fill a basketball – and the pressure would be so low that you would never be able to dribble it!

The flow precision is accomplished by the use of two meticulously pressed sintered metal restrictors: one for the VOC Sample and the other for the air that we use to combust the sample. Sintering is the process of taking loosely packed metallic powder and applying pressure to the powder in such a way that the molecules of the metal begin to press together. Just before this happens, the sintered metal will form a precisely structured barrier. This barrier can control with extraordinary accuracy how many molecules of air, or VOC, are able to pass through. These restrictors are positioned just downstream of the pump. They are difficult to install; impossible to clean; and difficult to replace.

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They are VERY important.

filter

The 1 um probe tip filter is designed to capture a substantial amount of particles. Take a look at the photo on the left to get a sense of how much the probe tip filter is able to suck up and still keep running. When the filter gets “too full” the phx21 will prompt you to replace it – No problem. Conversely, if you operate the phx21 without a probe tip filter for even the shortest amount of time , then the smallest sample of particles can pass into the unit, through the pump and into one or more of the restrictors. The photo indicates how little it would take to ruin the restrictor. Keep in mind that the particles displayed in the photos are black pepper. Remember: the restrictors are impossible to clean and very difficult to replace.

Contamination can happen in the blink of an eye: while the unit is warming up, the dust in the room or from a nearby window can contaminate the unit.

This amount of contamination can pass through your sample probe and pump, then lodge in the restrictor in a matter of seconds!

contamination
To download a copy of this Technical Tip, click the button below:

download-technical-tips

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“50 Shades of LDAR Gra/ey” at ISA Conference

Deever, Graham* and Rex Shed Light on the

“50 Shades of LDAR Gra/ey” at ISA Conference in Denver

Together with Graham* Harris (Sage Environmental) and Deever Bradley (ERM), Rex Moses (President of LDARtools), turned the attention of the LDAR community to the ongoing process of identifying, evaluating and clarifying the most vexing LDAR questions with their joint presentation of the “50 Shades of LDAR Gra/ey.”

Following up on the initiation of the project at the 4C Conference earlier in 2016, Deever, Graham and Rex helped to clarify the previous questions and proposed a new set of questions to the LDAR elite gathered at the Denver Tech Center for the 2016 ISA Conference.

Amazingly, the concept of “graey areas” and working together to crystallize the questions and articulate the right answers became a virtual theme of the conference.
*Graham Harris is the highly esteemed God Father of LDAR otherwise known as “Buzz”.

 

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If you would like to participate in this project (by suggesting relevant questions or offering your own insights on the current list) please contact Rex Moses at rmoses@ldartools.com. If you would like a copy of the Shades of Gra/ey Report, download below.

 Shades of LDAR Graey

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LDARtools Technical Tips: Preventing Pump and Restrictor Contamination

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Howdy,

Each month we will be releasing great technical tips to help keep your equipment in the best working order, and save you money. We encourage you to display these tips at your facility, we will even provide the display.  If you have suggestions on helpful topics or would like a display please email sales@ldartools.com

We routinely swab all pumps that are returned for warranty.

  1. The process involves taking a clean swab and swiping across the interior surface of the pump.
  2. Approximately 70% of the time these swabs come out pristine and clean. That is the good news.
  3. 30% of the time the swabs reveal contamination.

Contamination in the pump can only have one cause:

The unit was run, for some period of time, without the recommended 1 micron probe tip filter.

pump-swab

How small is one micron? Imagine that the blue dot is the cross section of a head of hair. The white dot that is at about 10:00 (on the clock) would be about 1 micron. That is very, very small. Nothing this big or bigger is going to pass through that probe tip filter.
micron

The presence of contamination in the pump can only be explained by one thing: The unit was operated – for at least some time – without the probe tip filter.

Contamination can happen in the blink of an eye: while the unit is warming up, the dust in the room or from a nearby window can contaminate the unit.

Always Remember:

If the pump is running, the probe tip filter should be attached ALL of the time.

To download a copy of this Technical Tip, click the button below:

download-technical-tips

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LDARtools Insider Perspective: Shipping and Receiving

The LDARtools warehouse is the heart of StoreLDAR. From here, we provide equipment and all the assorted parts you’ll need at your facility.

To serve you better, we asked David Munguia, LDARtools’ Shipping and Receiving Manager, for pointers on getting your order as soon as possible:

On Warranty Orders:

If you see a price on a warranty order, it’s because you have to send the CORE part back to LDARtools. Returning the CORE in a timely manner saves you from paying for the replacement part.

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On Support Cases:

To avoid extra handling fees, submit a support case on the LDARtools website (www.ldartools.com/#support) and get LDARtools Support’s authorization before sending the part or equipment in.

On Shipped Packages:

Include the “CORE” report or the RMA paperwork we gave you. It helps when we know why the equipment has been sent in.

On PO Information:

Send POs to StoreLDAR (store@ldartools.com) rather than an individual. It will speed up processing.

Got a topic we didn’t cover? Send an email to StoreLDAR (store@ldartools.com) or call 1-877-788-1110 ext 730.

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LDARtools at 4C 2016!

Join LDARtools as we talk about the future of LDAR. Here are the events we’re hosting during the 4-day conference:

 

Chateau (1)Chateau: An LDAR Database Management Program for Today and Tomorrow

Tuesday, February 23rd from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Hyatt – Big Bend C

You will learn how to harness the power, flexibility and elegance of Chateau’s state-of-the-art tools, methods and infrastructure. Training will include orientation and demonstration of the most innovative and popular Chateau features.

Chateau represents a dramatic departure from existing LDAR database management programs. In this training you will learn how to harness the power of Chateau to address your LDAR challenges.

 

graeyThe Gra/ey Areas of LDAR

Wednesday, February 24th at 12:45 PM in the Texas 2 ballroom

Over the years, Regulations, Rules, Permits and Practices have evolved to help make sense of what it means to control leaks and keeping the air clean. In many cases, though, the answer is not black and white. It is gra/ey.

You will experience, first hand, the full range of questions that haunt us, divide us and make LDAR a lot more interesting than, perhaps, it should be.

 

unnamed-1Audit Time with LDARtools

Thursday, February 25th from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Hyatt – Hill Country C

This workshop is intended to highlight items found in a typical LDAR audit that can be solved as easily as the click of a button.

Auditing is a hard job. Frequently, we are asked to review the people that hired us and hopefully will hire us again. As solution providers, we have an opportunity to provide feedback and solutions at the same time.

 

4C

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phx21-1071 makes its first visit to LDARtools in 5 years!

Imagine our excitement when we learned that one of our favorite phx21s, phx21-1071, was coming back to see us! (Actually, it was coming in for a repair, but it had been soooo long since we had seen it (and it was only a minor repair) it was more like a homecoming celebration.)

Imagine, too, how delighted we were when we figured out that the man who actually built phx21-1071, Steve Magnan, was still here. That meant that we were in for a very special reunion.

spreadphx21-1071 wanted to have its photo taken with the original phx21 team from way back then. After, it was time for a quiet visit between Steve and phx21-1071, out by Lake LDAR. It was a beautiful day and a very special time. We were able to listen in on the conversation.

pic3Steve: Dude, 1071, it is sooo good to see you.

1071: I know Steve. I thought maybe I would never see you again.

Steve: It has been a long time.

1071: Just like yesterday when you put me in that pelican case and shipped me out to California.

Steve: How do you like California?

1071: California is cool. Weather is great. But, well, you know. It’s not Texas.

Steve: What have you been up to out there?

1071: Steve, chill out, man. You KNOW what I have been up to. LDAR, man! 24-7! Monitoring, finding leaks, getting calibrated, on-site repairs, pump-throttling, firing up that glow plug—you know the drill: what you made me for.

Steve: *Chuckle*

1071: Steve, level with me. After the work you guys did on me, why do I feel so, so, so… Invigorated? You know?

Steve: It’s because we have updated you, my friend. You have been upgraded.

1071: Updated? What’s up with that?

Steve: Since you were made, the LDARtools R&D team has learned some new stuff and made some improvements. Sort of like a makeover. You’ve got a bigger, more stable regulator and a completely new set of internal Teflon tubing which is much more resistant to chemical breakdown.

1071: Cool. Thank you. Now… it’s time, isn’t?

Steve: Time for what?

1071: Time for the pelican case thing and back to California.

Steve: Right. Going to miss you, dude. Sure you want to go back?

1071: Steve. Seriously? I was made for Method 21. California is Method 21 Nation. How can I NOT go back?

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