john puskar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by john puskar
Process Safety Progress, Jul 30, 2022
ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition, 2003
Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Jun 1, 1998
Natural gas cofiring in stoker boilers is now coming of age and maturing as an off-the-shelf tool... more Natural gas cofiring in stoker boilers is now coming of age and maturing as an off-the-shelf tool to improve the economics of stoker boiler firing. Natural gas cofiring is a technology that blends the most desirable characteristics and capabilities of natural gas with more difficult and problematic solid fuels like coal and wood wastes. Natural gas cofiring involves the use of a very small amount of natural gas, typically less than 10%, firing over stoker grates through special burners. This article seeks to review the five most popular economic drivers related to operating cost reductions available through natural gas cofiring.
Energy Engineering, 1999
This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Mo... more This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Most boilerhouses do an excellent job at collecting information. Circular chart recorders churn out pressures, temperatures, and flows for everything from steam to natural gas to city water consumption. At most facilities, this stuff all gets chucked into a drawer or file cabinet daily. Have you ever wondered why you collect and record what you do? What were people thinking when the existing logs were set up? This article attempts to challenge the original thought process and hopes to evoke in the reader a renewed vision of what should be collected, how, and then what can be done with it. The goal of this article is not to define new and expensive data acquisition or control system projects. It is instead to show how to develop systems that only require paper, pencils, and people who are motivated and care. These people are probably already being paid to do most of this work. Experience is that if these people are treated with respect and given some simple tools they will do amazing things beyond what was thought possible. This is a low-tech humanistic approach that has a fabulous rate of return. It`s also something that can be immediately implemented.
Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Jul 1, 1996
This article describes techniques that can help a company diagnose compressed air, steam/condensa... more This article describes techniques that can help a company diagnose compressed air, steam/condensate, and water leaks without ever leaving the boilerhouse. The author`s firm has spent a lot of time in and around automotive plants. Much of this article applies directly to how automobile plant utility systems are run. There is a tremendous opportunity for applying statistical process control techniques to boilerhouses for system-diagnostics purposes. In other words, the author thinks there is much one can learn and take action on by just analyzing data available at the boilerhouse. These data can speak volumes about what is happening to the utilities generated once they go to the plant. Some ideas for using already-available boilerhouse data in ways that can determine what is happening in the plant are discussed. In an ideal world, this data analysis would trigger inspections of specific target action points in the plant. These action points (condensate receivers, key manholes, etc.) would be spots in the plant that could systematically be examined to quickly and effectively diagnose consumption problems. Some utility-specific examples for applying this technique are presented.
Burner and combustion safety is crucial for the safe operation of fired heaters and boilers at pr... more Burner and combustion safety is crucial for the safe operation of fired heaters and boilers at process in facilities. This paper discusses 10 of the most common burner and combustion system hazards that impact the safe operation of process equipment. The paper includes a discussion of three burner related explosion incidents that have occurred at process plants and how to avoid them. Strategies are also presented for training of maintenance and operations personnel on hazard recognition and avoidance. A protocol for walking down equipment prior to light offs is also presented as an extra safety step. About the Author: Mr. John R. Puskar, P.E., is principal of CEC Combustion Services Group Inc. Mr. Puskar’s compan combustion equipment risks by testing, training, and servicing fuels and combustion systems issues all over the world. Mr. Puskar is a degreed licensed Mechanical Engineer in Ohio and several other states. He has been practicing in the combustion area for over 24 years. He ...
An industrial explosion from a gas piping project kills four workers in North Carolina. A boilerr... more An industrial explosion from a gas piping project kills four workers in North Carolina. A boilerrelated explosion in Michigan at a nursing home kills five. A power plant gas piping project in Connecticut kills five. These tragic stories may have made national headlines, but every year hundreds more are overlooked. These incidents prove that, regardless of their size or scope, when fuel systems and combustion equipment are at issue, the devastation can be massive. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented if guidelines and standards that are already in place were better understood and enforced.
Energy Engineering, 1999
This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Mo... more This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Most boilerhouses do an excellent job at collecting information. Circular chart recorders churn out pressures, temperatures, and flows for everything from steam to natural gas to city water consumption. At most facilities, this stuff all gets chucked into a drawer or file cabinet daily. Have you ever wondered why you collect and record what you do? What were people thinking when the existing logs were set up? This article attempts to challenge the original thought process and hopes to evoke in the reader a renewed vision of what should be collected, how, and then what can be done with it. The goal of this article is not to define new and expensive data acquisition or control system projects. It is instead to show how to develop systems that only require paper, pencils, and people who are motivated and care. These people are probably already being paid to do most of this work. Experience is that if these people are treated with respect and given some simple tools they will do amazing things beyond what was thought possible. This is a low-tech humanistic approach that has a fabulous rate of return. It`s also something that can be immediately implemented.
Process Heating, Aug 1, 2007
Industrial Heating, Nov 1, 2003
Electrical-power issues come in many forms, but can have the same combustion-system impact.
Process Safety Progress, Jul 30, 2022
ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition, 2003
Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Jun 1, 1998
Natural gas cofiring in stoker boilers is now coming of age and maturing as an off-the-shelf tool... more Natural gas cofiring in stoker boilers is now coming of age and maturing as an off-the-shelf tool to improve the economics of stoker boiler firing. Natural gas cofiring is a technology that blends the most desirable characteristics and capabilities of natural gas with more difficult and problematic solid fuels like coal and wood wastes. Natural gas cofiring involves the use of a very small amount of natural gas, typically less than 10%, firing over stoker grates through special burners. This article seeks to review the five most popular economic drivers related to operating cost reductions available through natural gas cofiring.
Energy Engineering, 1999
This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Mo... more This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Most boilerhouses do an excellent job at collecting information. Circular chart recorders churn out pressures, temperatures, and flows for everything from steam to natural gas to city water consumption. At most facilities, this stuff all gets chucked into a drawer or file cabinet daily. Have you ever wondered why you collect and record what you do? What were people thinking when the existing logs were set up? This article attempts to challenge the original thought process and hopes to evoke in the reader a renewed vision of what should be collected, how, and then what can be done with it. The goal of this article is not to define new and expensive data acquisition or control system projects. It is instead to show how to develop systems that only require paper, pencils, and people who are motivated and care. These people are probably already being paid to do most of this work. Experience is that if these people are treated with respect and given some simple tools they will do amazing things beyond what was thought possible. This is a low-tech humanistic approach that has a fabulous rate of return. It`s also something that can be immediately implemented.
Strategic planning for energy and the environment, Jul 1, 1996
This article describes techniques that can help a company diagnose compressed air, steam/condensa... more This article describes techniques that can help a company diagnose compressed air, steam/condensate, and water leaks without ever leaving the boilerhouse. The author`s firm has spent a lot of time in and around automotive plants. Much of this article applies directly to how automobile plant utility systems are run. There is a tremendous opportunity for applying statistical process control techniques to boilerhouses for system-diagnostics purposes. In other words, the author thinks there is much one can learn and take action on by just analyzing data available at the boilerhouse. These data can speak volumes about what is happening to the utilities generated once they go to the plant. Some ideas for using already-available boilerhouse data in ways that can determine what is happening in the plant are discussed. In an ideal world, this data analysis would trigger inspections of specific target action points in the plant. These action points (condensate receivers, key manholes, etc.) would be spots in the plant that could systematically be examined to quickly and effectively diagnose consumption problems. Some utility-specific examples for applying this technique are presented.
Burner and combustion safety is crucial for the safe operation of fired heaters and boilers at pr... more Burner and combustion safety is crucial for the safe operation of fired heaters and boilers at process in facilities. This paper discusses 10 of the most common burner and combustion system hazards that impact the safe operation of process equipment. The paper includes a discussion of three burner related explosion incidents that have occurred at process plants and how to avoid them. Strategies are also presented for training of maintenance and operations personnel on hazard recognition and avoidance. A protocol for walking down equipment prior to light offs is also presented as an extra safety step. About the Author: Mr. John R. Puskar, P.E., is principal of CEC Combustion Services Group Inc. Mr. Puskar’s compan combustion equipment risks by testing, training, and servicing fuels and combustion systems issues all over the world. Mr. Puskar is a degreed licensed Mechanical Engineer in Ohio and several other states. He has been practicing in the combustion area for over 24 years. He ...
An industrial explosion from a gas piping project kills four workers in North Carolina. A boilerr... more An industrial explosion from a gas piping project kills four workers in North Carolina. A boilerrelated explosion in Michigan at a nursing home kills five. A power plant gas piping project in Connecticut kills five. These tragic stories may have made national headlines, but every year hundreds more are overlooked. These incidents prove that, regardless of their size or scope, when fuel systems and combustion equipment are at issue, the devastation can be massive. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented if guidelines and standards that are already in place were better understood and enforced.
Energy Engineering, 1999
This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Mo... more This article speaks to a common problem in a lot of industrial and institutional boilerhouses. Most boilerhouses do an excellent job at collecting information. Circular chart recorders churn out pressures, temperatures, and flows for everything from steam to natural gas to city water consumption. At most facilities, this stuff all gets chucked into a drawer or file cabinet daily. Have you ever wondered why you collect and record what you do? What were people thinking when the existing logs were set up? This article attempts to challenge the original thought process and hopes to evoke in the reader a renewed vision of what should be collected, how, and then what can be done with it. The goal of this article is not to define new and expensive data acquisition or control system projects. It is instead to show how to develop systems that only require paper, pencils, and people who are motivated and care. These people are probably already being paid to do most of this work. Experience is that if these people are treated with respect and given some simple tools they will do amazing things beyond what was thought possible. This is a low-tech humanistic approach that has a fabulous rate of return. It`s also something that can be immediately implemented.
Process Heating, Aug 1, 2007
Industrial Heating, Nov 1, 2003
Electrical-power issues come in many forms, but can have the same combustion-system impact.