2023 Sep-Oct RETA Breeze

RETA BREEZE

REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS & TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2023

RETA NATIONAL CONFRENCE IS AROUND THE CORNER

Economized Suction

BREEZE

The RETA Breeze is the official publication of the Refrigerating

Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA). RETA is an international not for-profit association whose mission is to enhance the professional development of industrial refrigeration operating and technical engineers. Don Chason Executive Editor 704-455-3551 Jim Barron Executive Director

jim@reta.com Sara Louber Senior Director of Operations sara@reta.com Stephanie Date Events Manager stephanie@reta.com Harry Wilkins Education Coordinator harry@reta.com Samantha Ibarra Certification Coordinator samantha@reta.com Dan Denton Chapter Relations Liaison ddenton@reta.com

page 10

A conference sneak peek

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Message From The President........... 4 Message From the Executive Director............................ 6 Conference Corner: The Count Down Begins ........................ 8 RETA Rumble.................................... 9 The Confrence Sneak Peak............ 10 Education Corner........................... 18

2023 National Conference Sponsors.............................................19 The Shade Tree Mechanic Volume LIII ......................................... 20 Education Corner........................... 22 Epic Fails We Need A Better Coat? ...................... 24 RETA Testing Corner No. 38.......... 28 Certification Honor Roll................ 30

The information in this publication is based on the collective experience of industry engineers and technicians. Although the information is intended to be comprehensive and thorough, it is subject to change. The Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association expressly disclaims any warranty of fitness for a particular application, as well as all claims for compensatory, consequential or other damages arising out of or related to the uses of this publication. Publication of advertisements in Breeze , or any other RETA publication, does not constitute endorsement of any products, services or advertisers by RETA and shall not be considered or represented by advertiser as such. Copyright © 2023 Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association.

REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS & TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION 1725 Ferry St. SW, Albany, OR 97322 Telephone: 541.497.2955 | Fax: 541.497.2966 RETA.com

RETA.com 3

2022-23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Keith Harper, CARO Tyson Foods Inc PRESIDENT Bengie Branham, CIRO, RAI SCS Engineers

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hawkins, CARO Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC TREASURER David Gulcynski, CIRO Dot Foods Inc. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers DIRECTORS

Greetings RETA Family,

I hope the cool crisp days of fall provide warm blessings to you all. It is amazing to see the tapestry of the fall colors as they integrate and become a collage of the most majestic scenery we get to see every year during the transition. It is also a vivid reminder to myself in that everything and everyone has a “season” and that change is coming. My season of presiding over RETA as National President will be coming to an end very soon. It has truly been an extreme honor to serve this GREAT organization as National President for the 2022-2023 term. I also want to take a moment to thank the Board of Directors and Committee Chairmen for their hard work and determination to advance the RETA culture and to position our organiz- ation to make a deeper impact for our industry in years to come. The Board of Directors, along with the Executive Director Jim Barron, made some very difficult decisions over this past year, and I am so proud to have worked with each and every Director in accomplishing our goals to continue the path that Giants before us had estab lished. What an amazing group of dedicated, unselfish and vision driven individuals that you as a member elected last November in Reno, Nevada. I am very honored to state that RETA is well positioned to face the many challenges that we may encounter moving forward. At this time, RETA is looking to potentially merge with RSES (if approved by both memberships). This merger will make RETA and RSES the “Refrigeration Training Authority” by

Alan Gervais, CARO, CIRO Western Precooling Systems Andrew Palomar, CARO Stellar Arlie Farley, CARO, CIRO, CRST Farley’s SRP Inc Barbara Kirkpatrick Mi-Docs Debbie Koske Calibration Technologies, Inc. Edward Johnson, CARO Gordon Rascoe, Jr, CIRO, CRST, RAI ConAgra Brands Jeremy Murfin AC & R Specialists Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Melissa Cassell General Refrigeration Company Raymond Urban, CARO Lineage Logistics Victor Dearman, Jr., CIRO, CRST Peco Foods, Inc COMMITTEE CHAIRS Certification: Lee Pyle, CARO SCS Tracer Environmental Education: Eric Girven, CIRO, CRST, RAI SCS Tracer Environmental Marketing: Jodie Rukamp SCS Tracer Environmental Membership: Arlie Farley, CARO, CIRO, CRST Farley’s SRP, Inc National Conference: Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Publications: Vern Sanderson,

Bengie Branham, RETA National President

allowing both organizations to share their educational training material, provide both industries with a pipeline of new talent, position our industry to operate and maintain both traditional closed loop refrigeration systems and the new natural refrigeration concepts that are currently being developed. With the required level of responsibility to operate these systems efficiently and I am extremely confident that RETA and RSES entities will meet these challenges and provide training platforms dedi cated to enhancing the knowledge and safety of each operator and technician. In closing, RETA is positioned for this change (just like the fall transition), but we will grow larger than last season and will have many more branches on our tree for many years to come. We will also have a bigger impact on industry than once imagined. I also promised a follow-up from the last Breeze publication which I will be speaking on at conference. Thank you, Bengie Branham safely, operator training is more imperative now more than ever.

CIRO, CRST, RAI Schwan’s Company Executive Director: Jim Barron

4 RETA.com

GAS DETECTION SPECIALISTS

Products are in stock, ready to ship

Built for harsh conditions. Designed to prevent false alarms. 866-394-5861 ctigas.com sales@ctigas.com

Customer service is our top priority! Contact us for quick quotes, expert advice and instant technical support.

RETA.com 5

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello RETA Members, I’m writing this on a brisk morning with a hint of fall in the air. The leaves are changing color, and some are barely hanging on to the trees. Not only are the leaving starting to change but so are things here at RETA HQ. As I hope most of you are now aware, after a grueling but successful year of work performed by a combined RETA-RSES Integration Committee and another year of where I have been working directly with RSES as their Interim Executive Director, RETA and RSES are seeking to merge our organizations. Both organizations were founded under a similar principle to “do the right things for the right reasons.”This included fulfilling a need within the industry while promoting the advancement of knowledge, the development of educational materials, and supporting the development of individuals in the HVACR Industry through training. The merger has been approved by both boards and will be put forth for both memberships to vote on separately. I hope you will join us at our annual Business Meeting at the National Conference on November 14th in Jacksonville, Florida to vote on this important matter. If you are unable to attend please make sure you give your vote to your chapter leader so they can submit the proxy vote prior to the meeting. If you aren’t involved in a chapter, please contact Dan Denton at ddenton@reta.com or 541-497-2955 and provide your vote for the proxy via the Virtual Chapter. AIM Act and the phase-down of HFCs • On December 27, 2020, Congress enacted the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which

directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address hydrofluoro carbons (HFCs) through: • Phasing down the production and consumption of HFCs by 85% by 2036. • Facilitate the transition to next-gen eration technologies through sector-based restrictions. • Establish regulatory requirements for the management of refrigerants to maximize reclamation and minimize releases from equipment. The phase-down of HFCs is based on baseline levels, with the goal of reducing the production and consump tion of HFCs to 15% of baseline. The phase-down of available virgin gases will greatly outpace the demand for both new equipment and the ongoing servicing of existing equipment. This gap will be filled by reclaimed gases. The main components that make up some blended gases include molecules found in HFCs (Hydrogen, Fluorine, and Carbon). Some of the products we use, including HFO blends, may include those components. R23, R32, R125, R134a, R143a, R404A, R407A, R407C. R407F, R407H, R410A, R417A, R421A, R422D, R507 R448A and R449A are HFO blends that contain HFC components, therefore they are impacted by the AIM Act. So, to summarize this: The inevitable phase-down of HFCs most end users will have to choose between HFOs or all natural refrigerants. On a lighter note, it’s that time of year again. The RETA National Conference is almost here. I am looking forward to visiting with old friends and meeting

new friends.. We have an action-packed conference with the best training and social networking around. You won’t want to miss the Business Meeting and Lunch with Keynote Speaker Jim Knight. You’ll also want to spend time at the informative educa tional sessions, taking advantage of the fantastic Exhibition Hall opportunities to network and discover new equip ment, processes, and vendors, and having a little fun at the Autobahn Indoor Raceway, Jacksonville Icemen Hockey Game and Awards Dinner featuring the comedic stylings of Max Winfrey. I want to give a special “thank you” to our Sponsors and Exhibitors. We couldn’t do this without you. I look forward to seeing all of you in Jacksonville. Best to each of you and God Bless,

Jim Barron RETA Executive Director

6 RETA.com

Providing Moisture Control Solutions for over 60 Years

Long known for its weatherproof cladding and vapor barriers, Polyguard now offers superior insulation systems (including protection from CUI) targeting below ambient and chilled water applications and a complete line of pipe supports and tools from Buckaroos.

Alumaguard ®

RG-2400 ®

Styrofoam ™ XPS

Pipe Supports

Insulrap ™ /ZeroPerm ® PolyPhen ®

• Weatherproof Jacketing • CUI protection • Vapor Barriers • Insulation • Pipe Supports

The DOW logo is a registered trademark and STYROFOAM is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow

800-969-3113 www.buckaroos.com

214-515-5000 www.polyguard.com/mechanical

Buckaroos is now a Polyguard Company

RETA.com 7

CONFERENCE CORNER

THE COUNT DOWN BEGINS

T HE 30 DAY COUNT down begins! With less than a month, we are in the final stages of the 2023 RETA National Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The 2023 Conference schedule offers over 17 different Technical Topics, relevant to today’s industrial refrigeration industry. But wait, there’s more! Hands-On sessions, Hot Points , and some great Workshops lined up: The Operators Challenge, Management of Change, WiNR Professional Development, History of Refrigeration, Refrigeration Round Table discussions, and Epic Fails! Networking opportunities such as WiNR Reception and Chapter Leaders Reception will surely connect you while learning more about each program offerings. Keynote Speaker, Jim Knight kicks off our Tuesday Business Meeting and Lunch with Culture That Rocks!

So much learning and fun is waiting for you at RETA 2023! Swing in to our TopGolf Networking event on Monday at noon for a chance to birdie up to some new contacts or simply connect with old friends. TopGolf is not your typical golf tournament, so you don’t have to be a “golfer” to join in the fun. Come on out, have some fun, and enjoy the afternoon. You won’t want to miss our Monday Night Out event at the Autobahn Indoor Raceway. Catch a ride on the provided shuttle transportation and join us for a fast filled night racing, ax throwing and playing some good old-fashioned video arcade games, all while enjoying the moment with the rest of the RETA Family. Race around the track or make a pit stop for a little food. If racing doesn’t excite you, maybe a

Jacksonville Icemen Hockey game will! Watch the Icemen skate across the Guts of the Ice chasing the biscuit to the net. Score a chance for some excitement in the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Wednesday Night. Transportation provided. America’s Got Talent Stunt Comedian, Max Winfrey, will wrap up Awards Night on Thursday with his fun filled show! Not only do we have fun, on-stage entertainment, and a RETA After Hours Lounge, but we are holding our 2nd Annual Exhibitor & Sponsor Awards. We know that the RETA National Conference could not happen without your continued support through exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities and now, it’s time for you to be recognized, on stage! Attendees will receive a ballot at registra tion and vote onsite at Conference during

8 RETA.com

RETA

open exhibit hall hours. Winners will be announced at Awards Night, Thursday, November 16th. Don’t forget to select that you’re attending the Awards Night when you register for Conference! Did you know you can get involved and be a part of the team that makes the Confer ence successful? It’s true. The RETA Confer ence has many volunteer opportunities: • Conference Committee Member • Onsite Session Moderator • Conference Speaker & Presenter For more information and to get involved contact Stephanie Date at 541-497-2955 or stephanie@reta.com Don’t forget to save the date for RETA 2024 in Grapevine Texas! If you missed the opportunity to sponsor and/or exhibit this year, don’t worry! We will have great opportunities for 2024. REGISTER TODAY! If you have not registered yet, now is the time! Please register at https://reta.com/ page/2023-conference-register. BOOK YOUR ROOM TODAY! The RETA room block has expired but don’t fret, there are still rooms available at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Jacksonville. Please book your room directly on their website or call them at 904-588-1234. As always, the success of this event is not possible without the continued support of our generous Sponsors, Exhibitors, Confer ence Committee, Volunteers, RETA HQ Staff and Board of Directors. See you in Jacksonville, Florida! • Onsite Event Setup • Registration Support • Onsite Volunteering

WHAT IS THIS “RETA RUMBLE”? In the early 2000’s the Atlanta chapter created a competition based on the “College Bowl” television show of the 1950’s and 1960’s. This bowl event places two teams of college students in competition to win money for their school. The students hear a question posed by the moderator and the first team to “buzz in” is given the opportu nity to answer the question. Points are awarded for correct responses and removed for answering wrongly. The Atlanta chapter challenged the Carolinas chapter in the first “RETA Bowl” in a joint chapter meeting. It was a success. In 2005 the RETA Bowl was introduced as a presentation at the 2005 annual conference. Four chapters got together to compete through a tiering elimination structure culminat ing in the awarding of the champion precipitated the need for a referee to declare which team first indicated they want to answer and whether the response is accurate or not. At times the room erupted into loud agreement or dissatisfaction with the referee and moderators. Thus came the name RETA Rumble. It is a lot of fun. The RETA Rumble is an activity associated with a sponsored breakfast on the second or third day of confer ship to the winning chapter. The competitive nature of the teams

ence. Everyone needs breakfast and the chance to sit down to eat with new friends you will meet at conference. Leadership felt it was important to give all attendees a chance to participate in the learning and competitive challenge that comes through the fast-paced delivery of questions from the moderating team. The questions center on refrigeration knowledge, local history, and information present ed in an informational history lesson presented before the competition begins. Having a mix of questions makes it possible for all in attendance to respond to questions. The tables are numbered and equipped with bells and paddles used to indicate their intent to answer the question. Today, four referees and two moderators are required to provide order as tables compete for the opportunity to answer the question. Today, eighteen years after the introduction of the competition, table teams receive prizes mid-competition and the scores add up. The team of the winning table receives significant awards, sometimes $100 gift cards thanks to the sponsorship of the event. Come for a great breakfast, enhance relationships with new acquaintances, and experience the opportunity to learn from the group as a whole. RETA Professional Development Hours are awarded for your participation. See you there……….

Stephanie Date Events Manager

RETA.com 9

A CONFERENCE SNEAK PEEK

USING STATISTICAL METHODS TO ASCERTAIN RUNNING CONDITION OF GLYCOL PUMPS Vic Simkus Pumps are a critical component of every refrigeration system. From the gear pumps on the compres sors to the centrifugal pumps on the recirculators to the peristaltic chemical pumps on the condens ing towers. They all serve different purposes, and all have different troubleshooting and monitoring methods. By reviewing historical data from a 30HP centrifugal glycol pump we will show a strong relationship between standard deviation of the pump discharge and known external operating conditions. The goal being to use the standard deviation of pump discharge to identify suboptimal operating conditions.

EPIC FAILS

Arlie Farley Epic fail Slang, noun.

A NEW HIRE’S GUIDE TO THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION

a spectacularly embarrassing or humorous mistake, humiliating situation, etc., that is subject to ridicule and given a greatly exaggerated importance. This session will cover several situations and discuss “What Not To Do” not only in industrial refrigeration systems, but in life too. Be prepared for a fun-filled, interactive session. One of the most popular sessions at conference. Arlie’s unique style is a delight. This is a great oppo- rtunity to learn from others’ mis- takes and laugh your donkey off.

Zachary Clasbey

Understanding moisture in the air is central to what we do. Moisture content affects defrost schedules and basic system operation. Zachary will revisit this core concept during his whitepaper presentation. “This paper serves as a primer to re-visit the basic physics of air and moisture, and to use these fundamental principles to derive some best-practice details and troubleshooting steps for eliminating ice and condensa tion in cold storage construction. Topics to be discussed include the psychrometric chart, insulation principles, vapor barriers, and building construction details.” Whether a psychometric novice or pro, this presentation will have something for you.

10 RETA.com

COMPLIANCE WHAT TO EXPECT POST AMMONIA RELEASE Scott Sweet & Jack McCarthy

ENGINEERING WAR STORIES - TALES OF AN AMMONIA REFRIGERATION ENGINEER Henry Bonar Henry Bonar is a Refrigeration Legend. He comes from a refrigeration family. He is considered an Ammonia Refrigeration expert. Several former RETA presidents consider the Bonar’s as mentors. This is your opportunity to add Henry to your mentor list. His wealth of experience should make this presentation memorable. “Over the years I’ve had experiences some more meaningful than others and some that only occur maybe once in a lifetime that I’d like to share. Learning from others is a most painless way to improve your engineering skills. Ammonia has been a key refrigerant particularly in the perishable food industry for more than 100 years and probably will remain an active refrigerant in many applications. One pops up in my mind is the cooling system for the space shuttle computer system utilizes ammonia. Learning to use it and its idiosyncrasies and respect it are key to its successful use in time.” Lack of preparation, planning, and experience are critical components that must be evaluated and overcome as part of any emergency pre-planning scenarios. Coupled with this aspect but typically less prepared for is business continuity. This planning, which is tied to the interruption of the business due to an event, encompasses facility preplanning, business continuity, and planning to ensure that a business will survive an ammo nia event. Bookmark this one. This is one you won’t want to miss. Some of our greatest fears around compliance involve what happens when we have a release. Scott and Jack will be presenting their whitepa per “What to Expect Post Ammonia Release” at this year’s conference. Here is a sneak peek. Any unplanned emergency, and potentially catastrophic anhydrous ammonia release can have devastating effects on both the personal safety of employees, the public, the environment, and certainly the continuity of any associated business. Our experience and involvement with a myriad of release types (including ammonia fatalities), interaction with Federal, State, and Local regulatory agencies, as well as client legal counsel, have provided a number of “lessons learned” that will be shared with the audience. It is the author’s intent to prepare the audience for the after action event timelines through discussion and real-world examples to assist and prepare the audience for the unexpected.

LIFE CYCLE OF A RECOMMENDATION

Kevin Cardoza Deficiency recommendations can be the bane of our compliance programs. Kevin’s upcoming conference presentation will walk us through the pitfalls of recom mendations. Alleviating our fears (hopefully) and giving us some tools to deal with these pesky things. Have you ever had difficulty in both developing, assessing, and closing out recommendations resulting from a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)? It may be difficult to not only develop a recommendation in hopes to improve upon the safety and efficiency of the refrigeration system, but it can also prove challenging in understanding the following steps to ensure that a recommendation is properly implemented and documented. Recommendations may also require additional steps in order to meet the require ments for recommendation closure from a regulatory viewpoint. The technical paper Life Cycle of a Recommendation for the 2023 RETA Conference aims to provide its audience with assistance in development and implementation of recommendations. The aim is to improve upon the regulatory standings which play a role in recommendation closure and provide insight from experienced individuals in the field who assist in the documentation of recommen dation closure. The regulatory standings may lead into one another or require that another regulatory aspect be addressed as part of the recommendation closure. By developing and expanding upon the intricate relationship between regulatory requirements and experiences, the aim is to demonstrate the “life cycle” of a recommendation. Finally, the technical paper aims to reflect on how proper implementation or how a “shortened” life cycle of a recommendation may affect those associated with refrigeration systems. A deeper understanding of recom mendations will allow for greater management, safety culture, and efficiency of PHAs for the refrigeration system.” If you’re losing sleep over your recommendation backlog, plant to attend this session.

RETA.com 11

A CONFERENCE SNEAK PEEK

INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION ROUND TABLE - LESSONS LEARNED Ray Urban The Industrial Refrigeration Round Table – Lessons learned will be a very lively discussion. This will be memorable and well worth your time. Presentation times and locations are outlined in the conference schedule. Jamey Price RETA Past-President Jamey Price will tackle the ins and outs of condenser passivation. Condenser passivation is extremely impor tant to the life cycle of a condens er. Wrong passivation can be as damaging as no passivation. If you have a new condenser sched- uled to come online, you don’t want to miss this presentation. UNRAVELING THE 5-YEAR MI PARADIGM Suzanne Vohsen Join us for an interesting presen tation on the mysteries of the 5-year inspection. If you have questions on the process or expectations, this is a great time to get these answered. See the conference schedule for the times and locations. PASSIVATION OF CONDENSERS

REALITY CHECK! ENERGY MANAGEMENT FROM AN OPERATOR’S PERSPECTIVE James Majsak As energy costs rise, real-time energy management is an area of focus for many facility management teams. While this sounds like a good initiative to immediately put in place, there are a few realities that must be faced for these types of programs to be successful. Energy managers, engineers and consulting partners are not operators. Operators cannot be full-time energy managers. Operators have unique knowledge on the impact of energy saving measures on equipment and operations. Operators are challenged when trying to balance plant opera tions with energy savings measures. This presentation will help attendees understand the challenges operators face while attempting to participate in energy savings initiatives. It is also intended to encourage management to work more closely with operators to develop realistic and effective energy savings measures.”

HANDS ON TRAINING VERSES CLASSROOM TRAINING: WHICH IS REALLY BETTER? John Sherrill John Sherrill is one of the most outstanding educators of our time. His accomplishments at not only teaching, but establishing training centers, establishes John as a true training authority. He has received several awards including the most coveted of Ammonia training awards the Guy R. King Award. This presentation will continue and hopefully resolve the age-old debate, of the value of classroom training vs. the value of hands-on training and outline why you need both. “In this paper we will attempt to define and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the two primary methods typically viewed as the primary alternative types of training, hands-on and classroom. We will attempt to determine the areas where each can excel and areas where that style of training may yield less than optimum results. In a previous paper we attempted to outline the various different types of training available and touch on the strong and weak points of each. In this paper, we will focus on the two most popular types of training in use today and detail their strong points as well as their weak points. We will begin with a review of the strengths and weak nesses of hands-on and classroom styles of training. Then We will look at what the motivating factors are for provid ing training for our operators and do a deeper dive into outlining what we expect to get out of the training we provide our operators. Management can expect to gain from working through the following sections by achieving their ultimate goal of having well trained, knowledgeable operators with the minimum cost for the necessary training.” If you’re involved in the organization of training at your facility, this presentation is not to be missed.

12 RETA.com

HOT WORK PERMITS FOR AMMONIA REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Tony Lundell Hot work requirements have been around for a long time, but do we really under stand why? Join us for an enlightening presentation by a very entertaining speaker. OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) and the Hazard Prevention Element of EPA’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) require employers to issue a permit for hot work operations conducted on or near a covered process. The hot work permit is a crucial safe work practice, which is why it’s included as a key PSM/RMP element. This presentation will examine the role of hot work permits; the regulatory require ments and application criteria for their use; the risks involved in hot work; and additional guidance on safely carrying out hot work projects. We’ll review… • Required pre-permit measures • Hot work precautions • Issuer and performing authority acceptance verifications • Post-permit measures • Issuer closure and performing authority acknowledgement • Hot work permit-to-work process steps • Considerations for inspection visits of the work area and permit handover LEARNING OBJECTIVES • After participating in this activity, participants will be able to… • List required measures for hot work permits. • Discuss the risks involved with hot work permit activities and the precautions required to mitigate those risks. • Identify responsibilities of individuals involved with approving and performing hot work permit activities.

MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE

Bill Lape Do you have a deer in the headlights look when someone mentions doing an MOC? Do your knees quake when someone asks you to do an MOC? Are you told routinely that “You should have done a MOC for that?” Has a regulator cited your facility with less than 10,000 lbs of ammonia for not managing changes under their General Duty Clause? If so, then you need to consider signing up to attend this full-day workshop on conducting a proper • The steps to conducting an MOC and when to do them during the change • How to determine what system documentation will need to be modified due to the change at the facility • What documentation is needed as part of an MOC • How the design of your MOC form will make it easier or harder to conduct a proper MOC Mr. Lape’s experience includes all aspects of preparing a PSM program. This includes participating in Process Hazard Analyses as the team leader and recorder and prepar ing qualitative risk analysis. Mr. Lape is also experienced in developing Process Safety Information packets, drafting Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, writing Standard Operating Procedures, perform ing safety relief and inventory calculations, as well as developing and conducting initial and refresher training for Ammonia Refrigeration Operators. Mr. Lape has also been involved in auditing PSM programs, performing over 50 audits since 2015, helping to ensure that facilities are keeping their employees and the public safe, while maintaining compliance with regulations. Management of Change (MOC). In this workshop, you will learn: • How to determine if an MOC is necessary

RETA.com 13

A CONFERENCE SNEAK PEEK

MANAGEMENT FINDING OPERATORS: EXITING MILITARY AS ONE OPTION Jeff Sloan Jeff Sloan is one of the premiere educators of our time. He has received several awards including the most coveted of Ammonia training awards the Guy R. King Award. As an instructor for thousands of operators Jeff can speak to the need to qualified personnel. As an ex-military man who served our country for decades, Jeff can speak to the availability of qualified ex-military personnel. “I’m approached quite frequently on the topic of finding qualified individuals for hire in the refrigeration industry. Although it is not the primary position of my current employment to recruit people, I would like to share a little used way to find potential hires and one I can communicate from personal experience. I’m retired military. The military is a known source for technically trained individuals, but the problem in reaching them is multi-layered. Converting job descriptions from military to civilian, meeting potential hires, and understanding what little transition assistance the veteran receives are all topics that need discussion. We will explore these, the RETA Training Institute program ‘RedWhiteandCool’, and other area outlets to match the needs of your company and the veteran looking for employment. “ If you’re involved in recruitment at your facility, this presentation is not to be missed.

PREVENTING HYDRAULIC SHOCK IN REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Tony Lundell Hydraulic shock can be a lurking killer in our refrigeration systems. Quiet for years, but ready to explode with violent force. It is vital that we find these hidden killers and prevent them from damaging our system. This presentation will outline the basics of hydraulic shock and give us insight into finding and eliminating these issues. DESCRIPTION Explanations will be presented of the dynamics of hydraulic shock in a refrigeration system and highlights of the warning signs that may be present before causing damage. The three types of disturbance mechanisms that can lead to hydraulic shock in refrigeration systems will be discussed and outline measures for its preven tion. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After attending this session, participants will be able to.... Describe the characteristics of hydraulic shock and list the major indications that may be occurring in a refrigeration system. Recognize the three disturbance mechanisms that can cause hydraulic shock in refrigeration systems. Explain methods to identify and prevent hydraulic shock in refrigeration systems.”

IIAR SUITE OF STANDARDS UPDATE

Tony Lundell Tony Lundell’s presentations are always entertaining and informative. The IIAR Suite of standards provides the foundations for RAGEGEP for our industry. If your responsible for design or compliance. You need to keep up on changes as they occur and what better way to that than with an entertaining and authoritative expert like Tony. IIAR Standards contain both normative and informative information, establishing both the minimum require ments for industry compliance and advisory informa tion where applicable. IIAR Standards are ANSI approved as they are subject to a rigorous public review process to ensure that they represent an industry consensus. IIAR standards set the industry standard and are a must-have technical resource to ensure a safe and efficient industrial refrigeration operating environment. The IIAR Suite of Standards for Ammonia as the refrigerant has nine (9) standards to address definitions and terminology used in the IIAR Standards, designing (new) safe close-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems (C-CARMs), installation, startup, inspecting, testing, and maintaining, decommissioning (permanently retiring), and minimum safety requirements for existing (older) systems. IIAR also has a Safety Standard for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as the refrigerant and a Hydrocarbon (HC) Standard in development using (natural) HC refrigerants. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After attending this session, participants will be able to.... • List the nine (9) IIAR Standards by their designated numbers and their titles that pertain to Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems and understand the differences between them. • Understand the content of the IIAR Safety Standard for Closed-Circuit Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration Systems. • Understand the IIAR Safety Standard for Closed Circuit Refrigeration Systems Utilizing (Natural) Hydrocarbon Refrigerants. I find it often helps to open up the whitepaper and take notes during the presentation.

14 RETA.com

AMMONIA TRANSFER MADE SIMPLE, GREEN AND SAFE!!

MULTISTAGE PUMP ALP

TEIKOKU’S INNOVATIVE ALP * PUMP ELEVATES THE STANDARD IN AMMONIA TRANSFER SERVICE!

■ One Size ■ Variable Speed ■ Smaller Pump ■ Low NPSH R ■ Compact Powerful Motor ■ Increased Efficiency ■ Leakproof Design with Positive Secondary Containment

PA HQ: (215) 343-6000 TX: (713) 983-9901 Email: info@TeikokuPumps.com

*ADVANCED LOW-PROBABILITY

Helping you keep it cool for over 30 years!

Our flexible Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) delivers reliable data on your piping and vessels to support MI inspections, maintenance and PSM/RMP. No holes in piping insulation, no radiation risk, no configuration limitations, no pipe too small.

763-205-0828 camcolubricants.com

inspectpipe.com 847-844-8765

Company. Trusted by end users, contractors and consul tants.

Gamma Graphics Services, A

RETA.com 15

A CONFERENCE SNEAK PEEK

THE HISTORY OF REFRIGERATION: VOLUME 1

THE ENHANCED MEB—SO MUCH MORE THAN A PSM DOCUMENT Mark Malagon Material and Energy Balances are extremely useful tools. If you’re not convinced now, an hour with Mark will leave you a true believer. Mark’s whitepaper and accompanying presentation will outline the importance of using the Material and Energy Balance to its best effect. The Material and Energy Balance, or MEB, is often one of the most overlooked and underutilized documents in a PSM Program. The MEB is required by PSM regulations, but most MEBs are done with little detail in an effort to “check the box.” What does a great MEB look like, and what else can it be used for besides checking the compli ance box? This paper will explore the bones of a great MEB and discuss the plethora of simple additions which can be used to transform it from a stagnant document to an engineering tool. The baseline MEB is a calculation of the system balance at design conditions. Normally this involves simply adding up loads and subtracting them from capacities. But industrial refrigeration systems are often designed with safety factors and redundancy, or on the contrary they are overtaxed due to higher than anticipated production loads. In either case, the system is rarely running at the design conditions shown in an MEB. By including the mass flow and a system balance of actual operating conditions, a tremendous amount of additional informa tion can be extracted from an MEB. With energy efficiency on the minds of most corporations, and consequently most facility managers and operators, the Enhanced MEB is crucial for planning upgrades, expansions, and energy reduction projects. If a system is not operating at design conditions, then the backup capacity and total available capacity listed on a design MEB is not very useful for planning. Secondary equipment such as pumps and vessels often get overlooked in a high-level system balance, but more detailed analysis can be used to ensure all components of the system are operating withing safe and efficient ranges. By using several existing refrigerated facilities as the basis for research, this paper will give concrete examples of how this information can be applied to improve operations and performance. The results will display significant system advancements easily identified through the Enhanced MEB. An MEB is already required, why not use it to its full potential? “

Vern Sanderson & Doug Siegert Vern has a saying “you can’t figure out where you’re going, until you know where you’ve been”. This presentation looks at some of the people and events of the early days of refrigeration. Vern refers to it as our “classic era”. I think Doug would argue that our next era will be our classic era, but regardless the early days of refrigeration are full of interesting people and events. Vern has a unique style of presenting information pertain ing to people like they are close friends and events as if we were all there. If you haven’t had an opportunity to listen to a Doug presentation, you’re in for a treat. Doug is a seasoned compliance profes sional with a great perspective. He entered the refrigeration industry after having attained a wealth of compliance knowledge. This has given him a much different perspective on the history of refrigeration. This will be Doug’s first presentation at RETA, you’ll like his style. Some of the behind-the-scenes facts that they have uncovered are great stories all on their own. But when inserted into the refrigeration timeline, these stories tell “THE story of early refrigeration.” If they don’t mention it, ask Doug and Vern about the experimental days of condensers. Oh, and ask about Thaddeus Lowe’s cat. Oh, oh, oh, and ask about Fredrick Tudor’s sister. And the Ice train, don’t forget to ask about the ice train……

CHAPTER LEADERS ROUND TABLE Dan Denton The power of RETA is the RETA family; shared experiences, trials, tribulations, and successes. Our Chapter leaders facilitate this experience at the chapter level. The Chapter Leaders Round Table is the family reunion of the year. Come join us. This workshop is for all current, past, and potential Chapter Leaders. The agenda includes an open discussion on issues relevant to running a Chapter, including but not limited to: Review of annual reporting procedures Building attendance strategies How to find a Chapter meeting Speakers Chapter Startup Q&A Operations Guidelines Manual Additional topics that arise Any and all additional sugges tions for the information hour are welcome. If you are, was, or would like to be, a chapter officer, or are just looking for food, this is a great session for you.

16 RETA.com

CHOOSING A HIGH-QUALITY PHA FACILITATOR Ryan Bray How can you select a high quality PHA facilitator? What should you look for? What are the pit falls? Come and find out. See the conference schedule for the times and locations.

THE OPERATORS CHALLENGE

Don Tragethon & Russ Ramos When Don and Russ get in front of an audience great things happen. This year’s presentation will be no exception. This presentation describes the basis of conducting an “Operator’s Challenge” session with the goal to provide an opportunity for an operator to engage in conversation with verbal knowledge of refrigeration systems. The presenter will demonstrate how to draw out information such as operational limits, sequence steps, typical operating conditions, running of pipes, the functions of valves, safety systems, control methodology, and so on.

SUMMARY OF NATURAL REFRIGERANT CODES & STANDARDS

Bill Lape & Tony Lundell This item is one of the least understood of the various code requirements. What are the requirements for a Machinery Room? The confusion normally centers around the design and construction of the Machinery room. Many designers do not understand there are multiple codes that apply to a machinery room design. This paper and presentation will focus on current code and standards and good practices for Refrigerant Detection and Ventilation. Focusing just on construction/ detection/Ventilation, it will educate our members on what to be aware of and convey the requirements that will assist our members in auditing their Machinery Room installation. Specific Codes and standards that will be discussed and reviewed are as follows: • International Building Code • International Mechanical Code • International Fire Code • IIAR2 • ASHRAE 15

RETA.com 17

A CONFERENCE SNEAK PEEK

MARKETING CORNER

Hello RETA members. I’m very excited to get started and to help grow all aspects of RETA through an increased market ing effort. Marketing is a vital part of any organization and I look forward to applying my 28 years of experience in this field to help lift the RETA brand throughout the world. Over the past 30 days I have been getting up to speed on all the values and benefits of being a RETA member. Most recently I spent several days learning about what it takes for RETA to provide certification. The value it brings to its certification holder and the organization they work for is priceless. Our certification truly is the gold standard, and it is reflected in anyone who holds a CARO, CIRO, CRES, or CRST credentials. Ask anyone you may know who holds these how truly worthwhile they are. Although RETA credentials are not easy to obtain, if you prepare with RETA materials you will find it is worth the time spent to acquire these prestigious credentials both professionally and financially. Also, part of my orientation I had the opportunity to go to the Blue Ridge Chapter Expo. These events are a great way to obtain free education and learn about the new technologies from the exhibiting companies there. Supporting the companies that support RETA is very important to our ecosystem. Our vendors supply innovative equipment that can help your refrigeration process. Just a simple conversa tion with them will save you time and money in the long run. If you recently missed your local chapter event, then please come to our annual National Conference in Jacksonville Nov 14-17th. You are guaranteed to learn something new. Although my title says “marketing” we are all marketers. Yes, you can have a direct impact in promoting RETA. Have you attended a conference, training, or a chapter event, and then talked about all the great things RETA does for our industry with someone else? Then if so, you are helping RETA. Please continue to talk and share your RETA experiences with your peers and colleagues and you will help our beloved organiza tion grow to new heights. I’m simply a megaphone for these efforts and will look to increase our online and in person presence throughout the refrigeration industry. It truly is a privilege being apart of the RETA family and I look forward to having an impact. Thank you to every RETA member I have met so far, and I look forward to seeing

IS IT WORTH THE ENERGY - ROI WORKSHOP

Tom Simenc Cost justification is a major roadblock in the capital approval process. Tom’s whitepaper gives great insight into the subject and will provide some much needed tools for your energy plan toolbox. “It’s great when energy savings can help pay for a project, but with the complexity of refrigeration systems, it can be difficult to know how much cost savings to expect. Understanding the basic principles of energy costs and how to estimate energy savings can help with budget prioritization and decision-making. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate methods for estimating the baseline energy use of a refrigeration system, the perfor mance of each component, and the energy savings for common improvements. Before estimating how much energy can be saved, it’s often necessary to quantify current annual energy use. This paper will show how compressor rating software, equipment technical data, and common engineering assumptions or measurement techniques and tools can help quickly establish the baseline energy and efficiency of a system. Energy and cost savings can be achieved by reducing load, upgrading equipment, or improving performance through controls or operation. This paper will discuss how to identify the mechanism of energy savings for different common projects, what part of the baseline energy use is affected, and how to estimate the savings. For both capital improvements and operational changes many of the calculation methodologies are similar and can be done with basic math and no special software. This paper will provide the reader with the information needed to investigate the basic economics of a refrigera tion system energy project and a diverse set of example calculations to use as a reference.” If you’re involved in the project justification process or just have an interest in energy usage at your facility. This is the presentation for you!

everyone at this year’s conference. RETA, making a cold world safe! Erik Klingerman Marketing & Sales Coordinator

18 RETA.com

UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION TYPES

Stephanie Smith Stephanie is presenting a wonderful whitepaper on communication. Communi cation is a tool we use every day, some of us are proficient and some are left wanting. Stephanie, will help us become more proficient. Communication. While we begin learning words at a very young age, successful communication takes years (if not decades) to master. What makes communi cation successful? We will investigate methods to communicate based on four (4) primary personality types and why

these personality types matter. How do you fully understand what someone else is really communicating to you? The approach is to provide the audience with information regarding how communica tion may differ depending on the person ality type on the receiving end. How do you communicate to others in a way they understand? By understanding the recipient’s predominant personality type, we engage them more fully in a conversa tion and can deliver our message in an easy, well-received manner. The presentation will provide a brief history and overview in the DISC model’s

four (4) primary personality types. The approach is to provide the audience with information regarding how communica tion may differ depending on the person ality type. The topic takes an important personal / professional development topic and relates it back to how we communi cate in the industrial refrigeration industry. It is a very applicable topic for a diverse industry of people of different generations, backgrounds, and personalities.” Everyone will benefit from this presenta tion. We suggest you bring a co-worker, to help share the information.

2023 NATIONAL CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Tripple Diamond

Double Diamond

Diamond

Double Platinum

Titanium

RETA.com 19

SERVICE

The Shade Tree Mechanic

volume LIII

COMPROMISE Give a little to get a lot. That seems like a good idea. Why the heck is it so hard? I walked inta a crazy discussion the other day. There was a war brewing about the format of a form. Now as ya probably guessed, forms are just my favorite thing. Ha! I would prefer most forms wadded into balls and burnt in the front yard. I can’t imagine arguin over the format of a form. Heck I’d throw in my 2 cents if needed, but probably wouldn’t get to arguin over it. Anyway, the form was on 11x17 paper and wouldn’t fit on a normal clip board. Idjet #1 wanted the form to be changed to 2 double sided normal pages (editor’s note 8-1/2 x 11”). Idjet #2 wanted the form to stay double sided big paper (editor’s note 11 x 17”). The discussion was getting pretty heated. Idjet#2 “It’s my form and that’s the way it’s gonna be” Idjet#1 “Then you better get use to fillin it out, cause I ain’t usin it”. Idjet#2 “I’ll make sure you get written up until you use it or gets pointed out”. Idjet#1 “You point me out over a stupid form, we’re gonna have a real problem”. Now we had an HR problem. “Real problem” = “Bu*t Kickin” in Kentucky. So, I decided it was time to calm the whole thing down before we lost two really good (but kinda crazy) team members. Well, not exactly calm it down. I piss*d them both off so they could be mad at me instead of each other. Here’s what I did, I screamed “Idjets! Order one-a-them clipboards for big paper” Don’t that seem like the best way to resolve it? Oh no, both of them try to convince me that they were right, the other was wrong, and I didn’t understand the real issue. I understood the real issue: 100% ego, 0% compromise.

Well I understood they was both actin like little kids fightin over the last Hershey bar. I had offered a solution. But both of them were so convinced they were right, they wouldn’t compromise. It was no longer about getting a solution it was about winning. Why? It’s a form. As long as it gathers the right information and is usable, then get on with your day. I will contribute my opin- ion, but I’m not getting heated about it. A guy told me one time, “Everyone has the opportunity to be wrong. If it doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter. Give your opinion and move on”. Good advice. I prefer to think that there are three possible positions: My way (the way it should be done). A way that will work (but not as good as mine), and then just plum wrong. Don’t forget, that it does not need to be your way to work. We just can’t live with plum wrong, sometimes. Remember “If it doesn’t matter, then it doesn’t matter”. There was another instance where a big project was held up because no one would budge. We could have gotten a good product out, not perfect, months earlier, if we had found middle ground. When we refuse to compromise, everybody loses. In another example, we had a little project held up for months and months because no one wanted to compromise. A lot of people didn’t get what they needed because egos got in the way. People wanted perfection and wouldn’t compromise on something that was pretty darn good. Next time you’re arguing over stupid s*uff (thought I was gonna use a different word didn’t ya Sara?), try to find a way to compromise! The shade tree grows outside of the little town of Broughton, Ohio. Where everyone is always welcome, the beer is always cold, and something is always needin fixin.

Ensuring longevity Lifetime aftermarket support services for Screw Compressors • Original replacement parts • Engineering support and advice • Repair and overhaul service • High performance shaft seal

For compressor service and support, contact: Houston Service Center

7204 Harms Road Houston, TX 77041 t: 716-817-6900

e: inquiries.USA@howden.com w: howden.cloud/RETA-2023

© Howden Group Ltd. All rights reserved. 2023

20 RETA.com