Engineering Calculations for PSM and RMP

Learn principles and practices of the various engineering calculations needed to help you properly document your industrial refrigeration systems to ensure regulatory compliance.

If you answer “no,” to one or more of these questions, this course is for you:

• Do you have a sound estimate of the total inventory of refrigerant in your industrial ammonia refrigeration system? 
• Have you properly documented the basis of design for your safety relief vent system(s)?
• Have you prepared mass and energy balances for the parts of your refrigeration systems constructed after May 1992?
• Do you have established methods for estimating the quantity of refrigerant lost by your system in the event of a leak?
• Do you understand the fundamental principles of the atmospheric dispersion modeling required by RMP?

• PSM coordinators
• Refrigeration engineers and supervisors
• Experienced operators involved with the PSM program
• Ammonia refrigeration design professionals
• Consulting engineers
• EHS personnel
• Others responsible for developing and implementing process safety and risk management programs

This course is part of the Process Safety Management Professional Certificate. Increase your knowledge and effectiveness at managing PSM/RMP programs for your ammonia refrigerated facility, while earning a recognized credential. Course can be taken individually as well.

Attendees participating in this course will be able to earn a digital badge as evidence of the knowledge they obtained during the course. Digital badges are micro-credentials that can be earned by successfully passing a final quiz administered online after completing the course. Click here for information on digital badges.

• Overview of engineering calculations to support PSM and RMP
• Refrigerant inventory calculations
• Safety-relief systems design and design basis
• Machinery room ventilation system design and design basis
• Incidents and release quantity estimation
• Mass and energy balances
• Dispersion modeling for off-site consequence analysis

Marc Claas

Marc Claas is an Associate Researcher with the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium and has been involved in industrial refrigeration since 2009. His interests include refrigeration system maintenance requirements, criteria for safe system operation, troubleshooting systems for safe and efficient operation, regulatory compliance in refrigeration systems, and emerging cooling technologies. His teaching experience includes online operator training programs, and his field experience includes PSM related activities such as PSM audits and PHAs. He also has experience investigating energy efficiency and other operational opportunities. Claas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Platteville and Master’s of Mechanical Engineering in Thermal Science from UW-Madison. He is an active member of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration.

Todd Jekel

Todd Jekel, PhD, PE is the assistant director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Jekel has been actively conducting research on refrigeration systems including vessel design practices, oil separators, and analysis of dehumidification alternatives for cold storage warehouses. He holds degrees from Calvin College and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Douglas Reindl

Douglas Reindl, PhD, PE is a professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a Program Director at the Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has extensive experience in mechanical systems – including industrial ammonia refrigeration systems. As the founding director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, he works extensively to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability, and productivity of ammonia refrigeration infrastructure. Dr. Reindl received his BS in mechanical engineering technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, MS in mechanical engineering from UW–Madison, and PhD in mechanical engineering from UW–Madison. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Wisconsin.