Literature Library
Publications
The Venture Engineering core staff of professionals is experienced in a variety of process industries including energy, biorefining, refining, chemicals, petrochemicals, alloys, consumer products, and general manufacturing industries. View our statement of qualifications below for these areas.
Statement Of Qualifications
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Bio RefiningAlternative energy development is not a new concept for process engineering companies. By nature, process engineers are problem solvers and are always looking for ways to improve processing efficiencies, and energy usage is always a key element/driver. |
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Commercial/InstitutionalVenture’s typical project focus in the commercial and institutional markets is aided by our extensive industrial engineering experience. We are proficient with LEED Design, HVAC systems design, District Energy Distribution, Steam |
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EnergyVenture Engineering offers a wide array of engineering and environmental services in support of power / energy projects, such as utility power plants municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy projects, distributed generating renewable energy and conventional cogen / combined heat and power projects. |
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Landfill & GasVenture Engineering offers a wide array of engineering and environmental services in support of landfill gas and biodigester gas to energy projects, as well as municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy projects, and conventional cogen / combined heat and power projects. |
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ManufacturingVenture Engineering has extensive experience with regard to Manufacturing. We have worked in |
Brochures
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Venture BrochureVenture Engineering & Construction (Venture) is a closely held, multi-disciplined engineering and construction management company. Pittsburgh based, Venture provides services to clients throughout North America and abroad ranging from front-end engineering to detailed design and construction management. |
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Venture Capabilities BookVenture Engineering provides multi-disciplinary consulting services. |
Technical Briefs
Adapting Boilers To Utilize Landfill GasUtilization of landfill gas (LFG) in place of a conventional fuel such as natural gas, fuel oil, or coal in boilers is an established practice with a track record of more than 25 years of success. In the United States, more than 60 organizations have switched to the use of LFG in their industrial, commercial, or institutional boilers, with more than 70 boilers operating with LFG, either alone or co-fired with other fuels. Boilers firing LFG range in size from 2 to more than 150 million (MM) Btu/hr. The Venture staff has been involved in a number of recent LFG boiler modifications. The following is a brief outline of considerations and approach to adapting your existing boiler to LFG source. |
Coal Fired Power Plants & Co2 EmissionsThe world meets 25% of its primary energy demand with coal, a number projected to increase steadily over the next 25 years. With respect to carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prevalent greenhouse gas, coal combustion was responsible for 41% of the world’s CO2 emissions in 2005 (11 billion metric tons). Coal is particularly important for electricity supply. In 2005, coal was responsible for about 46% of the world’s power generation, including 50% of the electricity generated in the United States, 89% of the electricity generated in China, and 81% of the electricity generated in India. Coal-fired power generation is estimated to increase 2.3% annually through 2030, with resulting CO2 emissions estimated to increase from 7.9 billion metric tons per year to 13.9 billion metric tons per year. |
Commissioning Of Industrial FacilitiesCommissioning is a neglected but contractually significant activity that is frequently contentious. Many of the points of contention can be diffused in advance by being clear on the requirements, and harmonizing the requests for proposal, contract documents and obligations of the designer accordingly. Proper planning is beneficial and will streamline the process. Attention to contractual requirements is crucial. Careful data gathering is also key. With the construction team’s support, the commissioner will contribute to the success of all project stakeholders. |
Distributed PowerThe practice of installing and operating electric generating equipment at or near the point of use is known as ‘distributed generation’ (DG). In contrast, the traditional model of electricity generation in the U.S., is usually called ‘central station’ generation. It consists of building and operating large power plants, transmitting the power at high voltage over long distances and then delivering it to the end user through local utility distribution systems. What are the advantages of distributed power, and what are the weaknesses? This paper provides an overview of the technology and it’s potential. |
Double Walled Piping SystemsThe design and construction of a double wall pipe is more complex than a single wall pipe because of the additional pipe, associated welds and tie in procedures. There are numerous design, operating and monitoring difficulties associated with spacers and bulkheads or shear rings. There is no compelling reason to use them when the primary function of the outer pipe is secondary containment. |
Engineering Support Of ConstructionThis brief applies to engineering support for engineering-procurement-construction projects, also known as design-bid-build projects, with construction management by others. This brief is intended to be used as an aid to determining the level of engineering support required during construction, from the office and in the field. For purposes of this brief, when the term “engineer” is used, it applies to the engineering firm or its representatives, that were responsible for the design of the project. |
EPA Finalizes Rule On Spcc AmendmentsFor the last 5 or 6 years, the EPA has been working on revisions to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure rules. On December 5, 2008, EPA finalized amended SPCC requirements. The final rule becomes effective on February 3, 2009, with a compliance date of July 1, 2009. Venture Engineering & Construction’s (Venture’s) process and environmental staff of evaluated the new rule and offer the following analysis as a guideline for what this means for our oil & gas customers. In general, the new rule contains some attempts to provide flexibility, but the new alternatives seem to require an operator to jump through many hoops with additional record keeping, inspections and various other requirements that operators will have trouble with. |
Marcellus Shale Water TreatmentCentered in western Pennsylvania, the Marcellus stretches over some 600 miles of the Appalachian Basin from West Virginia and northeast into the state of New York. Marcellus has been estimated to contain anywhere from 168 trillion to 516 trillion cubic feet of gas. A member of the Devonian black shales, Marcellus is categorized as a dual porosity reservoir, wherein fractures can be drained rapidly while the shale matrix is drained more slowly. According to geologists, the matrix holds much of the gas, so it’s vital to connect the matrix porosity to the wellbore for the most productive completions. |
Pipe Stress: Mystery & MagicIn spite of advanced finite element analysis tools, determining the optimal solution for a given problem is still very much dependent upon engineering judgement. Even when or if, stress analysis of a system is required depends on experienced engineering judgement. When is stress analysis necessary, perhaps required, and not required? |
Process Simulation and ModelingProcess modeling engineering involves using computer modeling software’s to design and test systems with interconnected components with multiple input and output streams, or a “process.” |
Siloxane Sentry ProfileAn outcome of the biogas-to-energy market, has been the realization that an obscure family of silicon based organic compounds have a significant impact on equipment, and must be controlled. More specifically, the product of siloxane combustion, silicon dioxide or silica, coats engine cylinder heads or gas turbine blades, and coats downstream catalysts with a glassy material that has a variety impacts. These impacts include: reduced heat dissipation from the cylinder head, faster degradation of engine oil, short turn-arounds between engine rebuilds, destruction of expensive catalyst, and in some cases, bent rods and/or catastrophic failure. |