Jim Sowinski, P.E.

Vice President of Codes & Standards

Years of Experience | 32

Education & Licenses:

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 1992, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
Registered Professional Engineer, States of Idaho, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia

Areas of Specialization:

Fitness-for-Service and remaining life assessments
ASME Code compliance calculations for pressure vessel and piping equipment
ASME Piping Code flexibility analysis
Piping hot tap evaluations
Troubleshooting, problem solving, and technical support for shutdowns
Project Consulting and Development of technical specifications
Pressure vessel and fitness-for-service training

Overview:

Jim has experience in both plant and corporate environments.  He has provided plant engineering support to maintenance and inspection personnel in both the refining and power utility industries.  His plant experience in start-up, normal operation, and shutdown environments along with his stress analysis and mechanical design experience has enabled him to develop advanced skills in solving a wide range of industry problems.

Jim provides fitness-for-service (FFS) evaluations in accordance with API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 to extend equipment life as well as design and analysis of pressure-containing equipment to evaluate mechanical integrity and improve reliability.  Such assessments have been performed using proprietary software and finite element analysis.  He performs pressure vessel and heat exchanger design and re-rate calculations utilizing the ASME B&PV Code Section VIII, Divisions 1 and 2 and industry standards.  He also performs pipe stress analyses in accordance with ASME B31.3 evaluating new and existing piping system layout and debottleneck design conditions.

Jim developed and implemented a Quality Control System in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code and has been Equity’s quality control manager for its “R” Certificate of Authorization issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.  He has also developed and managed training programs for refinery and petrochemical plant engineers and has instructed courses in pressure vessel design and FFS, including the API University API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service and the Equity Technical Institute Pressure Vessels: ASME VIII-1 and ASME VIII-2.

Jim is the technical lead for the pressure vessel section of the Equity Engineering Practices.  He performs design reviews for pressure vessels as part of major refinery capital projects, including expansions, revamps, and de-bottlenecking projects.

Jim serves on several ASME committees, including: 

  • BPV VIII Standards Committee, member
  • BPV VIII Executive Committee, member
  • ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on Design, Chair
  • BPV VIII Subgroup on General Requirements, member
  • BPV VIII Special Committee on Interpretations, member

Jim was involved in the development of the 2007 ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Division 2 pressure vessel code re-write.  He was a contributing author of ASME PTB –1 Section VIII – Division 2 Criteria and Commentary and primary author of ASME PTB-3 Section VIII – Division 2 Example Problem Manual and PTB-4, Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual.

Industry Activities:

  • Member of ASME BPV VIII Standards Committee, 2016-present
  • Member of ASME BPV VIII Executive Committee, 2019-present
  • Member and Chair of the ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on Design, 2004 (2019)-present
  • Member of the ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on General Requirements, 2010-present
  • Member of Special Committee on Interpretations, 2019-present
  • Involved in the development of the 2007 ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Division 2 Pressure Vessel Code
  • Contributing author of PTB-1 Section VIII – Division 2 Criteria and Commentary
  • Primary author of ASME PTB-3 Section VIII – Division 2 Example Problem Manual
  • Primary author of ASME PTB-4 Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual

Presentations:

“What’s New in BPV Section VIII, Division 1,” presented by S. Roberts, G. Rawls, M. Lower, and J. Sowinski at the ASME PVP Conference, July 2023, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA.

“Air Cooler Suitability-for-Service Assessment Findings,” presented by J.C. Sowinski and K. Gustoff at the 4th Annual Fitness-for-Service, Mechanical Integrity, & Reliability Summit, 2021, Shaker Heights, OH.

“Larg-Scale FFS/SFS Projects:  The Importance of a Protocol Document,” presented by M. Schaser, J.C. Sowinski, and K. Gustoff at the 3rd Annual Fitness-for-Service, Mechanical Integrity, & Reliability Summit, 2021, Shaker Heights, OH.

“What’s New in the Pressure Vessel, Piping, and Tank Codes,” presented by J.C. Sowinski, K.S. Shipley, and J.L. Andreani at the 2nd Annual Fitness-for-Service, Mechanical Integrity, & Reliability Summit, 2020, Houston, TX.

“ASME B&PV Code VIII 2: Background, Initiatives and Cost Savings,” presented by J.C. Sowinski at the 2019 API Inspection and Mechanical Integrity Summit, Galveston, TX.

“Introduction to Welded Repair Practices,” presented by J.C. Sowinski at the 1st Annual Fitness-for-Service, Mechanical Integrity, & Reliability Summit, 2018, Houston, TX.

“Mechanical Integrity Training Curriculum Best Practice,” presented by J.C. Sowinski at the 1st Annual Fitness-for-Service, Mechanical Integrity, & Reliability Summit, 2018, Houston, TX.

“An Overview of the New ASME Section VIII, Division 2 Pressure Vessel Code,” presented by J.C. Sowinski at the ASME International’s Workshop on Modernization of Section VIII Division 2, June 3-4, 2004, La Jolla, CA.

Publications:

Sowinski, J.C., ASME PTB-4-2021 ASME Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2022.

Sowinski, J.C., ASME PTB-3-2022 ASME Section VIII – Division 2 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2022.

Osage, D.A., Rodery, C.D., Sowinski, J.C., Pastor, T.P., Henry, P.A., Chapter 22, “Section VIII: Division 2 – Alternative Rules,” IN:  Rao, K.R., Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Fifth Edition, ASME Press, 2017.

Sowinski, J.C., Osage, D.A., ASME PTB-4-2013 ASME Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2013.

Sowinski, J.C., Osage, D.A., Brown, R.G., ASME PTB-3-2013 ASME Section VIII – Division 2 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2013.

Sowinski, J.C., Osage, D.A., ASME PTB-4-2012 ASME Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2012.

Osage, D.A., Rodery, C.D., Sowinski, J.C., Pastor, T.P., Brown, R.G., Henry, P.A., Chapter 22, “Section VIII: Division 2 – Alternative Rules,” IN:  Rao, K.R., Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Fourth Edition, ASME Press, 2012.

Sowinski, J.C., Osage, D.A., Brown, R.G., ASME PTB-3-2010 ASME Section VIII – Division 2 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2010.

Cao, Z., Bildy, L., Osage D.A., Sowinski, J.C., Development of Design Rules for Nozzles in Pressure Vessels for the ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Division 2, WRC Bulletin 529, The Welding Research Council, New York, NY, 2010.

Sowinski, J.C., Background Material for Conical Transitions without Knuckles or Flares, ASME PTB-1-2009 ASME Section VIII – Division 2 Criteria and Commentary, ASME, 4-21 – 4-30, New York, NY, 2009.

Sowinski, J.C., Cao, Z. Osage, D.A., Carr, N.A., Brubaker, J.E., Development of Design Rules for Conical Transitions in Pressure Vessels for the ASME B&PV Code Section VIII, Division 2, WRC Bulletin 521, The Welding Research Council, New York, NY, 2009