The Equity Engineering Group, Inc. > Our People > James C. Sowinski, P.E.

James C. Sowinski, P.E.

Mechanical & Structural Engineering Team Leader
Principal Engineer I

Years of Experience: 28

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
  • Engineering Training Program Development and Management
  • Piping Hot Tap Evaluations
  • Troubleshooting, Problem Solving, and Technical Support for Shutdowns
  • Project Consulting and Development of Technical Specifications
  • Vessel and Fitness-For-Service Training

Overview:

Mr. Sowinski 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.

Mr. Sowinski provides Fitness-For-Service (FFS) evaluations in accordance with API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 to extend equipment life as well as design an analysis of pressure-containing equipment to evaluate mechanical integrity and improve availability.  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, debottleneck design conditions, and piping vibrations.

Mr. Sowinski developed and implemented a Quality Control System in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code and is E2G’s quality control manager for its “R” Certificate of Authorization issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

Mr. Sowinski 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.

Mr. Sowinski is responsible for the development, management, and instruction of E2G’s API University and Equity Technical Institute engineering training programs, which include over a dozen different courses in the areas of Fitness-For-Service, Risk-Based Inspection, damage mechanisms, pressure relieving systems, pressure vessels, piping, tankage, materials, welding, and E2G software.  He provides instruction of training courses on pressure vessel design and FFS.

Mr. Sowinski serves on several ASME committees including the BPV VIII Standards Committee, is the Chair on the ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on Design, serves as a member of the BPV VIII Subgroup on General Requirements, and is the Chair of the BPV VIII Taskgroup on Common Rules.  Mr. Sowinski was involved in the development of the 2007 ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Division 2 pressure vessel code.  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.

Publications:

  1. Sowinski, J.C., Osage, D.A., ASME PTB-4-2013 ASME Section VIII – Division 1 Example Problem Manual, ASME, New York, NY, 2013.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Industry Activities:

  • Member of ASME BPV VIII Standards Committee, 2016-present
  • Member and Chair of the ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on Design, 2004-present
  • Member of the ASME BPV VIII Subgroup on General Requirements, 2010-present
  • Chair of the ASME BPV VIII Taskgroup on Common Rules, 2019-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