ME POST case studies
ME POST · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ME POST is a mechanical engineering post-examination used to assess whether a candidate can apply core mechanical engineering fundamentals under exam conditions. It suits engineering graduates, candidates preparing for licensure or employer screening, and practicing engineers who need a structured refresher. The ME POST case studies are 5 cases and about 4,556 words.
1Suction-Starved Cooling-Water Pump: NPSH Margin or a Throttling Orifice?
A municipal cooling-water pump draws from an open sump and delivers 120 m³/h at 45 m head when running at 1470 r/min. The suction line is 150 mm bore, 12 m long, with four long-radius elbows and a basket strainer; the pump centreline sits 3.5 m above sump minimum level.
866 words, about 4 min2Conveyor Drive Shaft Failure at a Shoulder Fillet
A conveyor drive gearbox output shaft failed after 14 months in service. The shaft is 60 mm diameter in the bearing and steps to 50 mm where the coupling hub seats; the fillet at the step was machined to 1.5 mm radius, and the keyway ends 8 mm from the shoulder.
869 words, about 4 min3Oscillating Steam-Heater Loop: Valve Stiction or Aggressive Tuning?
A shell-and-tube steam heater supplies 82 °C water to a process. A single PID controller trims a 50 mm linear globe valve on 6 bar g saturated steam; the RTD in a 12 mm thermowell has a step response that reaches 63% in 22 s.
940 words, about 5 min4Chilled-Water Plant with Low Delta-T: Add a Chiller or Fix the Loop?
An office campus chilled-water plant has three 400 TR centrifugal chillers and primary-secondary pumping; design supply/return is 6/13 °C at 520 m³/h. On a design-day survey at 85% of design load, the secondary loop measures 750 m³/h with a 4.1 K ΔT, and two secondary pumps run at full speed with the third on standby.
924 words, about 5 min5Hydrostatic Test Certificate Under Schedule Pressure
During a hydrostatic test of a newly fabricated ASME Section VIII Division 1 vessel, the pump-discharge gauge reads 1.32 × MAWP, but the vessel-mounted test gauge at the top head reads 1.22 × MAWP. The vessel holds pressure, but a weep is visible at a threaded drain plug on the bottom head; the plug was sealed with PTFE tape and tightened by hand.
957 words, about 5 min