Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Sofronas, A.

Consulting Engineer, Houston, Texas

Tony Sofronas, D. Eng, was the worldwide lead mechanical engineer for ExxonMobil Chemicals before retiring. He now owns Engineered Products, which provides consulting and engineering seminars on machinery and pressure vessels. Dr. Sofronas has authored two engineering books and numerous technical articles on analytical methods.

Case 23: Analyzing a crack-like defect in a vessel wall

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

You should know what needs to be done but not necessarily how to do it

Case 22: The mysterious bending of impeller blades

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

A quick analysis helps solve an unexplained failure

Case 21: Analyzing a spline failure

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Torsional spline failures are telling you something

Case 20: Cold startup bearing failures

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Excessive clearance and hard starts can cause problems

Case 19: A steam turbine diaphragm failure

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Confined water converted to steam develops high pressures

Case 18: Problem-solving technique

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

An orderly procedure allows data to be organized and analyzed

Integral gas engine compressor failures and solutions

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Here are the causes and how to remedy them

Case 17: Wreck of a centrifugal pump

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Understanding the entire flow system is important when determining the cause of a failure

Case 16: A piping failure due to water hammer

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

System upsets can develop high piping loads

Case 15: The thermally bowed shaft

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Just a slight rub can self-generate more heat