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 33: Vessels in high-cycle service

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Weld failures can be due to manufacturing defects

Case 32: Piping flexibility concerns

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Thermal upsets can cause pump problems due to piping loads

Case 31: The analytical modeling niche

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

A simple model can greatly expand your equipment knowledge

Case 30: One cause of a pump not pumping

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

A stronger pump can block out the weaker one

Case 29: Pressure buildup in a 'blocked-in' pipe

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Liquid thermal expansion can rupture pipes

Case 28: Steel component fretting

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

The problem can greatly reduce component fatigue life

Case 27: Brittle fracture concerns on vessels

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Specialists need to understand when they should obtain help

Case 26: Gathering failure data

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Solving the problem wasn't so easy

Case 25: The leaking flange gasket

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

A simple calculation can help determine the cause

Case 24: The moving gearbox

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Thermal distortions can move a 50-ton gearbox