Sofronas, A.
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 14: Analyzing a crankshaft failure
Sometimes both metallurgical and mechanical analysis are required
Case 13: Large internal thread strip-out
Analysis helps when making the tough decisions
Case 12: A compressor rod failure
Sometimes a troubleshooter has to be a detective
Case 11: Excessive ball valve seat wear
A wear model helps determine the root cause of the problem
Case 10: Piping vibrating failures
Historical charts are useful in showing where not to operate
Case 9: The machine remembered
Machines have a memory of overstressed conditions
Case 8: Analyzing a leaking heat exchanger gasket
Thermal upsets can cause this problem
Case 7: Why is the agitator agitated?
Analytical modeling can help identify the root cause
Case history 6: Keep those bolts tight
It’s important to keep operating loads less than the bolt preload
Case 4: The wrong bearing in the right place
Calculate B10 life to ensure reliable operation
![](/media/nkzcuz2h/hp-june-2024-process-optimization.jpg?width=100)
- Essar launches hydrogen power plant at Stanlow refinery (U.K.) 7/16
- Trelleborg partners with Airbus on hydrogen-powered air travel 7/16
- Neste, Mitsubishi Corporation agree on strategic partnership to develop supply chains for renewable chemicals and plastics 7/16
- Vale, Komatsu and Cummins announce collaboration to develop dual-fuel large trucks, powered by ethanol and diesel 7/16
- Mexico–U.S. energy trade value fell in 2023 on lower fuel prices 7/16
- Belarus' Mozyr oil refinery restoring operations after outage due to storm 7/16
- Digital Exclusive: SPECIAL FOCUS: Digital Technologies—Utilize process simulation digital twin to optimize condensate yield
- Digital Exclusive-Flare system design: Liquid pockets in flare headers
- Hydrogen-rich content gasoline: A new concept for paraffinic gasoline reformulation
- Alarm rationalization at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) refineries