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.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 105—Temperature distribution along a flare line
During an engineer’s career, many interesting questions come up that may not have a ready or good answer.
Engineering Case Histories—Case 104: Energy in steam boiler explosions
Steam boiler explosions happen all over the world, as an internet search will reveal.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 103—Addressing heat exchanger tube leaks
Heat exchangers have multiple tubes with fluid passing through and over them that either heats or cools another fluid.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 102—Use caution when specifying a safe hydrotesting distance
Hydrotesting is performed on piping and vessels to verify their integrity.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 101: Preventing crankshaft failures in large reciprocating engines
The gas processing and pipeline industries use many integral gas engine reciprocating compressors with crankshafts more than 20 ft long.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 100—Was sloshing the cause of a failure?
Some situations in failure analysis demand an understanding of the wave motion of a liquid wave in a tank, called “sloshing.”
Engineering Case Histories—Case 99: Pooling knowledge and experience builds personal and team success
With the help of an excellent mentor, I became adept at analyzing equipment and structures at the start of my career, using analytical techniques.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 98—Why performing calculations is important to an engineer’s career
Engineering calculations can help an engineer’s career by controlling the risks taken. The author has followed this path.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 97—Beware of confirmation bias in industry
The term confirmation bias recently came up in a book I was reading,1 and it was then that I realized how relevant it was to engineering.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 96: Career paths—technical and management
I have spent most of my career in the mechanical engineering technical area because that is what I do best. I was a manager of advanced engineering for many years, but then realized that it was not my calling.
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