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

Bloch, Heinz P.

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff, Montgomery, Texas

Heinz P. Bloch resides in Montgomery, Texas. He retired as Exxon Chemical’s Regional Machinery Specialist for the U.S. and has authored or co-written more than 780 publications, among them 23 comprehensive books on practical machinery management, failure analysis, failure avoidance, compressors, steam turbines, pumps, oil mist lubrication and optimized lubrication for industry. Mr. Bloch holds BS and MS degrees (cum laude) in mechanical engineering from the Newark College of Engineering (NCE). He is one of 10 inaugural inductees into NCE’s Hall of Fame, which honors its most distinguished alumni.

HP Reliability: Compressor valve breakage: what are the options?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Reciprocating compressors may experience valve failures. Excessive breakage, especially at startup, has left a bad impression on many responsible people. Installation dirt, liquid, and off-design temp..

HP Reliability: Improve reliability through shot peening

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Whenever component distress is causing equipment failure, the analyst should remember that the life expectancy of replacement components can be improved by shot peening. Shot peening process. It is..

HP Reliability: What is reliability?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Since reliability is a trendy term, which is used by the both the weakest and strongest players in the HPI, it is prudent to occasionally remind ourselves of the meaning of this word. Reliability is..

HP Reliability: Detect accelerated wear in compressors

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

For compressor pistons, rings, liners, packing and rods, normal wear is not a significant problem. Generally, their normal service life is long and satisfactory; typical wear is gradual and can be det..

HP Reliability: Maintainability – What are the options?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Many optimally designed process machines require minimal maintenance. However, if maintenance is necessary and it cannot be easy, then at least it should be possible. What should maintenance engineers..

HP Reliability: Spectrum, FFT and cepstrum analyses pinpoint machinery distress

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Familiarity with diagnostic techniques such as FFT spectrum analysis, cepstrum analysis and amplitude demodulation is vital when effectively diagnosing particular performance flaws in rotating machine..

HP Reliability: Lubrication – not an afterthought

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

This new thinking supersedes the old notion that lubrication automation is difficult to cost-justify or that auto-lubrication provisions can be retrofitted as needed. In a highly cost-competitive envi..