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

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

Hydrocarbon Processing / June 2006
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Weld failures can be due to manufacturing defects

Case 32: Piping flexibility concerns

Hydrocarbon Processing / April 2006
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Thermal upsets can cause pump problems due to piping loads

Case 31: The analytical modeling niche

Hydrocarbon Processing / February 2006
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

A simple model can greatly expand your equipment knowledge

Case 30: One cause of a pump not pumping

Hydrocarbon Processing / December 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

A stronger pump can block out the weaker one

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

Hydrocarbon Processing / October 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Liquid thermal expansion can rupture pipes

Case 28: Steel component fretting

Hydrocarbon Processing / August 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

The problem can greatly reduce component fatigue life

Case 27: Brittle fracture concerns on vessels

Hydrocarbon Processing / June 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Specialists need to understand when they should obtain help

Case 26: Gathering failure data

Hydrocarbon Processing / April 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Solving the problem wasn't so easy

Case 25: The leaking flange gasket

Hydrocarbon Processing / February 2005
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

A simple calculation can help determine the cause

Case 24: The moving gearbox

Hydrocarbon Processing / December 2004
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

Thermal distortions can move a 50-ton gearbox