Mechanical Engineer Machinery Expert Witness

Education

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, 1968

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University (NY), 1963

Profile

Broad based background resulting from varied technical responsibilities entailing design through commissioning of mechanical systems for refining, chemical, and production  plants and power generation services. Extensive experience in the application of engineering technology to legal issues..

Career History

S-T, INC. 1986 – Present

A consulting organization that provides services in the areas of plant reliability assessment, technology services for attorneys and machinery technology training. Major assignments have included:  Established and directed industrial development of advanced process analysis system for Exxon Research.  Directed multi-national Technical & Commercial Evaluation Team for $200 million of compression equipment including industry’s most powerful steam turbines and centrifugal compressors for LNG service in a Persian Gulf refining complex.  Directed multi-national Technical & Commercial Evaluation Team for $100 million gas turbine driven gas reinjection centrifugal compressors operating at industry’s highest pressures for a Persian Gulf production complex.  Performed Technical Audit of process machinery and other project support services for a 1.5 billion dollar FCC project for a Korean refining complex.  Performed machinery reliability audits for eight major plants consisting of refineries, chemical plants, and power plants located in the US and abroad.  Developed and presented training courses dealing with process machinery analysis and operation for refining and chemical plants.  Performed a range of technical evaluations for attorneys dealing with machinery system damage/losses, environmental hazards, patent challenges, and personal injury resulting from machinery maloperation
Exxon Research & Engineering Company 1969 – 1986

Major project and technical responsibilities for the application of process compression and power generation equipment:  Team leader in the application of process compression and power generation systems; responsible for design evaluations, project management and field commissioning.  Conceived, developed, and project managed computerized machinery analysis systems for eight refining and production facilities worldwide.
Conceived and developed award winning, hand-held computer based monitoring and analysis system for machinery and process data collection.  Responsible for development and application of advanced machinery diagnostic procedures and project engineering associated with major plant expansions:  Developed design evaluation criteria for thrust and journal bearings and turbine blading used throughout Exxon for equipment evaluation.  Responsible for evaluation and selection of machinery (turbines, centrifugal & reciprocating compressors, gears, and pumps) for major European refinery expansions.  Responsible for commissioning of all process and power generation machinery for a French refinery expansion.  Led multi-disciplined technical services group in supporting plant operations at an Australian petrochemical plant:  Responsible for performance analysis and development of safe operation procedures for compression and pumping services.  Developed performance measurement technology for centrifugal & reciprocating compressors and turbines credited with major operational and maintenance cost savings.  As Consultant to Australian Gas Production facility, successfully resolved compression system failures threatening gas supply to City of Melbourne.

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company 1963 – 1969

Performed mechanical design and analysis for advanced flight and industrial applications of gas turbines. Granted US patent for turbine design developments.

Affiliations & Awards

Licensed Professional Engineer, State of New Jersey
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Awarded “Best Paper” dealing with machinery vibration analysis, Instrument Society of America – 1981
Recipient of R.N. Pond Award (highest national honor in Chemical/Petroleum division) for development of a machinery monitoring hand-held computer system, Instrument Society of America – 1983
Conference Chairman, Engineering Foundation 5th Mechanical Signature Analysis Conference
Listed: Who’s Who In Science and Engineering

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