Ronald B. (Ron) Adams is a petroleum global portfolio manager with Sulzer Pumps in Houston. He works with product development on new product definition and provides global product support. He has been with Sulzer since 1991 and has held various sales, marketing and alliance management positions. Previously, he was with Ingersoll-Rand for over 18 years in pumps and hyperpressure equipment businesses. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in 1974 from Southern Technical Institute and graduated summa cum laude. and studied toward his MBA at Georgia State University. He is a member of the ISO 13709 / API 610 Joint Working Group, API 676, and API 685 subcommittees.
Henri V. Azibert is the Chief Engineer of the Fluid Sealing Division of the A.W. Chesterton Company in Stoneham, Massachusetts. He is responsible for the design and development of mechanical seals and related products. He has 22 patents granted on mechanical seal designs and improvements. He has lectured extensively internationally to maintenance engineers. Mr. Azibert received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, a Jurisprudence Doctor degree from Boston College, and an Masters of Science degree (Mechanical Engineering) from Northeastern University. Mr. Azibert maintains his standing in the Massachusetts Bar. He is a member of STLE, a member of the API 682 Task force and the Chairman of the Standardization Task Group for the Fluid Sealing Association.
Ravi Balasubramanian is a Senior Staff Engineer in the Advanced Technology Organization of GE Oil & Gas. He leads and supports activities on subsea boosting pump design and development. His responsibilities also include development of system-level design tools and multi-phase computational models for performance prediction and optimization. Prior to joining GE Oil & Gas, he worked as a Subsea Pump Design Engineer at FMC Technologies responsible for multi-phase pump hydraulics and multi-phase analysis software development for flow assurance, and rotating equipment analysis/design. Dr. Balasubramanian received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Mississippi State University with a focus on Fluid and Thermal Sciences. He joined the Pump Advisory Committee in November 2013.
Pierre-Jean Bibet is a senior rotating equipment Engineer at Total E&P in Paris, France, who has been working in the Rotating Machinery Department of the Technology Division since 2003. His work concentrates on subsea boosting projects, following 22 years of professional experience with pumps, and he has specific expertise in Multiphase Pumps (MPP).
James M. Blanding is a retired Principal Consultant for the DuPont Company. He received B.S. (1976), M.S. (1977) and Ph.D. (1985) degrees (Mechanical Engineering) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he also served on the faculty teaching Mechanical Vibration and other undergraduate courses. Dr. Blanding’s expertise is in vibration and diagnostic testing using modal analysis, high-speed data acquisition and experimental stress analysis. He specializes also in computer modeling and simulation of process fluid system pulsation and transients, as well as reciprocating compressor and pump check valve dynamics and performance. Dr. Blanding is author of numerous reviewed publications in these areas.
Simon Bradshaw is the Global API Product Development Manager for ITT Goulds Pumps, in Seneca Falls NY. His responsibilities include the design and development of new products and processes for the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining ITT Goulds, he worked for both Sulzer Pumps and Weir Pumps, where he held various positions of engineering and contractual responsibility. Additionally, he has supported the Hydraulic Institute in the development of pump standards and best practice guides. Mr. Bradshaw has accumulated 24 years in the pump industry. He attributes this to having never exhausted the fun inherent in moving fluid between two improbable locations. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Heriot Watt University. He is also a registered Chartered Engineer in the United Kingdom and a member of the Institute of Engineering Designers.
Eugene (Buddy) Broerman is a Principal Engineer in the Machinery Program at Southwest Research Institute based in San Antonio, Texas. His professional interests are in the fields of acoustics, vibrations and piping design. During his 15 years at Southwest Research Institute, Mr. Broerman has conducted pulsation and vibration simulations for clients’ pump or compressor piping systems and led or assisted with research efforts that are related to pulsation and/or vibration control advancements. He is also the project manager for a Department of Energy-funded project to develop a linear motor reciprocating compressor (LMRC) for more efficiently compressing hydrogen gas. Mr. Broerman received his B.S.M.E. and Computer Science minor from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2001.
Morgan M. (Morg) Bruck is an independent consultant with Hydraulic, Measurement, and Inspection Consulting, LLC of Dayton, Ohio. Before retiring to form HMIC, LLC, Morg was with Marathon Petroleum Company in the Engineering Standards and Technical Support Group. Morg wrote standards related to rotating equipment and measurement systems and provided tech support in these areas for Marathon Pipe Line and Marathon Terminals. Prior to his position at Marathon, Morg worked in plant, project and reliability engineering with The Dayton Power & Light Company and Sohio/BP Pipe Line Company. Morg is an active member of API subcommittee on Mechanical Equipment and also API measurement standards. Morg is Chairman of API 675, Vice-chairman of API 674 and API 676; and a member of API 610, API 682 and API 687 task forces. Morg is a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (BSME 1969)
Ronald J. Carlson is a Machinery Reliability Engineer with Flint Hills Resources in Corpus Christi, Texas. He has worked in the oil industry in maintenance for 18 years in various capacities including pumps, compressors and vibration analysis. Mr. Carlson has a B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Nebraska, and a B.S. and M.S. degree (Aeronautical Engineering) from Wichita State.
Dr. Dara W. Childs (Emeritus Member) was Director of the Turbomachinery Laboratory from 1984 to 2018 and held the Leland T. Jordan Chair in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees (Civil Engineering, 1961, 1962) from Oklahoma State University, and his Ph.D. (Engineering Mechanics, 1968) from the University of Texas. He was named ASME Fellow Member in 1990, and received ASMEs Henry R. Worthington Medal in 1991. Dr. Childs’ expertise is in dynamics and vibrations, with an emphasis in rotordynamics. He has conducted research and engineering projects for NASA, DOD, and private firms. Current research includes: high pressure testing honeycomb and hole-pattern gas damper seals; testing high pressure laminar oil seals; force measurements in magnetic bearings using fiber-optic strain gauges. Dr. Childs has authored numerous reviewed publications related to rotordynamics and vibrations, and the book, Turbomachinery Rotordynamics. He is presently completing a new dynamics book entitled, Dynamics in Engineering Practice.
Crockett Cobb
Robert F. (Bob) Heyl is a Senior Staff Engineer with Chevron Energy Technology Company in Houston. He is also the team leader of the Chevron Machinery and Mechanical Systems Technology Network, coordinator of the Rotating Equipment Facilities Engineering Organizational Community, and leader of the Mechanical Equipment RoundTable attended by Chevron’s mechanical equipment personnel from around the world. Mr. Heyl has been with Texaco and Chevron for 36 years and is responsible for the design and troubleshooting of mechanical equipment internationally. His responsibilities include equipment application, specification, selection, installation, troubleshooting, and the development and promotion of new technologies throughout the company. Mr. Heyl has a B.S. degree (Engineering Science) from Hofstra University and attended Columbia University. He is a Steering Committee member of the API Subcommittee on Mechanical Equipment, and is Chairman of API 674, API 675, and API 676 Task Forces. He has participated on API 610, API 614, and API 682. After decades on the Pump Advisory Committee, Bob became an emeritus member in Spring, 2014.
Judith E. (Judy) Hodgson, P.E., is an independent consultant and president of Hodgson Consulting Enterprises, LLC. She was previously with DuPont and Westinghouse, gaining more than 20 years of hands-on experience trouble-shooting pumping systems and seals at chemical and nuclear plants worldwide. For 10 of those years she was a DuPont corporate pump consultant and for five years a principal R&D engineer in Westinghouse’s Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) group focused on RCP seals. In her current role, besides offering consulting in pump reliability and computer modeling of system flow (incompressible, compressible, and water hammer), Judy also provides pipe stress analysis consulting. Ms. Hodgson has a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Delaware.
Michael B. Huebner is a Staff Engineer in the Flow Solutions Division of Flowserve Corporation, in Deer Park, Texas. He has more than 20 years of experience in the design of mechanical seals, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, and fluid conditioning equipment. For Flowserve, he has served in design, testing, and application functions in both the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Huebner received his B.S. degree (Engineering Technology) from Texas A&M University. He is a member of the International Pump Users Symposium Advisory Committee and the API 682 Task Force.
Jacek M. Jarosz is a Global Rotating Equipment Leader at Flint Hills Resources (FHR) Co. He supports and provides leadership for machinery reliability, capital projects and specs and standards across FHR refining, chemicals and pipeline operations. Previously Mr. Jarosz was with Celanese Ltd. Global Manufacturing Excellence Group providing technical support for reliability, selection, and procurement of the machinery for Celanese Corp. Mr. Jarosz’s other past experience includes variety of maintenance, reliability and project engineering roles with DuPont Co. Mr. Jarosz received a BSME from University of Delaware in 1990. He is a member of ASME and Vibration Institute.
Michael W. Johnson is a Pipe Stress Engineer in the Reliability Engineering Department of Reliant Energy in Houston. He has more than 20 years of experience and is responsible for high energy piping and ISI programs at Reliant. Mr. Johnson graduated from the University of North Dakota (1980) and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.
John P. Joseph II is an independent consultant with Rotating Equipment Systems Technical Associates, in Houston, Texas. He was previously with BP Amoco where he provided technical and maintenance support for rotating equipment systems to existing asset organizations in BP Amoco, and to Project Management on new projects. Prior to that, Mr. Joseph was with the Amoco Petroleum Products Refinery, in Texas City, Texas. He supervised the rotating equipment engineers and the rotating equipment specialists for the refinery. Mr. Joseph spent six and one half years as Superintendent of Central Shops and three years in Amoco’s Refining and Transportation Engineering Department, in Chicago, Illinois. Previous assignments at the Amoco Texas City refinery also included the Rotating Equipment Consulting Group, the Project Engineering Group, and as a Maintenance Engineer on the Hydrocracking Unit.Mr. Joseph received his B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering, 1972) from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Brian Kalfrin is a Regional Engineer in the Southern District of the United States for John Crane Inc. in Pasadena, Texas with over 13 years of experience with mechanical seals and related systems. In his current role his responsibilities include application, design, and troubleshooting of mechanical seals along with assistance in installation of seals for critical services and conducting customer specific training in specific sealing technology topics. Mr. Kalfrin received his B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering) from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He is a member of the International Pump Users Symposium Advisory Committee and a participant in instructing the Symposium’s short course on mechanical seals. He joined the PAC in May, 2014.
William R. (Bill) Litton is the Pump Initiative Manager with Magellan Midstream Partners, LP, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is an experienced professional engineer with 25 years of experience in the petroleum industry. He has experience with mechanical equipment, prime mover economics, power optimization, and pipeline system hydraulics. Mr. Litton also has project engineering ability and experience in handling pipeline expansions, pipeline pump stations, refineries, fractionators, gas and processing facilities and crude oil, refined products, NH3, and propane terminals (brine cavern and excavated caverns). He also has experience in maintaining mechanical equipment company-wide to provide reliable and economical service. This includes re-rating of pumps and pump modifications to reduce resonant and nonresonant vibration levels.Mr. Litton has a B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering, 1979) from Kansas State University and a B.S. degree (Mathematics, 1978) from Emporia State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma.
Vernon Maddox
Hideaki Maeda is presently the general manager of pump engineering’s first department, engineering division with Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd. in Osaka, Japan. He joined Torishima in 1993 and worked in the R&D department until 2015. He mainly researched in regard to the improvement of pump performance, the vibration issue due to cavitation in mixed flow pump and the impulse turbine performance improvement for wave power energy conversion. He received his Doctorate of Engineering degree for the research result of the improvement of impulse turbine performance for wave energy conversion in 2002. From 2009 to 2015, he organized R&D’s department as a general manager and developed several high performance pumps.
Bill Marscher, P.E., is President and Technical Director of Mechanical Solutions, Inc., where he and other staff perform design, analysis, testing, and troubleshooting of pumps and miscellaneous turbomachinery. Bill has over 40 years of hands-on as well as design experience with rotating machinery in the aerospace, power, and process industries. Bill is presently one of the US representatives to the ANSI/ ISO Machinery Acoustics and Vibration Standards Committee ISO TC108/S2, is past Board Chair of the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology (MFPT), and is past President of the Society of Tribologists & Lubrication Engineers (STLE). He is an Hydraulic Institute Standards Partner, and is a ten year veteran of the TAMU Pump Symposium Advisory Committee.
Todd R. Monroe is a Machinery Consulting Engineer with LyondellBasell. In his current position, he serves as the Machinery Lead in the Global Projects & Engineering Support group. In this role, he is responsible for the specification, evaluation, installation, and start-up of rotating equipment on major global projects. Prior to this role, he spent over 25 years at the plant level, involved in the maintenance and reliability of rotating equipment.Mr. Monroe received his B.S degree (Mechanical Engineering, 1984) from Texas Tech University and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.
Michael (Mike) Moore is the Senior Director, Business Development – Screw Pumps for PSG Dover. Having spent more than 25 years in the pump industry Mr. Moore has worked for the Flowserve Pump Division, the Colfax Fluid Handling Division and ITT Bornemann prior to joining PSG Dover in late 2016. His rotating equipment work experience has been derived and applied to a wide variety of centrifugal and positive displacement pump types, both API and non-API. Over the last 17 years he has focused on the development and application of twin screw multiphase boosting technologies applied to upstream surface (onshore and offshore,) sub-sea, and down hole oilfield production environments. Mr. Moore has served as the task force secretary for API 676 – positive displacement pumps, rotary. Mr. Moore received his education in Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University and the Mohawk Technical Institute, both located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Gerald L. (Jerry) Morrison is the Nelson-Jackson Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He received his Ph.D. degree from Oklahoma State University (1977). He is a member of various societies including: ASEE, Associate Fellow in AIAA, Fellow in ASME, Pi Tau Sigma, and Tau Beta Pi.Dr. Morrison’s research interests are in turbulent fluid flow and instrumentation. His research in coherent structures in turbulent flows has enabled him to develop expertise in hot wire anemometry, laser Doppler anemometry, acoustic measurements, and spectral analysis, and in other conditional sampling techniques.Dr. Morrison manages a program to study labyrinth seals. This includes empirical and analytical schemes to predict leakage rates with experimental verification of the two schemes, and the use of a 3-D laser Doppler anemometer to measure the flowfield inside an actual seal. He is also active in the research area of flow fields inside centrifugal pumps and turbochargers.
Kristo Naudé is a Senior Engineer with NRG Energy, responsible for all pumps in the extensive power plant fleet. He joined NRG Energy in 2008, and is based in the corporate office in Houston, TX. Kristo has more than 24 years pump-related experience in consulting engineering, pumps manufacturers and power utilities in South Africa, Canada and the USA. All power plant work has centered on pump problems, root cause analysis, pump system reliability and system enhancement.Kristo obtained a B.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Pretoria in 1986, and an MBA through the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 1998.
Rebecca Owston is a Senior Research Engineer in the Fluid Engineering Program at Southwest Research Institute based in San Antonio, Texas. Her professional interests include experimental fluid dynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multiphase flow phenomena, thermal science, and combustion. At Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Owston conducts CFD simulations for clients in the areas of fluid and thermal science using various commercial codes. She is also heavily involved in experimental pump performance and multiphase flow testing as a project manager. Dr. Owston received both her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University in Mechanical Engineering, and graduated from University of Tennessee with her B.S.M.E.
Hemanth Satish is a Team Lead and corporate Rotating Equipment Subject Matter Expert within TransCanada’s liquid pipeline systems engineering. He has over 13 years of Engineering experience working mainly in the area of Rotating Machinery, Heat Transfer and Stress Analysis. He is a registered Professional Engineer with APEGA (Alberta, Canada) and holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has professional background working in the areas of large centrifugal pump – motor specification, operation and trouble shooting, vibration troubleshooting of rotating machinery, gas turbine & centrifugal compressors, root cause failure analysis of rotating machinery, pulsation and vibration analysis of reciprocating compressors, design & operation of heat transfer equipment & high performance aerospace materials. Hemanth has published journal papers and presented in a number of conferences. He currently sits on the PRCI (Pipeline Research Council International) compressor and pump technical committee and is part of API 610 12th Ed Technical Task force.
Bruno Schiavello has been Director for Fluid Dynamics at Flowserve Pump Division, Applied Technology Department, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, since 2000, and previously served in the same position with Ingersoll Dresser Pump Company. He started in the R&D Department of Worthington Nord (Italy), joined Central R&D of Worthington, McGraw Edison Company, and then Dresser Pump Division.Mr. Schiavello was co-winner of the H. Worthington European Technical Award in 1979. He has written several papers and lectured at seminars in the area of pump recirculation, cavitation, and two-phase flow. He is a member of ASME, has received the ASME 2006 Fluid Machinery Design Award, and has served on the International Pump Users Symposium Advisory Committee since 1983.Mr. Schiavello received a B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering, 1974) from the University of Rome, and an M.S. degree (Fluid Dynamics, 1975) from Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics.
Cameron Self, P.E., is the Lead Hydraulic Engineer in the Americas for BB1 and BB2 pumps with ClydeUnion Pumps in Houston, TX. He is responsible for the design and development of new and modified hydraulics, as well as supporting aftermarket hydraulic re-rates and product development. He has held various positions with ClydeUnion in design, testing and aftermarket engineering centered on problem solving and root cause analysis. Previously he worked for Sulzer Pumps as a test engineer. Cameron received his B.S. degree (Mechanical Engineering, 2005) from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. He is also a member of the API-610 task force.
Joseph A. (Joe) Silvaggio, Jr., is Manager, Pump Projects and Engineering at Siemens Demag Delaval Turbomachinery, Inc., Trenton, New Jersey, and has been with them since 1968. His past experience at Demag Delaval includes the areas of aerodynamics, flow analysis, seal development, design of centrifugal compressor stage elements, centrifugal pump design and flow analysis, boiler feedpump design and analysis, and testing of steam turbines.Mr. Silvaggio is a member of Sigma Tau and Pi Tau Sigma. He is also an active member of ASME and has held several offices in the Trenton, New Jersey, section. At present, he is on two ASME Performance Test Code Committees and is a member of the Board on Performance Test Codes.Mr. Silvaggio holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees (Mechanical Engineering) from the University of Pennsylvania. He has written and coauthored numerous technical publications, and is a member of the International Pump Users Symposium Advisory Committee.
Leslie Thilagan is a Rotating Equipment Engineer at S&B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd in Houston, Texas. He has over 30 years of experience in design, hydraulics, applications including evaluation and order execution, testing, troubleshooting, technical sales, and management in the pump manufacturing industry in both the UK and the USA. His experience includes working at David Brown-Bingham pumps in Sheffield UK for 20 years, David Brown-Union Pumps, Rhurpumpen, and Sulzer Pumps in Houston, Texas. His experience also includes working as Rotating Equipment Engineer at KBR Houston for six years and Bechtel Houston.He obtained his degree in mechanical and production engineering at University of Huddersfied UK. He is a registered professional engineer with State of Texas. He was a Charted Mechanical Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in UK and European Engineer with FENAI Belgium.
Eric Vanhie is a Technical Specialist at EagleBurgmann Industries in Houston, Tx. He has been active in the sealing industry for about 30 years in various positions ranging from application and design to sales of mechanical seals. Eric graduated in 1978 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic College in Belgium and has worked in Europe and the USA. He is a member of the Fluid Sealing Association and has authored several technical papers on the application of mechanical seals.
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Bruce Weber is responsible for the technical support of the mechanical seal division at the Champion Group in Houston, Texas. In this capacity, he supports customers during preliminary selection, design, installation and operation of sealing systems. Mr. Weber’s other major role with Champion is customer training. In addition to mechanical seals, this training includes rotating equipment; selection, operation and other associated support systems.Previously, Mr. Weber was the Operations Manager for Best Equipment. His duties included supervision of the pump repair facility, consulting with clients concerning pumping systems, and pump troubleshooting. Prior to that, Mr. Weber was associated with Koch Hydrocarbon, in Medford, Oklahoma, for 18 years. His responsibility as Maintenance Supervisor included 10,000 miles of pipelines that employed 2300 pumps. He also served as a rotating equipment consultant for Koch’s four Gas Liquid fractionators.Mr. Weber is currently enrolled at the University of Houston, working toward a B.S. degree.
Daniel W. (Dan) Wood is a Pump Consultant with the DuPont Company, in Wilmington, Delaware. He provides pump, mechanical seal, and pumping system technical support throughout DuPont. Mr. Wood participates on committees within the Hydraulic Institute and is a voting member for 3-A Sanitary Standards for ANSI pumps. He was previously employed for 15 years in various engineering and training roles at Flowserve.Mr. Wood graduated from the University of Cincinnati (BSME, 1991). He is a Level III Vibration Analyst certified through Technical Associates of Charlotte.
Howard G. Wright III is Executive Director of North American PRO Services for ITT Goulds Pumps, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His responsibilities include oversight of all PRO Services aftermarket repair facilities and field services in the US and Canada. Prior to his current position at ITT Goulds, he was an Engineering Specialist, Upgrade Engineer, Facility Manager, and Western Regional Operations Manager. He holds a BSME from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Louisiana.
Sheifeng Wu currently holds the position of Director, Research and Analysis with A.W. Chesterton Co., directing and performing product research, design, and analysis. Prior to joining AWC in 1996, he was employed by John Crane Inc. in the capacities of Development Engineer, Consulting Engineer, and Senior Consulting Engineer for five years. He has over twenty-five years’ experience in product research, development and analysis in fluid sealing industry. Dr. Wu has authored over twenty technical publications and presentations and was the co-recipient of ASME’s Journal of Tribology Best Paper Award in 1990. He also has seven patents relating to mechanical seals. Dr. Wu received his BS degree (1982) from Xi’an Jiaotong University; MS (1986) and Ph.D. (1990) degrees from Northwestern University, all in Mechanical Engineering. He has membership in both ASME and STLE. He served as an Associate Editor of ASME’s Journal of Tribology for seven years; and is currently an Associate Editor for Tribology Transactions of STLE.
