Thomas Hess, Jr., P.E.

Principal Rotating Engineer II

Years of Experience | 40

Education & Licenses:

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 1982, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Registered Professional Engineer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Areas of Specialization:

Machinery selection consulting for new process designs and major capital projects
Supervision of machinery installation and commissioning
Solving critical or chronic plant machinery problems

Overview:

Thomas Hess is a principal rotating engineer in the Rotating Equipment, Vibration, & Dynamics Team at Equity.  Prior to joining Equity, Thomas worked as a rotating reliability engineer in a refinery where his responsibilities included machinery selection for new capital projects, supervision of machinery installation and commissioning, solution of critical or chronic plant machinery problems, creation and revision of maintenance procedures and engineering practices, machinery vibration analysis, and planning/supervision of machinery overhauls.

Thomas also worked as a corporate rotating machinery consultant where his responsibilities included machinery selection consulting for new process designs and major capital projects as well as creation and revision of rotating machinery engineering standards.  Additional duties included turbomachinery vibration analysis and planning/supervision of machinery overhauls. 

As the lead rotating equipment engineer for a refinery, Thomas’s primary activities encompassed mentoring members of the rotating equipment team in all aspects of process machinery reliability, applying root cause failure analysis (RCFA) methodology to everyday activities, and improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of machinery repairs.  He provided technical guidance to the conditions monitoring group for vibration analysis, lubricant storage and handling systems, in-house testing of lubricant quality, thermography, ultrasonic analysis, reporting, and tracking program effectiveness.  Other responsibilities included engineering the retrofit and upgrade of machinery to reduce the overall cost of ownership, small project management, and acting as the primary consultant on mechanical vibration problems in the refinery.

Industry Activities:

  • Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • Member of API Standard 610 Heavy Duty Centrifugal Pumps 12th Edition Task Force
  • Member of API Standard 613 Special Purpose Gear Units 6th Edition Task Force
  • Member of API Standard 685 Sealless Heavy Duty Centrifugal Pumps, 3rd Edition Task Force
  • Member of API Standard 682 Shaft Sealing Systems for Centrifugal and Rotary Pumps, 5th Edition Task Force

Presentations:

“Highlights of API 685 3rd Edition,” presented by Jeremy Cooper, Thomas Hess, Frank Korkowski, and Martein van den Heuvel, 51st Texas A&M Turbomachinery Symposium, 2022.

“Coupling Selection for Motor Applications,” presented by Thomas D. Hess and Mark O’Neil at the 50th Texas A&M Turbomachinery Symposium, 2021.

“Coupling Credible Failure Modes,” presented by Thomas D. Hess, Stephen R. Locke, Michael J. Burgess, and Joseph P. Corcoran at the 42nd Texas A&M Turbomachinery Symposium, 2013.

“Babbit Bearing Health Assessment,” presented by Thomas D. Hess, John K. Whalen, Jim Allen, and Jack Craighton at the 41st Texas A&M Turbomachinery Symposium, 2012.

“The Design and Application of a Squeeze Film Damper Bearing to a Flexible Steam Turbine Rotor,” presented by Thomas D. Hess, Malcolm E. Leader, John K. Whalen, and Godfrey G. Grey at the 24th Texas A&M Turbomachinery Symposium, 1995.

Publications:

Korkowski, Frank, Hess, Thomas, Cooper, Jeremy, van den Heuvel, Martein, “Highlights of API 685 3rd Edition, Sealless Pumps” – 3-part series, Hydrocarbon Processing Magazine, November/December 2022.

Hess, Thomas, Dyson, Gary, “Engineering Analysis of a Reactor Charge Pump Leads to Full Restoration,” Pumps and Systems Magazine, March 2018.