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Failure Analysis and Rotordynamics - About Knighawk Engineering

KnightHawk Engineering

KnightHawk Engineering was founded in July of 1991 by Cliff Knight. Since our inception, we have assembled a diverse and powerful staff of engineers who are proven leaders in their field. They have executed projects throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.  Our clients range from individual entrepreneurs to the largest industrial giants, such as Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and NASA. This depth of experience and expertise has allowed KnightHawk to establish itself as a preeminent leader in design, failure analysis, rotordynamics, and trouble-shooting of static and rotating equipment around the world. Our static equipment analysis includes selective linear exchangers, quench coolers, furnace tubes, pelletizing dies, and blow-down systems into closed headers. Our rotating equipment analysis includes machine and structural dynamics, failure analysis, evaluation of acoustic pulsation, and rotordynamic modeling.  In addition to these disciplines, we perform specialty machinery design and third party audits. Throughout the years, KnightHawk has developed a strong reputation in the industry for our work on major high profile projects. For example, KnightHawk was hired by NASA to design oxygen valves for the space shuttle program. We have also performed FEA modeling for human implants. Our failure analysis work includes determining the root cause of a compressor explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico as well as a major compressor in a copper plant in Indonesia, the shutdown of which caused the cost of copper to increase worldwide. Most recently, we have been retained to perform a root cause failure analysis of a two billion dollar plant in the Middle East that had been unable to become operative.

A message from our President:

Although the past year had its challenges, 2010 has proven to be an excellent year for KnightHawk. Our growth and expansion into new areas has me extremely optimistic for the future of our company. Despite the economic challenges within our industry, we have remained steadfast. This is largely due to the expertise of our highly trained and experienced staff. Their high level problem solving and out-of-the-box thinking has led to our success in many areas and has established us as one of the most reputable specialty engineering firms in the world.

We began the year by wrapping up a major international project in which we assisted in the startup of a billion dollar ethylene plant. More recently, we were awarded a “green project” in which we designed molten salt tanks for the high temperature storage of solar energy. I am extremely proud of our progress this year and look forward to continued growth and success. 

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