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Thomas C. Champion (M' 1977)
is currently a Research Engineer II at Georgia Tech's National Electric Energy
Research Testing and Applications Center (NEETRAC). He spent the first 25 years
of his career working for Georgia Power Company in various capacities, starting
as a cooperative education student working in power generation, substation
operations, distribution, and division operations. In 1977 he assumed a full
time position with Georgia Power in Distribution Operations in Macon, GA,
transferring to the Georgia Power Research Center in 1979 to investigate quality
control issues with new cable installations at Plant Scherer, which was under
construction. While at the Research Center, Mr. Champion performed a wide range
of activities in general research, material quality studies, and failure
analysis investigations on the materials and equipment used by the electric
utility industry. Activities were focused primarily at transmission and
distribution voltage levels, including project management, budgeting, and
engineering design. In 1996, he transferred to Georgia Tech, becoming part of
the newly formed NEETRAC, a n electric energy focused research and testing
consortium that has grown to include over 35 electric utility and manufacturing
members .
Mr. Champion is the principal forensics engineer at NEETRAC and serves as a consultant on a variety of projects dealing with materials aging, failure mechanisms, and improvement of product designs. His experience in root cause analysis of failures extends from simple components such as a wire wound resistor to the complexities of 345kV power cable terminations. Areas of current interest include polymer cutouts, metal oxide surge arresters, wildlife deterrents, contamination issues with distribution components, power capacitors failure mechanisms, wind farms collector system problems, and performance issues with all types of wiring connectors. He enjoys the challenge of solving engineering puzzles and mentoring others on forensics and problem solving. He has serve d in several leadership roles and advisory positions in industry technical organizations related to his fields of interest .
Mr. Champion obtained a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE) degree from Georgia Tech.
Research Interests
High Voltage Cable Accessories
Surge Protective Devices
Cable System Diagnostics
Ampacity Studies
Weatherability of Polymeric Insulation Materials
Cable System Installation Techniques
Distinctions & Patents
Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE
Past Chairman, ICC Subcommittee B7 on Suggested Revisions to IEEE 386; Past Chairman, ICC Subcommittee B12 on Guide for Analyzing Joint, Termination, and Cable Failures; and Past Chairman of ICC Subcommittee B on Cable Accessories
Vice-chairman of IEEE ICC Working Group C2, Guide for Bonding High Voltage Cable Sheaths on Cable Accessories
Member, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Working Group C119 on Connectors
Selected Publications
Champion, T. C., Brown, Z., "Evaluation of Field Diagnostic Techniques for Transmission Cable Accessories," Final Report, TR-112676, EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, October, 1999.
Champion, T. C., "Cable Pushing and Calculation of Pulling Tensions for Distribution and Transmission Cables," Final Report, EL-3333, Vol. 1 & 2, EPRI, Palo Alto, CA, March, 1996.
Champion, T. C., "An Overview of Failure Analysis," Proceedings of the IEEE Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, IEEE, Paper Accompanying Training Session, Los Angeles, CA, no. TR-05, September, 1996.
Champion, T. C., Agostinelli, F. M., Rosevear, R. D., "Long Term Pre-Qualification Testing Program on a 230 kV XLPE Cable System," Proceedings of the IEEE 1994 Transmission and Distribution Conference, IEEE, Chicago, IL, no. 0-7809-1883-8, pp. 200-207, April 10-15, 1994.
Champion, T. C., "Evaluation of Alternative Cable Cleaning Solvents: Criteria and Test Methods at Georgia Power," Proceedings of the IEEE 1994 Transmission and Distribution Conference, IEEE, Paper Accompanying Panel Discussion #22, April 10-15, 1994, Chicago, IL.
Champion, T. C., Hartlein, R. A., "Performance Characteristics of 200 Ampere Separable Connector Systems," Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual Power Distribution Conference, the University of Texas at Austin, October 12-13, 1985.
Champion, T. C., “Impact of Revised IEEE 404 Cable Accessory Standard on Users and Manufacturers”, Paper Accompanying Panel Session #PN14, Proceedings of the IEEE Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, September 18, 1996, Los Angeles, CA.
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