Career Highlights
1971-1973: Rutherford Research Products Inc. Project Engineer: Worked on developing several ASTM test procedures, telephone cable studies and corona measurements on cables in factories.
1973-1982 Phelps Dodge Cable and Wire Co. Chief Engineer, Research and Development: Responsibilities included supervision of technical staff, acting on customer special requests, analyzing problems relating to cables in service, and program planning for newly developed cable constructions. He was also responsible for 5-138kV extruded cable development, and the laboratory evaluation test group. Nominee contributed to the first EPRI project on 'water treeing' (early-mid 1970s) and was later responsible for, and managed, the EPRI project entitled "Life Estimation of Polyethylene-Insulated Cables" (1980s). This work led to several early publications describing the problems of water treeing and premature failure of polyethylene insulated cables.
1982-2000: Detroit Edison Company, Principal Engineer, and Supervising Engineer: Supervisor of group that provided support on reliability testing, predictive maintenance, and root cause analysis of electrical instrumentation for transmission, distribution and power generation. He was responsible for infra-red surveys and evaluations, plant and outage support, equipment performance, data gathering and feasibility studies. He also focused on problem-solving for control cables and auxiliary systems and equipment. Additional responsibilities included providing an in-house source of technical expertise for issues relating to cables and line equipment, and assisted in setting Company standards for purchasing of cables. In addition, nominee served as Project Manager of EPRI-sponsored project on DC testing of extruded cables and, based on results, made recommendations to revise testing policies pertaining to extruded cables. (Policy was revised in 1989, leading to savings estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.)
2000-2007: DTE Energy Technologies, Managing Director, Cable/Wise business: Established the business sector under DTE Energy based on innovative patent ("On-line Detection of Partial Discharge in Electrical Power Systems"). Developed business in all customer sectors (Utilities, Industrials, and Refineries). Managed and expanded the business to cover reliability testing of cables, transformers and motors.
2007-2009: Utilx Corporation, Vice President: Responsible for strategic decision making in cable testing business. Organized seminars and tutoring sessions on cable reliability. Member of senior management staff.
2010 to present: KAV Service, LLC, Independent consultant
Awards
Two EPRI "Innovators in Technology" awards in 1991 and 1996
Professional Activities
Publications
This work demonstrated that a conventional AC breakdown strength test performed after the AC extruded cable is de-energized was not suitable for quantifying the harmful effect of DC.
This work demonstrated the life-shortening effect of DC testing on laboratory aged extruded XLPE-insulated AC cables. The test procedure required that the cable remain energized during aging.
This work demonstrated that generally accepted DC levels applied to aged XLPE-insulated cables were potentially harmful, and presented a hypothesis that the age of the cable, and subsequent degree of degradation at the time of DC application, is relevant to future performance.
The above publications clarified the influence of DC testing on XLPE insulated cables. Based on the results of this work, Detroit Edison Company revised policies on DC testing of extruded cables, and this led directly to significant cost savings due to reduced maintenance testing and reduced purchasing costs. EPRI provided a first use award. Other utilities have since revised their extruded cable testing practices, and as noted, the entire area of in-situ diagnostic testing has 'blossomed'.
This work demonstrated that the harmful effects of DC when applied to field aged XLPE insulated cables removed from service, and proved that what was learned from studying accelerated aged cables applied to service aged cables.
These two publications provide supporting fundamental information demonstrating that DC application to aged XLPE isulated cables led to space charge trappng.
These publications describe the on-line partial discharge diagnostic technique designed to assess future performance of the entire aged cable system (cables, joints, terminations).
These publications represent work by the candidate on water and electrochemical treeing, and demonstrated the need for water tree resistant materials for cable insulation, subsequently developed by material suppliers and used throughout the industry.
