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Fall 2009 Insulated Conductors Committee Awards

ICC Certificates of Appreciation

ICC Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the following:

Al Mendelsohn for Best Presentation at the Spring 2009 Subcommittee A Meeting Impulse Strength Retention for Aged TR-XLPE Cables

Glenn Luzzi for Best Presentation at the Spring 2009 Subcommittee B Meeting Joints and Connectors: Issues, Opportunities, Reliability

Frank Frentzas for Best Presentation at the Spring 2009 Subcommittee C Meeting Chicago Retrofit Projects........10 Years Later

Gary Toman for Best Presentation at the Spring 2009 Subcommittee D Meeting Low and Medium Voltage Cable Aging Management for Nuclear Plants

Jody Levine for Best Presentation at the Spring 2009 Subcommittee F Meeting Partial Discharge Magnitude (Wish you were here)

IEEE/PES Technical Committee Certificates of Appreciation

IEEE/PES Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the following outgoing Chairmen:

Rick Hartlein for Services Rendered as Vice-Chair, Discussion Group A14 Power Cable Standards

Jim Braun for Services Rendered as Chair, Working Group B1 Revision of IEEE 48 Standard Test Procedures and Requirements for High-Voltage Alternating Current Cable Terminations Rated 2.5 kV through 765 kV

Bill Taylor for Services Rendered as Vice-Chair, Working Group B1 Revision of IEEE 48 Standard Test Procedures and Requirements for High-Voltage Alternating Current Cable Terminations Rated 2.5 kV through 765 kV

Bill Taylor for Services Rendered as Vice-Chair, Working Group B10 IEEE 1637 Guide to Select Terminations for Shielded Power Cable 5 - 46 kV

Tony Ernst for Services Rendered as Chair, Working Group C1 Ampacity Topics

Matt Mashikian for Services Rendered as Chair, Discussion Group F 04 Guide for Partial Discharge Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems in a Field Environment

Willem Boone for Services Rendered as Vice-Chair, Discussion Group F 04 Guide for Partial Discharge Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems in a Field Environment

Steve Boggs for Services Rendered as Vice-Chair, Discussion Group F10 Diagnostic Testing for Cable Joints & Terminations

Dr. George H. Bahder Memorial Award

Presented To

Bruce Bernstein

For leadership in guidance of performance of cable aging and reliability issues, and providing foresight in combining aging methodology with diagnostic testing to estimate future performance of cable systems.

126th Meeting of the Insulated Conductors Committee

Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona
November 8 - 11, 2009

Career Highlights

• Bruce Bernstein was educated at City University of New York and Iowa State University, where he obtained B. S. and M.S. degrees in organic chemistry in 1953 and 1955 respectively.
• 1961 -1965: RAI Research Corporation, Senior Chemist - Guided government-sponsored R&D on radiation- crosslinked polyethylene and other polymers for military and space applications.
• 1966 -1969: Riegel Product Corp., Senior Chemist, Central Research Laboratory - Developed thermally upgraded Kraft paper based cellulosics for transformer insulation.
• 1969 -1972: Radiation Technology Corp., Manager Radiation and Polymer Chemistry - Lead R&D efforts involving product development of polymer-impregnated wood and concrete. The former was commercialized and the latter could be considered a precursor to "Polysil" insulators.
• 1972 -1975: Phelps Dodge Wire and Cable Company, Manager Materials Research Laboratory - Participated in and later guided one of the first EPRI-sponsored projects on water treeing in cables. In this activity, his work was the first to apply infra red analytical techniques to the study of water tree chemical structure (in those days the analytical equipment was not as sophisticated as it is today). His efforts at that time also focused on electrical treeing in cables, and another activity was to provide assistance to manufacturing operations.
• 1976 -1977: Sun Chemical Corporation, Research Manager, Facile Division - Developed polymer-based foil laminated composites to be applied as moisture barriers for power and communication cables.
• 1977 - 2001: Electric Power Research Institute, Target Leader, Technical Advisor, Project Manager -
  • Guided sponsored research and development efforts concerned with cable technology and electrical insulation.
  • Responsible for technical (and financial) management of projects focusing on insulation for cables and electrical equipment. Under his guidance, the following was performed:
    • Over the years several projects covered studies on water treeing of high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE), EPR and tree retardant XLPE, and differences were defined. Factors influencing water tree growth were clarified.
    • After initial studies on water tree growth in the laboratory, studies included comparing field aged cables with laboratory aged cables; it was learned that accelerated aging conditions were significant, and could yield different results from aging. This contributed to adding tests in controlled temperature tanks to use of pipe tests.
    • The influence of dc testing on ac extruded dielectric cables was clarified, as it was demonstrated that aged XLPE cables respond differently than new cables (due to space charge effects); up until that time, new and aged cables were not distinguished in their response to dc. This was further expanded to include the influence of surges. It was shown that dc application could be harmful in causing potentially harmful latent effects. This led to the industry looking into alternates for dc tests.
    • Diagnostic testing was studied; first destructive tests (such as DSC, FTIR, and spectroscopy) were exhaustively evaluated and their relevance determined. Later non-destructive tests (VLF, LFDF) were studied.
    • Under his guidance the first attempts to combine aging studies with diagnostic test were performed.
    • The subject of thermal overload of extruded cables was an issue at the time the nominee joined EPRI. Under his guidance, the time/temperature influence of thermal overload conditions for XLPE and EPR cables was clarified. The influence of overloading on jackets and shields was clarified. This information was employed by AEIC in modifying industry cable specifications.
    • Studies on joints and terminations were performed with, e.g., the time involved and complexity in preparing joints in confined environments were clarified. This aids the utilities in clarifying individual issues.
    • Under his guidance, numerous workshops were held (early-mid 1990s) to publicize the results of EPRI-sponsored projects and to transfer the technology to users.
    • Aging of PILC cables was studied to estimate degradation of the lead sheath.
    • Several projects focused on advancing the state-of-the art of cable technology; jackets that trap ions were prepared (and installed at several utilities), polymers to serve as moisture barriers to substitute for lead.
    • Results of work the nominee initiated and guided were presented at international meetings.
• 2001 to Present: Principal, Bruce S. Bernstein Consulting, LLC, Provides consulting services in the areas of cable technology and electrical insulation: consulting guidance to utilities, suppliers and testing organizations, as well as providing services to attorneys regarding legal issues.

Awards

• 1992 - IEEE Fellow "for pioneering research leading to understanding of aging phenomena of extruded dielectric high voltage power cables".
• 2000 - EPRI Chauncey Award "for participation in assisting Commonwealth Edison after 1999 power failure".
• 1989 - EPRI Distribution Task Force Award "to nominee by the Underground Subcommittee of the EPRI Distribution Task Force for efforts in the cable arena".
• 1990 - EPRI "First Use" Award "for applying results of DC Hi Pot studies testing to practical use".
• Undated - EPRI "Appreciation Award" "for his invaluable contribution to the development of EPRI's Distribution Cable Research Digest".
• 1988 - CIGRE Technical Paper Award "Sensitive Analytical Methods for Early Diagnosis of Aging in Solid Dielectric Insulation under Voltage Stress".

Professional Activities

• Initiated and served as Chairman of ICC Discussion Group "Diagnostics to Estimate Future Performance of Extruded Dielectrics", which became "Characteristics of Insulating Materials".
• Presently serving as Vice-Chair of C30D "Extending the Life of Power Cable Operating in the Field".
• Numerous presentations to ICC over past years on cable aging results, diagnostics, thermal overload, etc.
• Served on IEEE/DEIS AdCom 1979-1985, 1988-1993 and 2002-2007
• DEIS Nominations Committee 2008
• CEIDP Board Member 1986-1989
• ISEI Treasurer 1986
• CIGRE: United States Representative to Insulation Materials Working Group (old) Study Committee15-06, 1989-1996
• CIGRE: Convenor of "Advanced Materials" WG, SC 15, 1996-2000
• CIGRE: Organizer of Colloquium "Advanced Materials", August 1997, Bedford, Mass, sponsored by SC-15, "Materials for Electrotechnology".
• Faculty member of University of Wisconsin-sponsored Course "Understanding Power Cable Characteristics and Applications", 1988 to present.

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