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Expert in Electrical Power Distribution, Switchgear, Home Inspection, Safety and Root Cause Failure Analysis
Available for your Consulting and Expert Witness Needs
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Summary of Expertise:
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Listed with other top experts in: |
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During his experience with fossil fuel generating stations, Expert has used the NFPA 70 (also known as the National Electrical Code or the NEC) and the National Electrical Safety Code as a guide to the design and engineering. As an Electrical Expert, Expert has assisted the legal profession with evaluation of cases associated with lack of compliance with the NEC in residential and commercial applications. This has included cases dealing with improperly sized service conductors, incorrect specification and installation of electrical equipment and lack of compliance with both the NEC and the UBC (Universal Building Code).
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Expert has been associated with many varied power generation projects (both fossil and nuclear fueled) as the Lead Electrical Engineer. In the course of these duties, he has had to perform analysis of alternating current generation, regulation (automatic voltage source transfer), protective relaying, generator step-up transformers, sizing of power distribution switchgear and specification of associated equipment. As the Lead Electrical Engineer, he has also participated in startup of the generation facilities and has been responsible for the successful function of all equipment. At this time, Expert is involved in the analysis of the automatic transfer system for a fossil fuel combined cycle generating station, addressing modification requests from the new owner (a refinery).
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Expert has been involved many flue gas desulfurization projects, from the proposal/estimate phase to the engineering and design. These include selective catalytic reduction (SCR) projects, and "scrubbers" (absorption towers using injection of a limestone slurry to produce virtually clean flue gas with the by product of commercial grade gypsum. These projects involved interface with the coal handling systems, both the required power distribution (influenced greatly by the placement of the aux transformer with relation to the affected coal handling equipment) and, at times, creation and/or modification to coal systems such as dynamic coal classification and sootblowers. Expert has lead efforts engineering, designing and installation of these.
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In his 15 years of experience as part of Engineering and Plant Betterment at the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in Lower Alloway Creek, NJ, Expert was involved in a wide variety of duties. These included 1) submittal of Incident Reports (and planned condition resolution) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2)wrote or reviewed several Safety Evaluations and Reviews (in conformance with 10CFR50.59), 3) created hundreds of modification packages, 4) was certified as an adjunct instructor at the PSE&G Nuclear Training Center, 5) performed commercial grade dedication of off the shelf material for nuclear safety related service, 6) was a Level II Test Engineer, 7) performed equivalency evaluation for several obsolete spare parts and issued equivalent replacement modification packages to satisfy the "action statement" (as listed in each plant's Technical Specification - part of the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report) and 8) was a system engineer for the Radiation Monitoring System. All of these tasks were performed in accordance with the licensing requirements shown in the UFSAR, the main licensing document issued for approval to the NRC.
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During his over 20 years of nuclear engineering experience, both on site and as part of the conceptual engineering effort, Expert was part of review group for the Salem Nuclear Generating Station primary cable separation document CDS-1 and used it as a guide when designing cable routing in accordance with the redundancy requirements of safety related instrumentation and controls and electrical systems. The post Three Mile Island atmosphere pushed issue of NRC Reg Guide 1.97 which mandated enhanced separation requirements for safety related and important to safety systems, along with careful consideration to human factor analysis. Expert was part of the Human Factors Team during the design of the control room for the Nine Mile Point Units 1 & 2.
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Show Secondary and Basic Areas of Expertise | Localities:
Expert may consult nationally and internationally, and is also local to the following cities: New York, New York;
Yonkers, New York;
Newark, New Jersey;
Jersey City, New Jersey;
Paterson, New Jersey;
Elizabeth, New Jersey;
Trenton, New Jersey;
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Allentown, Pennsylvania;
and Baltimore, Maryland.
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Often requested
with this expert: |
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Electrical Engineering, Grounding, Electromagnetics,... |
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Electrical Power Generation and Control--Design, Project... |
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Electrical Wiring Devices, Circuit Breakers, GFCIs, AFCIs,... |
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Electronic, Electrical, Mechanical, Forensic and... |
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| Year |
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Degree |
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Subject |
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Institution |
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1996
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BS
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Electrical Engineering
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Widener Evening College
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| Years |
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Employer |
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Department |
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Title |
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Responsibilities |
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2008 to 2011
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The Shaw Group
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Power
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Lead/Principle Electrical Engineer
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As Lead Electrical engineer, supervised so-called “scrubber” projects for PP&L's Brunner Island Fossil Fuel Generating Station and DTE's Monroe Fossil Fuel Generating Stations. Both stations utilized the “Stebbins Tile” system in the accompanying absorption towers. Duties included development of “target price” proposal, supervision of the engineering and design personnel, developing one line diagrams based on the FGD vendor's equipment, performing studies for placement of the larger motor loads (such as booster and ID fans) at the optimum voltage level to ensure proper operation with respect to adequate motor starting capability and coordination of protective relay settings. Also performed load flow, short circuit, motor starting and protective relaying calculations utilizing Power Tools for Windows software, specified (or approved specifications for) equipment along with accompanying supervision tasks such as budget and schedule management.
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2001 to 2005
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Shaw / Stone & Webster, Inc.
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Power
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Senior Lead Electrical Engineer
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As Lead Electrical Engineer, supervised the design, engineering (25 person staff) and construction efforts for a 3 x 1 combined cycle generating station at the Florida Power & Light Marcus Hook Station. Duties included creation of the project proposal and accompanying estimate, managing a $25million equipment and man-hour budget, performing final bid evaluations for equipment procurement, and coordination of information for integration into the site 3D computer model. As senior engineer, performed (or approved) required sizing calculations for UPS, batteries and chargers, safety grounding, protective relaying, isolated phase bus duct, (including short circuit and motor/equipment load studies) and specification of all associated equipment.
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1998 to 2001
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Washington Group International
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Fossil Services
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Supervisory Discipline Engineer / Electrical / I&C
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As Supervising Discipline Electrical Engineer, performed load, short circuit and cable calculations, project budgetary controls, supervised design and engineering personnel, scheduled and allocated manpower and presided over design presentations to the client for numerous upgrade projects (electrostatic precipitator, cooling tower, 480 VAC distribution among others) for South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. Canadys and Wateree coal/oil fired installations and the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Project for Wisconsin Electric Power Company's Pleasant Prairie Station.
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1997 to 1998
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Day and Zimmermann, International
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Chemical and Fabrics
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Lead Electrical Engineer
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As Lead Electrical and I&C Engineer, handled I&C Process and Electrical design for foreign and domestic DuPont Tefzel and Lycra plants and ICI Americas' Mighty Concrete Additive installation.
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1982 to 1997
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PSE&G
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Nuclear
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Lead Electrical Engineer
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Has over 20 years experience (15 of them on site) in System Engineering (Radiation Monitoring and Reactor Protection Systems), Power and I&C functional design, Purchasing (specification of equivalent replacement for obsolete spare parts, commercial grade dedication), Licensing (submitting of incident report resolution, verification of plant compliance with the Technical Specification) and has been certified as an instructor at the PSE&G Nuclear Training Center. As Procurement Engineer, evaluated, classified and procured equivalent replacements for Electrical and I&C obsolete spare parts and performed commercial grade dedication at the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations.
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Associations/Societies
IEEE, IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors), ASE
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Licenses/Certifications
Licensed Professional Engineer in NJ, PA, DE and WI, Licensed Home Inspector, state of NJ (currently inactive)
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| Selected Consulting Examples: |
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Supported client claims against seller of his newly purchased home. Installation had several violations of the NEC, including undersized conductors and disconnecting devices, failure to provide proper lighting and failure to install devices that ensure tamper proof performance. All of these noted situations were hazardous to the public safety. The case was quickly settled out of court soon after his report was submitted.
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Was called in to support owner's complaint against local utility. Utility changed out the distribution transformers (and location of same), increasing the size of the transformers without increasing the size of the service conductors. This lapse in design caused the client, owner of a popular hotel, restaurant located at the Jersey shore, to experience power loss during three busy weekends, incurring losses in the tens of thousands of dollars. The case is due to go to court on 28JAN2008.
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Was contacted by a building contractor to assist in the defense against claims that the builder's work was not in accordance with UBC and the NEC. Gave full evaluation of large residential addition and noted a few violations of the NEC (and instructed the client on the relatively simple correction to each situation, ensuring a safe environment). This case is scheduled for court in the first quarter of 2008.
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Was consulted by another builder of custom homes in his claim of fraud against his electrical contractor. Performed thorough examination of the entire electrical construction plan, provided a material take-off and submitted an estimate based on commercially available software. Examined all billing and verified that there were a number of entries that had no basis and/or were overstated or shown duplicate times. Also had to examine the programming and operation of a whole home automated system and found discrepancies with conformance with manufacturer's requirements. This case has not yet been scheduled for court.
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Performed forensic analysis of failed contactor coil that was in nuclear service. Dissection of failed component showed failure of insulation, the arc path and the associated failure scenario. Ratings of equivalent replacement component were based on the need to upgrade of failed component.
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Recent Client Requests:
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Expert in Reliability Testing for OFAF Coolers.
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Expert in factory metal for consulting on bus failure.
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Expert for consulting on Safety of manually transported CCTV/ HID lighting equipment.
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding your expert consulting needs.
Expert is available for consulting to corporate, legal and government clients.
Remember, your initial screening call to speak with
Expert is free.
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Expert Witness Experience Summary:
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He reported on the violations of the NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code - NEC) in a residence purchased by his client. This report, which caused a swift settlement out of court, pointed out each violation, referencing the particular section of the NEC with which the installation was in conflict, such as under-rated disconnecting devices, insufficient grounding, unsafe wiring practices and other numerous situations that were a dangerous hazard to public safety. He has also aided his client's motion against a local utility, verifying the existence of inadequate service conductors via forensic evaluation of the destroyed conductors, placement of the new distribution transformers and questionable rating of the new transformers. The court date is scheduled for 28JAN2008. He has also assisted a client (a building contractor) in defense against a claim of non-compliance with local building and electrical codes. This required knowledge of the UBC and the NEC. The case is scheduled for court sometime in the first quarter of 2008. Has performed forensic analysis of failed components that were functioning in so-called "!E" Nuclear Service. These components were part of safety related systems at the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in Lower Alloways Creek, NJ. Before he could specify an equivalent replacement for the failed component, he had to determine the cause of failure for that which was being replaced so that replication of the same failure scenario would not occur.
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Recent Litigation Client Requests:
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Expert in switchgear design case.
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Electricity generation Expert needed for consulting on power company voltage fluctuations.
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Expert witness structural engineer flue supports for consulting on expert witness.
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Click the green button above to contact
Expert for a free initial screening call regarding expert testimony,
litigation consulting and support, forensic services, or any related expert witness services.
A few litigation needs include product liability, personal injury, economic loss, intellectual property
(patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright), and insurance matters. Remember, your initial screening
call to speak with
Expert is free.
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He is able to use his over 30 years experience in power generation (design, construction and start-up), protective relaying and distribution to address problems concerning this area. Has been called in as a consultant for evaluation of existing automatic power transfer systems and the accompanying protective relaying. Has also calculated setpoints for protective devices associated with various combustion turbine generators. Has also been called in as a consultant during the planning stages of various power generation and Fuel Gas Desulfurization (FGD) projects.
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a Research Director can be assigned to coordinate the work into a custom report for you as a potentially quicker
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| Additional Skills and Services: |
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Training/Seminars
Presented training for preparation of Modification Document Packages for PSE&G Nuclear Generating Stations at their Nuclear Training Center (he has been certified as an adjunct instructor). Also assisted in the preparation of the training for developing safety evaluations in accordance with 10CFR50.59. Has prepared a course entitled "Public Speaking for the Terrified"
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Education
