Key Personnel

DR. PRODIPTO SANKAR GHOSH

Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering, MBA, MIEEE

33 years experience includes 15 years with Testing & Consulting Firm, 11 years in Power Utility as Senior Engineer with the Generating Station and Substation Department, 5 years in High Voltage Testing Laboratory and 2 years in Cable Manufacturing Company as Testing Engineer. He has Consulting and Project experiences in the field of Insulation Diagnostics for electrical power equipment in several countries such as India, Germany, Malaysia and Canada. He is actively engaged in organizing & conducting Short Courses since 1996 in India, Malaysia and Canada in the areas of Maintenance, Testing and Condition Monitoring of High Voltage Equipment for Engineers from Power Utilities and Industries. Over a period of 16 years he has built a strong research career through successful supervision of 3 Ph.D. and 15 Masters level projects in the field of High Voltage Insulation Diagnostics and has published more than 50 technical articles in reputed international journals and conferences including IEEE. He is currently an active member of various working groups under IEEE/PES Power Transformer revising existing standards and developing new standards. His in-depth industrial and research experiences have made him a specialist in the areas of condition assessment and condition based maintenance of Power Transformers, Cables and Switchgears.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGH

• Member – IEEE
• Member – CSA C22.3 No.11, Technical Committee
• Member – IEEE/PES- Standard Association
• Member – IEEE/PES Power Transformer Working Groups
• Member – CSA Z462, Technical Committee
• Chairman – Working Groups 5 and 10 for CSA Z463 Electrical Equipment Maintenance Standard
• Member – PCIC IEEE Working Group P1683 WG — TG3
• Technical Advisor – TNB Research Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia
• Technical Assessor – Technical Expert Position for TNB Distribution
• Technical Assessor – Technical Expert Position for TNB Research
• Research Collaborator – TNB Research Sdn. , Malaysia
• Reviewer – Technical Paper for peer reviewed International Conferences
• Chairman – Technical Sessions of Asia-Pacific Conference & Exhibition on T & D Asset Management Conference – 2006 organized by CIRED (Malaysia)
• Chairman – Technical Sessions of Asia-Pacific Conference & Exhibition on Medium Voltage Underground Cables, 2005 organized by CIRED (Malaysia)
• Member – Technical Advisory Committee for PEITSICON-2005 organized by
• Reviewer – Technical Papers published in PECON -2004 organized by IEEE(USA), Malaysia Section
• Chairman – Distribution Unit on The Industry Day-2002 organized by TNB Research, Malaysia
• Member – Syllabus Review Committee for the Industrial Training Institutes of India, CSTARI, 1999, INDIA.
• Rapporteur–Technical Session VB in 7^th NPSC, 1993, organized by Jadavpur University, Calcutta, INDIA

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Experienced in conducting Electrical Safety Audit for Utilities and Industries
• Experienced in developing Electrical Safety Program comprising of PPE, safe work procedures, engineering & equipment safety by design
• Skilled in designing, developing and delivering Workplace Electrical Safety training with specific reference to NFPA 70E
• Experienced in load flow studies, short circuit analysis, protection coordination and arc flash hazard analysis using ETAP and EDSA
• Skilled in troubleshooting and maintenance of high voltage transformers, switchgear & cables
• Skilled in commissioning tests of transformers, switchgear & cables
• Experienced in Failure Analysis of transformers and cables
• Experienced in detection of Partial Discharge activities in Transformers & GIS using Acoustic Emission Technique
• Experienced in conducting High Voltage Testing on Transformers and Cables in accordance with IEC and IEEE Standards
• Experienced in conducting diagnostic tests of HV insulating materials
• Experienced in conducting diagnostic tests of overhead transmission line insulators
• Managed Control Room Operation of Pulverized fuel Thermal Power Station
• Expertise in interpretation of diagnostic tests data of  HV insulating materials
• Expertise in interpretation of DGA, Furan, DP and all kinds of electrical testing data of large power transformers
• Expertise in interpretation of cable diagnostics data (partial discharge, tan-delta, dielectric spectroscopy, etc.)
• Experienced in developing & implementing Condition Based Maintenance policy for transformers, switchgear and cables
• Experienced in developing & implementing Risk Based Maintenance policy for transformers, switchgear and cables
• Experienced in developing & implementing Reliability Centered Maintenance policy for fuel oil and lube oil systems in Power Station
• Experienced in implementing ISO and Quality Assurance procedure in Power Station
• Designed and Developed Software to estimate the remaining life of Power Transformers using DGA & Furan data
• Designed and Developed Software for estimating the pollution severity index to effectively plan Switchgear and Outdoor Insulator Maintenance period using ESDD and Leakage Current data
• Developed ANN Software for function estimation and classification tasks
• Designed and Developed On-line Condition Monitoring System for Load Tap Changer using Motor Current Signature
• Designed and Conducted Short Courses on operation, maintenance, testing and protection of high voltage equipments
• Designed and taught Power Engineering Courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Universities
• Designed, developed and maintained Laboratories for teaching and research purposes
• Supervised 3 Ph.D. and 15 Masters Level Thesis
• Published more than 50 Technical Papers in reputed Journals & Refereed Conferences

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

RUP Consultants Plus (INDIA) Pvt. Ltd., INDIA.
MD- Electrical Maintenance and Asset Management Services,

RUP Consultants Plus Inc., CANADA.
DIRECTOR – Electrical Maintenance and Asset Management Services,

PSAMS INC., CANADA.
DIRECTOR- Electrical Maintenance and Asset Management Services,

Tenaga Nasional Bhd, MALAYSIA.
SENIOR Engineer

CESC LIMITED, CALCUTTA, INDIA.
SENIOR ENGINEER,

FORT GLOSTER CABLES, Howrah, INDIA.
Testing Engineer,

HIGH TENSION LABORATORY, Calcutta, INDIA.
Senior Research & Testing Engineer,

INVITED SPEAKER

• A talk on “A Journey to Maintenance Excellence” held in Edmonton City, Canada at Hotel Mayfield Inn & Suites on 19 – 21 Mar., 2012 organized by ESTMP, IEEE.
• A talk on “Advanced Life Cycle Management for Electrical Distribution System” held in Jakarta City, Indonesia at Hotel Intercontinental Mid Plaza on 13 Dec., 2011 organized by CIRED, Indonesia.
• A talk on “Integrated on-line monitoring for primary equipments as a foundation for Smart Grid” held in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam at Hotel Intercontinental during 1 – 2 Dec., 2010 organized by Synergy, Singapore.
• A talk on “A Journey to Maintenance Excellence” held in Austin, Texas at Hotel Hilton during 10 – 15 Oct., 2010 organized by Doble, USA.
• A talk on “Transformer Risk Assessment from Cradle to Grave” held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at Hotel Nikko during 17 – 20 Nov., 2008 organized by EWRM, TNB, Malene Insurance and Takaful Malaysia.
• A talk on “Condition Monitoring of Power Transformers” in INFRAMATRIX 2005, held in Kuala lumpur, Malaysia during 14 – 16 Sept., 2005 organized by TSSI
• A talk on “RCM – Concepts & Application” for Engineers of Infineon Semiconductor Industry at Melaka, Malaysia, August 2005
• A talk on “Sheath voltage and Sheath Current of 1-core Cables” organized by Institute Latihan Sultan Ahmed Shah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2004
• A talk on “On-line Condition Monitoring of Electrical Plants” in a 3-Day Condition Monitoring Workshop organized by Mechanical Engineering Department of Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia, August 2003
• A talk on “Electrical Transmission System” in a 3-Day Workshop for Non-Engineering Executives of TNB organized by Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia, June 2003
• A talk on “Safe Operational Practices for Distribution Engineers” organized by Association of Engineers (India), August 1999
• A talk on “Manpower Planning” organized by Indian Society for Training & Development, Calcutta Chapter, June 1997

CONSULTING EXPERIENCE

A list of recent consulting projects completed:

• FMECA, RCM Analysis and Maintenance Strategies for Electrical Equipment, for Nova Chemicals, Canada
• Maintenance Test Procedures for Substation Equipment, for Suncor Energy, Canada
• Asset Management Audit consistent with PAS55, for CNRL, Canada
• Development of Asset Management Policy, for CNRL, Canada
• Operation and Maintenance Procedures for Electrical Equipment, for CNRL, Canada
• Criticality Ranking for Electrical Assets, for CNRL, Canada
• FMECA, RCM Analysis, Maintenance Strategies and Job Plans for Electrical Assets, for CNRL, Canada
• Field Testing and Condition Health Index based Maintenance Regime for PILC and XLPE Cables, for EPCOR, Canada
• Field Testing and Condition Health Index based Maintenance Regime for Cables, Breakers and Transformers for ENMAX – CEC, Canada
• Field Testing and Condition Health Index based Maintenance Regime for Cables, Capacitors, PTs and Transformers for ENMAX – CEC, Canada
• Commissioning and Maintenance Test Sheets for Electrical Equipment, Cenovus Energy, Canada
• “Life Assessment of 81#s 15kV XLPE 500mcm Cables approx. 30 years in service” for Inter Pipeline Fund, Cochrane Extraction Plant, Canada
• “Development of Electrical Equipment Maintenance Standard” for Cenovus Energy, Canada
• “Development of Electrical Equipment Maintenance Plan” for Perpetual Energy, Canada
• “Condition Assessment of 15kV XLPE Cables” for Interpipeline Limited, Cochrane Extraction Plant, Canada
• “Development of PRC-001-AB-1 Matrix and Trained Operators on Protection System” for Genesee CPC, Canada
• “Installation and Commissioning of Condition Monitoring Packages for Switchgears and Transformers” for TNB Distribution, Malaysia
• “Installation and Commissioning of Condition Monitoring Package for a 25/4.16kV, 20MVA Transformer” for CE, Canada
• “Failure Investigation, condition assessment and successful commissioning of 1200mm², 132kV XLPE Cable Circuit” for TNB Transmission, Malaysia
• “Fault location, cable gland rectification, condition assessment of XLPE Insulation and successful re-commissioning of 630mm2, 1-core, 11kV XLPE Cable Circuits” for Siemens, Malaysia
• “Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Studies” for Capital Power Corporation, Canada
• “Troubleshooting and maintenance of 25/4.16kV, 15MVA Transformer” for Magna, Canada
• Detailed Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Labeling Specification and Schedule for all the MCC/Switchgear Rooms and Developing Energized Electrical Work Task Checklist Tables for Suncor Energy Mackay River Plant, Canada
• Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Studies for Capital Power Corporation, Canada
• Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Studies for Bredero Shaw Quantan Plant, Malaysia
• Electrical Safety Audit, Electrical Safety Program Development and Roll Out Training for Suncor Energy, Canada
• Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Studies for 13# Oil and Gas Facilities for Devon Canada, Canada
• Electrical Safety Audit for Bruce Power, Canada
• Transformer Litigation Project for Kevin Kennedy & Associates Inc., USA
• Arc Flash Hazard Analysis Project for Wescast Automotive, Canada
• Development of Comprehensive On-line Condition Monitoring System for Large Power Transformers (>50MVA)
• Cable Investigation Project at Mid-Valley Shopping Mall for Siemens Ltd., Malaysia.
• Designing the substation ground grid using IEEE 80 for Transutility, Malaysia.
• Assessment of Sluggishness issue of the Spring Mechanism of the VCB Switchgear for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Developing the Condition Health Index for MV Switchgear for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Developing Distribution Asset Risk Methodology and Analysis Tool for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Provided consulting services to understand cable degradation phenomena, select appropriate sensors, integration of subsystems, and analyzing techniques to develop partial discharge and water-tree detection systems for medium voltage underground XLPE cables.
• Designing the substation ground grid using IEEE 80 for Shanu Engineering, Malaysia.
• Evaluating the Cable Laying Design of MVUG Cables for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Development of Electrical Safety Program for Suncor Energy Inc.
• Development of Electrical Safety Program for Devon Canada.
• Auditing the Electrical Safety System existing at Suncor Energy Inc at Alberta, Canada.
• Auditing the Electrical Safety System at Bruce Power Plant at Ontario, Canada.
• Provided consulting services to find the root cause and provide Niska Gas Storage Facility with appropriate solutions to mitigate the nuisance tripping of Compressor Motors.
• “Development of CBM Manual for Transformers and Cables” for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Failure Analysis of 33kV Vacuum Circuit Breakers for TNB Distribution, Malaysia.
• Failure Analysis of A 132kV, XLPE Cable attacked by termite for TNB Transmission, Malaysia.
• DGA & Furan Report Analysis of Power Transformers for BP.
• Failure Analysis of A 132/11 kV, 45 MVA Power Transformer for BP.
• Development of Risk based Asset Management Policy Framework.
• Electrical Field Optimization for new design of 11kV and 33kV Vacuum Switchgear Busbar Coupler using Finite Element Analysis.
• Development of On-line Condition Monitoring System for OLTC using Motor Current Sensing Methodology.
• Development of New Insulating Material using Natural Rubber blended with MDPE.
• Conversion of Palm Oil into Transformer Insulating Oil Characteristics.
• Pollution Severity Assessment using ESDD, NSDD and Leakage Current measurements for outdoor overhead line insulators.
• An Environment Effect and Deposition Accumulation study on MV Switchgear.
• Evaluation of Different Types of 11kV Joints for Underground XLPE Cable.
• RCM Implementation of Fuel Oil System in Thermal Power Station.
• Water – Treeing problem in 132kV XLPE Cables.
• Partial Discharge Activities in the Bus-Bar Section of 275kV GIS.
• The Effect of Surface Pollution on Electrical performance of in-service Wooden Cross-arm.
• Replacement Decision of Three 33kV / 11kV, 30MVA Power Transformers on the basis of combined DGA and Electrical Test results.
• Electrical Field Optimization of new electrode design of a 33kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker Bottle

SHORT COURSE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

A list of recent training courses conducted in Malaysia and Canada:

• Primary Equipment Maintenance & Testing – 3 days
• CBM for Power Transformers – 3 days
• CBM for MVUG Cables – 3 days
• CBM for MV Switchgears – 3 days
• Power System Protection for Non-Protection Engineers – 3 days
• Cable Installation, Ampacity Calculation and Sheath Bonding – 3 days
• Workplace Electrical Safety – 2 days
• Substation Electrical Safety – 1 day
• Condition Monitoring of Electrical Plants – 2 days
• Condition Monitoring of Aged Power Transformers – 2 day
• Condition Monitoring of Underground Power Cables – 2 day
• High Voltage Insulation Diagnostics – 1 day
• Pollution Flashover Studies of Outdoor Insulators – 1 day
• Reliability Centered Maintenance – Concepts & Application – 3 days
• Risk Based Maintenance Strategy – Concepts – 1 day
• High Voltage Safety – 2 days
• High Voltage Maintenance – 3 days
• Sheath Voltage & Sheath Current – The Area of Concern in Single Core Cable and it’s Implication – 1 day
• The Principles of Asset Management – 3 days
• Asset Management Policy, Strategy, and Planning – 2days
• Assessing and Managing Asset Related Risks – 3 days
• Managing Asset Lifecycle Decisions and Activities – 2 days
• The Financial and Business Impacts of Asset Management – 3 days

Clients – ATCO (Alberta), Suncor Energy (Alberta), CNRL (Alberta), Cenovus Energy (Alberta), Shell Canada (Alberta), Canadian Navy CFB Esquimalt (Victoria, BC), INCO Limited Thompson (Manitoba), Physical Plant Department of University of Manitoba, Syncrude Limited (Fort McMurray, Alberta), Five Nations Energy (Timmins, Ontario), Potash Mines at Rockenville (Saskatchewan), NewFoundland Power, Air Liquide (Texas, USA), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Malaysia), TNB Research Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), BP Chemicals (Malaysia), Protek Engineers (Malaysia), TAMCO (Malaysia), VI Power Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Jojobera Power Company Limited (India), CIRED Malaysia

RESEARCH COLLABORATION

• Research conducted in collaboration with Malaysian Institute of Nuclear Technology (MINT) on development and testing of new rubber based insulating material for high voltage applications (Dec., 2003 – Oct., 2004)
• Joint research with TNB Research, Malaysia on Cable Diagnostics and Transformer Oil Analysis (Jan., 2002 – till date)
• Joint Ph.D. supervision with UMIST, Manchester, UK on Partial Discharge Studies in Transformer ( Sept., 2002 – Oct., 2005)
• Joint Ph.D. supervision with University of Southampton, UK on Studies of Partial Discharge in Cables (Sept., 2003 – Sept., 2005)
• Research conducted in collaboration with Jadavpur University, India on Electric Stress Control in GIS (Sept., 2001 –  May 2002)

EXPERIENCE IN ACQUIRING PROJECT FUNDS

TNB Research, Malaysia R & D / Seed / Lab Development Fund:

1. “Development of Risk based Asset Management Policy Framework” collaborating with TNB Research for TNB Distribution, Malaysia. Duration – 3 months
2. “A Study on Evaluation of Different Types of 11kV Joints for Underground Cable” collaborating with TNB Research for TNB Distribution, Malaysia. Duration – 9 months
3. “Online Condition Monitoring of LTC (Load Tap Changers) in Power Transformers” collaborating with TNB Research, Malaysia. Duration – 2 years
4. “Solid Insulation Degradation Studies in Oil-Filled Transformers” collaborating with TNB Research for TNB Distribution, Malaysia. Co-funded by the local management of TNB Distribution at the State Level from their respective annual maintenance budget. Duration – 3 years
5. “The Investigation of Cable Failure of 132kV Cables at Sg. Pinang and Malayawata Circuits” collaborating with TNB Research for TNB Transmission, Malaysia. Duration – 6 months

Ministry of Science and Technology, Malaysia IRPA Fund:

1. “Diagnosis and Reliability Assessment of the Insulation of Power Transformers using Partial Discharge (PD) Detection Technique” Duration – 1 year

Pusat Tenaga Malaysia under Ministry of Energy, AAIBE Fund:

1. “Development of Power System Protection Laboratory in UNITEN” Duration – 1 year

Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia Capex/R & D Fund:

1. “Condition Monitoring & Diagnostics Laboratory for Partial Discharge Studies in UNITEN” Duration – 1 year

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

• Artificial Neural Network software developed in FORTRAN for estimating real world complex nonlinear relationships. This software has been used successfully in modeling various characteristics of High Voltage Engineering research.
• Statistical Pattern Recognition software developed in MATLAB specifically for Partial Discharge Signal Analysis in the time domain.
• Frequency and Time-Frequency Spectral Analysis Software developed in MATLAB specially tailored for Partial Discharge Signal Analysis.
• Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Software developed in MATLAB. This software has been used successfully in modeling and estimating ESDD & Leakage Current for insulator pollution severity studies.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

• Leakage Current Detection System for on-line pollution severity studies of insulators (jointly with TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia)
• Motor Current Signature Acquisition System for on-line condition monitoring of OLTC (jointly with TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia)