1) Cost Estimating / Project Controls 2,3, and 4
TRC is currently staffing positions at various Southern California Edison facilities throughout California to assist in the account analysis, budgeting and cost estimating for Edison's Interstate Transmission and Distribution network.

Job Description: Expert knowledge of estimating techniques including indirect cost development, contingency analysis and construction overheads. Typically possesses ten or more years experience in estimating and cost engineering and design engineering and/or field construction.

Requirements: Individual will estimate plant modifications and upgrades to be implemented at a nuclear generating facility. Individual will perform estimates of a conceptual to a definitive level. Estimator must be able to develop various estimate scenarios and communicate with stakeholders to resolve comments and obtain their agreement.

Preferences:

1. Demonstrated 10 to 15 years experience in the estimating field with nuclear power plant background.
2. Able to interpret scope documents, drawings and isometrics, and estimate quantities and price commodity requirements.
3. Demonstrate proficient in Microsoft Office Excel and other Office products.
4. Demonstrate strong computer skills. Will be required to access specific mainframe applications for information needed to perform estimates.
5. Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills.

Job Description: Broad knowledge of estimating techniques including indirect cost development, contigency analysis and construction overheads.

Requirements Project Overview : This position will be responsible for project controls on major capital projects and programs such as Automation, Added Facilities, Radial Line & Facilities Service Agreements, and Distributed Generation. This position will require thorough knowledge of project controls, project management, engineering, construction, contract administration and accounting principles. Also needed is thorough knowledge of CPM scheduling techniques, utilizing either MS Project or Primavera P3. Knowledge of Excel and MS Access is also required.

Required Technical Skills/Experience: Thorough knowledge in appropriate field. Recognized internally as an expert in field. May be recognized externally as an expert. Limited number of personnel available with knowledge and abilities. Typically possesses four or more years experience in the field performing analysis, consulting, and providing recommendations.

Preferences : Degree: MA/MS/MBA. Degree in Engineering, Business, Finance or related field. Experience in engineering & construction and /or architect and engineering firms in providing project controls on major projects. For Level 1 we would need 5 years of experience, and for level 2 we would need 10yrs. experience. In addition, the level 2 person should also have the skill set that is listed as plus.

FOLLOWING SKILL SETS ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS EXPERIENCED COST / SCHEDULE ENGINEER.
(They need not be subject matter expert in these entire items, but should have sufficient knowledge and exposure to be able to perform once the process to be used is defined to them) (Depending upon the size of the project, a Subject Matter expert in either Schedule or Cost area may also be considered)

• Provide Schedule Support
• Develop Schedule based on Project Requirements
• Utilize the WBS and Code of Accounts to Define Activity and Resources Code
• Load schedules with resources and budgeted cost
• Update and maintain Schedule
• Develop and provide Biweekly and Monthly Schedule Reports
• Reports will be Detailed, Summary and /or High Level depending on the audience, the Project and / or Upper Management
• Reports will be descriptive in nature that provides and explains both positive and negative variances of the Project
• Should have working knowledge of Critical Path and Float analysis Provide Cost Support
• Should have a working knowledge of Earned Value
• Prepare Change Orders and maintain Trend Log
• Prepare minor changeorder estimates
• Prepare Cost & Commitment report
• Analyze recoded cost, work performed, committed cost, uncommitted and contingency amount to determine Cost Forecast at Completion
• Develop and maintain Summary Cost Reports
• Develop and maintain Detailed Cost Reports by Phases of Work and Cost Elements
• Reports will be Detailed, Summary and /or High Level depending on the audience, the Project and / or Upper Management
• Reports will be descriptive in nature that provides and explains both positive and negative variances of the Project.
• Setup, maintain and provide a Historical Project Closeout Report at project completion
• Perform Ad Hoc Reporting as needed

FOLLOWING SKILL SET WOULD BE A PLUS

• Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) after reviewing the Scope of Work and Statement of Work (SOW)
• Utilize the WBS to develop and rollup to a Cost Code of Accounts
• Develop Cost Code of Accounts for both Capital and O&M that ties to the SCE Accounting System
• Provide Project Control Guidance
• Develop & Update Project Controls Plan
• Develop Cost Metric to assist in forecasting project Cost at Completion
• Ability to prepare custom reports using advanced data base management software / tools
• Train the Project in the use of reading and interpreting Reports as required.

Switchgear Solutions and Retrofits:

Location
Huntington Beach Generating Station, Huntington Beach CA. an AES LLC independent power producer

Description
Replace the old 4,160 AC volt inter-tie Circuit Breakers that tie the reserve busses between Units 1 and 2 to Units 3 and 4

Protection
Used one SEL-351S relay for each Circuit Breaker

Automation
Used the mirrored bit communication capability of the SEL-351S to automate the system

Communication
Used an SEL-2100 for mirrored bit communication between relays and to communicate to the station DCS used an SEL-2020.

Function
The transfer scheme operation for the Inter-tie switchgear will trip, close, auto transfer, block closing and auto transfer Via the SEL-351S relays. There are three "Auto-Manual" switches in the control room one for each breaker to select which breakers can perform the automatic transfer. Normally all 3 breakers would have the switch in the Auto mode.

Breaker #1 is for Unit 1, 4160 volt bus, #2 is for Unit 2, 4160 bus and #3 is for the Reserve bus. It is possible to manually operate all 3 breakers one at a time with the automatic transfer scheme auto and also select which breaker is transferred to during any auto transfer. Breakers #1 and #2 are the main sources of power for the Inter-tie feeder. Breaker #3 is the last resort source. Each breaker SEL-351S relay is checking all 3 breakers for breaker open or closed status, Auto Manual status, fault trip conditions, unit power availability and for under voltage on the Inter-tie or unit bus. In addition the Sel-351S relays will perform sync check close and dead Inter-tie transfers.

The transfer scheme will be initiated following a 3 cycle delay after the inter-tie bus voltage experiences an incursion into the UV transfer window (85% to 80% of nominal). The transfer scheme is blocked from operating at below 80% of nominal volts, assumed to be 4200/120. The reserve source should only be used if Unit 1 and 2 are not available. Unit 1 would be the preferred source, if available and Unit 2 would be the alternate source if available and Unit 1 is unavailable. The logic on each relay is identical when deciding to close its own breaker. The difference is in deciding which breaker to close or to which unit to transfer.

An external trip causing a dead inter-tie and dead Unit Bus with an open breaker will cause a transfer. A dead inter-tie and a dead unit bus with the breaker closed will not cause a transfer and will lockout the automation program after a short time delay. An internal trip from an SEL-351S relay will lockout the automation program until the target is reset on the Unit that relayed. An internal trip from the 351S relay with a “breaker-fail-to-trip” condition was not addressed for this installation. That circumstance should have been addressed in the existing upstream external protection.

If the inter-tie is energized from units 3 & 4 with unit 1, unit 2 and the reserve unit CB’s open, buses energized and the relays not locked out, the system would sync and close into the first unit that is made auto. The System doesn’t communicate with units 3 & 4. The sync function of the 351S relay will not allow anyone to close its associated breaker unless the systems are synchronized.

After an inter-tie protection internal trip from SEL-351S relay the auto operation is locked out in all three relays. The reset for this lock out is the target reset button of the relay that sensed the trip current. Pushing the target reset will restore the programs to normal operation. Pressing the target reset button resets all latches in the program.

Conclusion
This project was a challenge because it had to be done with out interrupting the normal day to day operation of the station. As all challenging projects it was satisfying to see it through to completion. I have gained much experience in the area of SEL relay mirrored bit programming.

Description

Applications

Protection and Control

Monitoring and Metering

User Interface

Location
The High Desert Power plant in Victorville, California, is a state-of-the-art electric generating facility and one of the first major power plants built in Southern California since the early 1990s. It produces 830 megawatts of energy, enough to power 800,000 typical California homes.

Description
Accepted, programmed and tested the GE ALPS the SEL-311C relays and the RFL communication gear, for the scheme that protects the SCE Company inter-tie line to Victorville Substation.

Protection
The SEL-311C Protection is an advanced, full-featured, three-pole trip/reclose relay for transmission protection applications. A powerful suite of phase and ground protection elements coupled with out-of-step blocking.

The LPS is a multi-function digital protective relay system intended to provide distance protection for transmission lines. It may be also applied where system backup is required. Typical operating times are within 1 cycle.

Function
This relay scheme and its fiber optic communication channel protest’s the Victorville-Coldwell 220KV line via the permissive over reaching transfer tripping function. Each relay is a stand alone line protection relay.