Résumé

 

Richard van Leeuwen, P.Eng. (Electrical)

 

Nationality: Canadian

Languages: English and French

 

Background: An experienced electrical engineer with a broad practical background in electrical practice and applications, who has designed, commissioned, repaired, optimized, and investigated a variety of electrical systems.

 

 

Career highlights:

solved a manufacturer's design fault in a product line of 5 kV starters which had caused approximately 10 failures in the preceding 10 years (at a cost of $50,000 per failure) and had contributed to the plant's only fatality to that date

developed a design solution to a "voltage rise due to self excitation" phenomenon on a 230 kV Hydro supply line which endangered the plant's electrical equipment

discovered the cause of a 2500 hp, 3600 rpm electric motor failure which was not discovered by two motor repair facilities or other investigators

confirmed that incorrect motor rotation caused the failure of a compressor at a northern plant but successfully defended the electrician that connected the motor by explaining that the direction of operation is the responsibility of maintenance personnel (in this case)

established a forensic electrical engineering practice supplying experienced, clear, and unbiased electrical engineering expertise to the insurance industry and legal profession

accepted as expert witness in the BC Supreme Court in 1999 Feb. 9 (C964610 B.C.S.C.) and in the Yukon Supreme Court in 2002 July 29 (00-A0174 Y.S.C.)

 

Industrial esperience:

4 years process instrumentation with Union Carbide in Montreal

3 years FM microwave communications with RCA in Montreal

5 years variable speed drive manufacturing for Harland Controls and Systems Limited in Montreal

3 years power distribution and industrial control in the ferro-alloy industry with Chromasco, Montreal

6 years on-site at pulp and paper mills in B.C. Manitoba, and Ontario with various responsibilities.

8 years electrical consulting, primarily for the pulp and paper industry

Professional education: B.A.Sc. (Electrical Engineering) 1966 University of Waterloo

Diploma in Management 1970 McGill University

Fire Science and Investigation Course 1996 University of British Columbia and over 10 post graduate courses on instrumentation, power distribution, substations, and ventilation

 

Personal values

Hard working, analytical, methodical, and persistent, can work autonomously and with others, willing to deal with difficult situations, ethical, has an unusually high mechanical aptitude

 

Professional associations: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (since 1964)

Ordre des Ingenieurs du Quebec (since 1966)

Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (since 1977)

Association of Professional Engineers of B.C. (since 1979)

 

 

Curriculum Vitae