Nicholas Cudsi

Position:	Electrical Engineer
Location:	Bournemouth
Date of Birth:	12th May 1953
Education:	Higher National Certificate, Electrical & Electronic Eng.Lancaster Polytechnic, Coventry UK OND Technology Hastings College of Further Education,   Hastings UK 7 'O' Levels Oxford Board of Examinations (Khartoum, Sudan) High School Diploma Greek School, Khartoum, Sudan
Recent Training and CPD:	Engineering Construction Industry Training Board Awareness of Machinery Safety Legislation Confined Space Training- 2 day course. C&G2391 Level 3 Inspection Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations C&G 2381 Electrical systems to BS 7671 Introduction to BS 61508, Software Safety
Career History:	Electrical Engineer,  Kenneth Grubb Associates Ltd, Bournemouth Dorset Project Manager, G3 Systems Ltd, Portland Dorset UK, Design, Installation, Commissioning of power and control systems for containerised housing and messing facilities in the UK and Iraq. Worked in Saudi Arabia as Project Manager and Electrical Design Engineer for medium and large companies involved in Diesel engine Power stations, and mains power supply ring mains for housing facilities, hospital complexes and petrochemichal facilities. Work involved the design specification, test and commission of power and control systems inclusive of PLC and SCADA systems. Also design and implementation of copper and Fibre Optic cable network of a new telecommunications service on a large airbase. Electrical Engineer,  Davy McKee Co. Ltd. Poole Dorset. Design low voltage control systems for Aluminium rolling mills. Sales and Contracts Engineer, Watford Control Instruments, Watford UK.   Voltage regulators and UPS technical sales. Contracts and Testing/Commissioning Engineer GEC Machines Ltd, Rugby, Warwickshire UK.  Contract administration and Testing DC machines, medium voltage generators, medium and low voltage motors to BS standards. Site Commissioning of generator controls.
Additional Information:	Member - Institute of Electrical Engineers         Languages English - Fluent Greek   - Fluent Arabic  - Good verbal abilities and general reading/writing.
Relevant Project Experience - Kenneth Grubb Associates Ltd Arup and Bristol City Council, Cumberland Basin Mitre gates and controls replacement Cumberland Basin is a flood defence and boat lock system consisting of two sets of mitre gates, two sets of penstocks and a swing bridge. The existing system uses a pumped water system to operate. The system was installed by I.K. Brunel. The brief is to establish a detailed electrical and controls specification for the replacement of the water hydraulics with new oil hydraulics and electrical power and control systems. The project is divided into two phases where the first phase work is to replace the flood gates and their operating systems with oil hydraulics and new electrical controls, refurbishment of the penstocks and replacement of the swing bridge operating system with electrically controlled oil hydraulics. Phase two includes the replacement of the mitre gates water hydraulic system with oil hydraulics and a complete new electrical control system including operator control panels, PLC control, emergency  power, CCTV and other operational systems. Buro Happold, Al Khiran Pearl City Boat Lock, Kuwait The project involves the installation of two single leaf Sector gates for a marina to be built in this development in Kuwait. The brief is to develop a complete purchase specification for the power, PLC control and emergency systems to operate the lock safely and efficiently. In addition to the purchase specification the brief includes the complete wiring and control schematics and PLC ladder logic and programming. White Young Green, Swansea SA1, Sector Gates The Welsh Authority through White Young Green and Associated British Ports are to provide a development for both residential and commercial properties together with a new Marina sited within the existing Prince of Wales dock. Access to the new Marina will be made via a new dedicated boat lock to be constructed as part of a new navigation channel cut through the dock to allow craft to access to the sea at all states of the tide. The boat lock consist of two gate leafs for the outer harbour and two gate leafs for the inner harbour with two synchronized hydraulic power packs operating the gate leafs. The brief is to develop a purchase electrical specification to include PLC control systems and normal and emergency power requirements. Other safety related systems also include a pedestrian access and boat traffic signals.   British Waterways, Prescott Channel and Three Mills Wall River control systems British Waterway will install a new set of Sector gates and Fishbelly gates across Prescott Channel and another set of Fishbelly gates across Three Mills Wall River to enable river traffic through the Sector gates and control floods by the Fishbelly gates. Design and specification of the mains electrical power systems, automatic, manual and emergency control of the hydraulic systems driving the Sector gates and Fishbelly gates. Control of the Sector gates will be through dedicated PLC and manual controls through pushbuttons enabled through water level sensing devices mounted upstream and downstream of the gates. Control of the Fishbelly gates at the two sites will also be automatic (PLC), manual and emergency enabled through water level sensing devices mounted upstream and downstream of the gates. Other systems to be installed are outside flood lighting, CCTV system with tilt-pan-zoom cameras and recording equipment, ship to shore radio and public address equipment. The sites will have British Waterways developed SCADA system to enable remote monitoring and alarm annunciation. Environment Agency, River Beam Guillotine Gate The River Beam Guillotine gate is situated near the Ford Motor plant Dagenham. Its role is to prevent flooding of the plant in case of high river levels. The gate operation is through a winch coupled to a motorised gearbox. The relay and manual controls operate from water level transducers set downstream of the gate and close the gate when the downstream water reaches a preset high level.  When the water level has dropped to a low preset point the gate system is energised to allow stepped gate opening to allow sluicing. The gate water level controls are designed so that if the upstream water level is high then the gate will open in small steps to allow sluicing. When the upstream water level has reached a low level then the control system will open the gate fully. The new gate control system is designed using the same operating principles but the gate movement is through PLC control and Rotork actuator.  Included are an HMI screen to log and alarm faults, a UPS system, Telemetry system, CCTV system, intruder alarm and external flood lighting. The new system design incorporates local and remote gate operation. Safety procedures are updated and in place to ensure safe working conditions. Environment Agency, Eastern Region Survey and condition report on behalf of the Environment Agency on 36 Archimedean Screw type pump stations. The pump stations pump water from low land farm and scrub land to higher levels. Some pump stations have 2 or more pumps.  Each pump is driven by a 3 phase low voltage motorised gearbox. The motor controls are energised from Ultrasonic transducer water level signals mounted in purpose built stilling wells at the river side or mounted on a frame above the water level. Manual controls are also available. The control panels include a plug point for a standby diesel generator set. All stations include a telemetry system which alarms only at the remote main station any faults with the equipment or gate operations or power failure. Produce a condition report for the electrical equipment and recommend any upgrades to conform to BS standards. Environment Agency, Flatford Mill and Dedham Flatford and Dedham have Tilting gates operating automatically controlled from ultrasonic water level sensors and manually from relay controls and pushbutton signals. The controls actuate hydraulic power packs and cylinders to move the gates in pre-determined stepped increments dependant on water levels. The systems include a telemetry system which annunciates only gate position and equipment failure. The gates hydraulic equipment will be replaced with new. The existing control systems will also be replaced because they are not compatible with the latest BS recommendations. Design new control systems to the latest BS standards and redraw the electrical and control schematics. Environment Agency, Cattawade Barrage and Sluice gate Survey, Suffolk Survey and condition report on behalf of the Environment Agency. The barrage has two Radial gates and two Vertical emergency gates which operate from a master control panel located in a control room. The barrage also includes a set of Flap gates. The gates open and close from motorised gearboxes and winches and from Ultrasonic transducer water level signals mounted in purpose built stilling wells at the river and sea side. The control system includes a standby diesel generator set which operates automatically when commercial is lost. The sluice gate is located on another site nearby and it operates through a motorised gearbox from ultrasonic water level signals. Both systems include a telemetry system which alarms only at the remote station any faults with the equipment or gate operations. Produce a condition report and recommend any upgrades to conform to BS standards. Singapore Marina Barrage The Singapore Government will build a barrage across the harbour to impound fresh water and exclude sea water. The barrage design includes 10 19x3m Fishbelly type gates operating from 2 hydraulic cylinders mounted on purpose built piers. The gates operate incrementally to release fresh water only when the impounded water height reaches preset levels. The hydraulic cylinder incremental operation is possible because the hydraulic cylinders will be ceramic coated and include a detection system which is calibrated to indicate rod extension or retraction. These signals are detected by locally mounted PLC analogue modules and translated into digital information displayed on the local HMI screen. The same signals are then transmitted through fibre optic cable to the central control station. Design Specification of the low voltage electrical power and controls and PLC control systems associated with the hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic power packs and accessories including safety systems, telemetry, water level control, manual local raise/lower controls, HMI screens and master PLC controls for remote operations, monitor and alarms plus Systems Integration through Fibre Optic links to the main site SCADA system. Portishead Marina, Sector Gates The Marina was completed in early 2002.  In 2004 the owners found out that the water level measurement devices did not perform as intended and requested a survey to determine the causes and upgrade the original control system to meet new operating procedures. The Survey showed that the ultrasonic water level measuring devices were not reliable for the operations and suggested that the water level measurement devices be replaced with a dual measurement system which would prove more reliable. The PLC program would be upgraded to cater for the new system. Two different manufactured ultrasonic water level measurement devices were chosen and installed in purpose built stilling wells in locations nears the existing ones. Additional PLC blocks were also programmed for the new signals.  The complete ladder logic, HMI screens and alarm indications were upgraded and put into operation. The system was handed over to the client and a training period for the client's operating staff took place to familiarise them with the new system. The client now has a requirement where by he needs to be allowed to drop the marina level below the recommended level to allow certain construction to take place around the marina. The original system included two submersible pumps which are used to pump water into the marina at certain times when the level is low.  The pumps run automatically when the level in the marina is at a preset low level and stop when the level is at a preset high level. The system also allows for 'free-flow' when the sea level is the same as the marina level. In this situation the gates open automatically to allow natural water circulation. When the water level starts to drop and all three water level measurement devices register the drop, the gates close automatically. Opening and closing the gates is governed by a strict boat traffic control system to ensure that the gates do not close when there is a boat in the way. Pedestrian paths installed on top of each set of gates are controlled by automatically controlled gates which close/open from PLC signals. RNLI Helipad Flood Gates at Portland, Dorset Factory Inspection, testing and commissioning of the Auto/Manual electrical system including PLC control, hydraulic pump control, hydraulic cylinder position indication and gate monitoring system of a pair of Mitre flood gates designed to keep the rising tide outside the helipad.  The system includes a mains/standby diesel generator plug in point for emergency operations. The system includes a ground water level sensor that detects high water level in the helipad area. If the water in the helipad area is high the gates open to release the water only if the sea side water level is lower that the helipad area.  The system also alarms remotely in the nearby hanger for any system faults. Environment Agency, Bridport and Tisbury Gates Condition survey of the existing Vertical sluice gates operating through Rotork actuators and ultrasonic water level signals. Report and recommendations on upgrading the system to meet current standards and operational requirements.   RNLI Sennon, Cornwall Replacement and refurbishment of the boat launching and retrieval cradle and additions to existing electrical controls. The brief is to develop a purchase specification for the additional electrical and control systems associated with the replacement of the cradle. including additional safety systems and interlocks. Environment Agency, Chesil Beach, Portland Survey and condition report on the existing electrical and signal cabling, water level systems and telemetry systems monitoring storm water and sea levels at the Chesil Beach flood barrier. The flood barrier includes a concrete channel located under the barrier to channel water from the west side of the barrier to the east side of the barrier. Three boreholes across the barrier monitor the water seeping under the barrier. The system includes water level measurement on the open water channel leading to the harbour. Recommendations on system upgrade using alternative power sources for the harbour water level transducer and integrating new borehole transducers to the existing monitoring and telemetry systems. British Antarctic Survey(BAS), Halley VI Habitat BAS invited competitive designs for a new permanent purpose built habitat for up to 80 persons to be installed in the Antarctic by 2006. The purpose of this is to survey the Brunt Ice Field over the next 20 years.  On Nov 29th 2004 the BBC showed a program on the issues associated with the ice shelf and showed the proposed structures. The brief is to provide a habitat with all necessary facilities to sustain life in the most extreme conditions and have the ability to be relocated to alternative locations with relative ease. One of preferred competitors is Expedition Engineering and KGAL will help develop the 'Walking Building' M+E conceptual design. The building was designed to move to a new location under its own power.  The movement was achieved by hydraulic cylinders that extend, retract and move laterally to enable the whole building to move at a speed of 6m/sec. The electrical and control system was based on a simple PLC with a touch screen where the operators could initiate 'walking' sequence, view the movements and adjust the stride if necessary. The control system could be remotely controlled through a dedicated radio controller. The 'walking' action had to be controlled in such a way so that the people in the building could carry on with their normal activities, could enter and exit the building while it was moving and did not realise the movement of building. Dutch River Swing Bridge at Goole, N.Yorkshire The East Riding Council are replacing the existing Swing Bridge over the Dutch River in Goole with a new Cable Stayed Swing bridge. In partnership with Babtie Consultants who designed the structure, KGAL would design and specify the M+E systems which included the single pintle bearing, all the hydraulics for moving and locking the bridge plus traffic and pedestrian barriers, warning signals, buffers, navigation and road lights and lightening protection. Design Specification of the low voltage electrical and PLC control systems associated with the hydraulic sluing cylinders, locking pins, hydraulic power packs and accessories including safety systems, telemetry, manual local raise/lower controls, HMI screens plus master PLC controls for remote operations from a purpose built control room by the river bank. Monitoring and alarm systems when the bridge was moving and control of river navigation lights, including radio signalling equipment to monitor and control functions of equipment mounted on the opposite river bank. Included were the integration of a standby diesel generator and UPS system to sustain controls during a power outage. Sean O'Casey Pedestrian Swing Bridge- Liffey River, Dublin The bridge comprises of two swinging leafs each mounted on a pier. Each leaf has its own electrical power and hydraulic power packs. Electrical power to each leaf is provided by separate supplies from each river bank through a submersible cable. The bridge specification and construction were already in progress when KGAL came on board. The brief was to assess the existing M+E designs and inspect factory test and supervise commissioning of equipment. If necessary amend electrical and control functions to suit requirements. Safety issues were a feature of this project mainly associated with bridge operations and maintenance and in areas where the public was concerned. Electrical systems had to include redundancy and safety and had to be easily accessible for maintenance and operation. The bridge was commissioned successfully and on July 13th 2005 was officially opened to the public in the presence of the Irish Prime Minister. Winch Lifting Bridges, Iraq Two lifting bridges are to be supplied by Maybe and Johnson to span two locations of the Euftates river in Iraq. The bridges are steel prefabricated Bailey type bridges that use 2 hydraulic winches to lift and lower the moving section of each bridge to allow river traffic. The design brief was already established and KGAL completed the final M+E designs relating to the hydraulically driven winch motors and electrical controls associated with the safe lifting and lowering of the moving section. Design included containerised main and standby diesel engine driven hydraulic pumps and hydraulic power packs plus battery operated controls with local and remote facilities. The bridge sensors and controls operate through a PLC for bridge controls. Other design items include lightening protection, flood lights and opening and closing buffers. One bridge was partly assembled at clients works with all the electrical and hydraulic components to demonstrate the functionality of the bridge. This demonstration was treated as commissioning as it is difficult to do so in Iraq. British Antarctic Survey(BAS), Haley 6 Habitat BAS are interested in designs for a new permanent purpose built habitat to be installed in the Antarctic by 2006. The purpose of this is to survey the Brunt Ice Field over the next 20 years. On Nov 29th 2004 BBC showed a program on the issues associated with the ice shelf and showed the proposed structures. The brief is to provide a habitat with all necessary facilities to sustain life in the most extreme conditions and have the ability to be relocated the habitat with relative ease to alternate locations. One of preferred competitors is Expedition Engineering and KGAL will help develop the 'Walking Building' M+E conceptual design. The building will be designed to move to a new location under its own power. The movement will be achieved by hydraulic cylinders that extend, retract and move laterally to enable the building to move. The electrical and control system will be based on a simple PLC with a touch screen for the operators to view the movements and adjust the stride if necessary. The control system can also be remote controlled through a dedicated radio controller. Archimedean Screw Pumps Condition Survey The environment Agency owns and operates 36 Archimedean screw pumps located in East Sussex and Canterbury areas. The brief for this work was to inspect the electrical controls and assess their condition bearing in mind that these pumps are used for flood defence of low lying areas. The survey concentrated on the operational requirements, the maintainability and safety of the existing systems. Certain pump stations were already upgraded and did not form part of the report. After all sites were inspected a desk study was carried out to determine whether there was equipment commonality and how best to group pump stations so that equipment and spares could be categorised in the a few ranges. The study revealed that it was possible to group the pump stations in categories that offer common equipment. Also the use of motor drives was also recommended as this option would reduce the energy use of the pumps. Exeter Bridges There are 2 bridges over the Exeter canal one swing bridge installed in 1931 and a bascule bridge installed in 1971. Devon County Council has the operational responsibility and both bridges are due for refurbishment. The brief is to design and specify new electrical controls to operate the bridges from a single station and interlocked to ensure that only one bridge operates at one time. The design will include road, canal, and pedestrian safety systems, Telemetry and CCTV for remote operations and monitoring. St Mary's Lifting Bridge, Chatham, Kent The bridge was completed in 1995.  The brief is to update the operational requirements of the bridge systems and undertake the management of the operations and maintenance of the bridge on behalf of the client, Chatham Maritime Trust.