Although I have not been engaged in major engineering practice since 1994, I have made efforts to remain familiar with ongoing activities in the power generation industry.  The opinions presented in my essays are my own and not those of other persons or organizations who are part of the power generation industries.  This involves assessing the information presented in relevant sources of information, bases on my technical experience.
 
In some instances my opinions differ from those of various spokesmen for specific organizations comprising the electric power generation sector.  I have no monetary interest in the specific organizations comprising that sector of the economy.  My intention is to provide an independent assessment of the issues that confront the electric power generation sector and their impact on our economy and the energy security of the country.
 
The material related to my educational background and engineering background follows.
 
GEORGE J. SILVESTRI JR.

Education

* B.S. in M.E.-Drexel University, 6/53
* M.S. in M.E.-Drexel University, 6/56
* Completed Certificate Program in Business and Management in 1963 at the
    Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

email: gjs803@verizon.net

Experience

* Began full time employment at the Power Generation Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corp. in June 1953 and retired from there in June 1994.

* Major contributor to the Westinghouse Generalized Performance and Heat Balance computer program for steam turbine performance and cycle heat rate prediction.

* Major contributor to the development of steam properties algorithms for computer usage, particularly in regard to the 1967 IFC formulation.

* Project engineer for the manufacture, erection and test program of a low pressure turbine test facility.

* Major or primary investigator on cycle evaluation of advanced supercritical pressure steam turbines, LWR steam turbines, breeder reactor steam turbines, MHD cycles,  high exhaust pressure operation, cycling and variable pressure operation, low pressure steam turbine erosion, and availability (Second Law) analysis.

* On loan to EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) from 11/1/73 to 10/31/74 and responsible for Improved Steam Plants and Heat Rejection Programs.

* Thermodynamics lecturer for 3 ASME sponsored courses.

* Past member of the ASME Board on Research and Technology Development.

Publications

* Authored or co-authored about 50 technical papers.

* Wrote chapter in 3 technical handbooks-two chapters on steam turbines and one on cycle thermodynamics.

* Major contributor to the preparation of the ASME Steam Tables related to the 1967 IFC formulation.

 Patents

* Granted 59 Patents by the U.S. Patent Office

.Miscellaneous

* Served 6 years on the ASME Board on Research and Technology Development in the 1980s.

* 1993 ASME James Harry Potter Gold Medalist.

* 1994 George Westinghouse Career Innovation Award.

* American Society of Mechanical Engineers-Fellow Grade

* American Nuclear Society-Member Grade

* Who’s Who in Engineering and Who’s Who in Science and Technology.

* Registered Professional Engineer in Florida (recently did not renew the Florida license as I no longer am in active practice) and Pennsylvania

* Past Member of the Utility Operations Committee and the Education and Research Committee of the ASME Power Division.

* Past Member of the ASME Research Committee on Water and Steam in Thermal Power Systems.

* Past Member of the Technical Advisory Group of the EPRI Plant Performance Enhancement Program.