Making it good

Or got it made. My career started off over 6 years ago in the power industry. Work has been stressful, boring, lackluster, exciting, busy, and dreadful; but being at the plant is really what I enjoy the most. My first two years were spent with APS at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. I loved that job. I loved my co-workers and I loved my engineering team. But the hour and fifteen minute drive was tiresome and not conducive to starting a family. So I abandoned ship and started with SRP in a rotating program, where every 6 months I rotated into a different department. In order I went through Renewable Energy, Major Projects – Coronado Emissions Control Project (CECP), Line Maintenance Engineering, Supply and Trading, and Santan/Kyrene Generating Station. Some rotations I was able to stay longer than 6 months. Other rotations were less than 6 months because I was on maternity leave but felt much longer than that! For the last 3 rotations I’ve been at Santan Generating Station and I think I’ve got a good chance at staying here. I interviewed for an engineering position that I didn’t get – it went to a younger male engineer with less experience and in my opinion much less professional. Maybe it was because I showed up to the interview in a t-shirt and jeans, maybe he was more “available” (let’s face it, I got two kids and a bun in the oven), and he held the Mechanical Engineering degree to my Chemical Engineering degree. Which I think is really what they wanted. But you can see what I’m up against. Being a working, full-time mom who wants a career is not easy. But, it was actually a relief now that I think about it that I didn’t get it. I can go on maternity leave in peace and be guilt free about everything work related. I’m amused that my co-workers and managers think I’m something else for doing all that I do at work and also having a home life. Being pregnant with a third child and having no intentions of quitting makes them question my sanity. I feel like I do have to tell them “this is the last one” and “is a third child ever planned?” Because what kind of career woman has more than 2 kids? Do I dare tell them I may want one more? Absolutely not. That would just kill my chances of any advancement. Who wants an employee who is always pregnant and taking maternity leave? I don’t want them to think I’m a floozy. Or that I just need to get on the pill. The number of children we have is carefully discussed and agreed upon. This child is the only one who’s timing was not planned. But all in all, you see the obstacles I face with work. I’m just glad that my manager noted in my review that I’m highly productive. I can credit that to getting better at time management skills. I’ve gathered a few photos of life at work. You’ll see why I love my job.

Santan Generating Station is a combined-cycle natural gas power plant. Natural gas is combusted in a gas turbine. The exhaust heat is recovered in a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG). In the HRSG, water is turned to steam which drives a steam turbine. The gas and steam turbine combined produce electricity in megawatts. The combination is considered one unit. Santan has 4 “Legacy” Units that were built in the 70’s. Two newer units were completed in 2006. These units are similar to the old units and are Units 5 & 6.

This picture was taken inside the condenser. A condenser is where the water condenses from steam to liquid after it spins the turbine. We started out at the bottom of the water box and climbed on rafters and pipe up to the bottom of the steam turbine. I think it was 3 stories high. I was 3 months pregnant during this inspection. The comment I received was “wow, you must have brass ovaries.”

This was an inspection of one of the Legacy's HRSG drums. The drum is where the water actually turns to steam. Definitely one of the more difficult manways to get into. Only way in was to climb on top of a valve, hold yourself on the pipe you see me holding, put your legs in feet first, turn around belly towards the ground (I'm almost all the way turned), and enter. It's really an oval not a circle. Turning was difficult even for me. The angle was awkward too.

Santan Fashion 101. This was a rotator who left the company almost a year ago. She was getting married and her fiance' lived in Texas. I miss her. It was refreshing to have a female co-worker. We are rocking our ill-fitting male coveralls. Here we are again inside the HRSG performing an inspection.

Santan Units 5&6. The three stacks have a unique design, where most of the time the view is such that only two are visible.

Inspections are the fun part. As a plant engineer I also monitor equipment for performance, install new equipment, design platforms, do load analysis, install chemical feed systems, project manage, write reports, assign work orders, work with mechanics, operators, welders, etc. Nothing like being able to get away from the computer and run stairs or go for a walk whenever I need a break.

Let the questions begin!