I want to get in and look at the boilers and equipment. I sell feed tanks and deaerators, but I don't get to see much equipment in operation. And I want to.

Somebody hook a brotha up.

8/27/2009 1:06:20 AM

What you want to do is walk around the building during the night shift. Make friends with the plant operator. They takes breaks and walk around outside from time to time. After you establish a relationship with an operator, encourage them in becoming a certified boiler operator for more money and try to help them out as much as you can in their career. Once you've completed the above, you might get a tour of the steam plants. Do not ask how I know this information.

8/27/2009 1:08:45 AM

I want a legit way. I don't have all month to do this.

8/27/2009 9:31:21 AM

Id imagine if you wrote them a formal letter they would probably let you have a look, I mean its not anything top secret...

8/27/2009 9:32:57 AM

I know it ain't top secret, but there are always safety and security concerns when allowing a visitor to tour industrial space. I'm sure the University doesn't want to get sued if a pipe or valve broke and cooked me like a lobster, or if I slipped on a small fuel oil dribble and broke my head. Hard hats, steel toes, and safety glasses are often a must for such visits, as well as signing a waiver.

8/27/2009 11:03:54 AM

Quote :

"Steam Plant 3-7409 John Fidgeon 2411 Yarbrough Drive, Box 7513 "

source: http://www.ncsu.edu/facilities/directory/fo/index.htm

8/27/2009 11:19:09 AM

Take MAE 406 and you'll get to tour 3 of NCSU's steam plants. I took it during my time at NCSU and it was pretty cool. You tour the plant over by the "State College" stack, the plant behind First Year College, and the one over by Oval Drive on Centennial Campus:

Quote :

"MAE 406 Energy Conservation in Industry UNITS: 3 - Offered in Fall Prerequisite: MAE 302, MAE 310 Application of energy conservation principles to a broad range of industrial situations with emphasis on typical equipment encountered as well as the effect of recent environmental regulations. Topics covered include: steam generators, pollution control, work minimization, heat recovery, steam traps, industrial ventilation, electrical energy management, and economics. Field trip to conduct tests and evaluate operation at three NCSU steam plants."

http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/reg_records/crs_cat/MAE.html#MAE%20406

8/27/2009 2:36:36 PM

Dude, I graduated 5 years ago.

8/27/2009 2:43:55 PM

^^^Last I heard, Mr Fidgeon doesn't work at NCSU any more.

8/27/2009 2:46:53 PM

^^ What's your point? Be resourceful and talk to Eckerlin or something. The guy has good connections with plants everywhere. I'm sure you could talk him into letting you tag along.

8/27/2009 5:00:21 PM

i organized a tour for about 15 people from my Thermo II class at progress energy's Lee Plant down in goldsboro and i got to spend 2 summers seeing the equipment you're talking about in operation. you're missing out, man.

8/27/2009 5:04:30 PM

RMF Engineering designed the new yarborough steam plant and is doing the master plan for their utilities (steam pipes, etc). They might be able to tell you directly what they used, but then again they may tell you to go to hell. I dunno, maybe you'd be better off just calling the facilities department and telling them what's up. They'll probably have you sign a waiver and let you tour the place.

I'm sorry that I don't have any contacts for you. You could try contacting some of your old professors at NCSU and asking them if they can connect you with somebody in the facilities department who can help an alumnus out by giving them a tour of in-service steam plants and systems.

8/27/2009 5:10:18 PM

can you really not ask any of your clients to visit a site?

8/27/2009 5:30:06 PM

Most of my clients are in other states. We sell through reps only, and that's nationwide (and Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska). Seriously, I've sold only one system that was installed in NC. At State, no less.

Well, shit. I could call my NC rep and get info from him. Haven't talked to him in months anyway.

8/27/2009 5:32:35 PM