Plant Life

I noticed that I write this blog like writing a letter. Others have a story-teller way of spinning their yarn.

I am not really that good at telling stories, maybe it’s because engineers are more used to handling facts and figures, so what little imagination we have has been eroded from lack of use.

Unlike in TV shows where they show the glamorous lives of doctors, models and lawyers, the engineer tend to be relegated to the background, serving in the capacity of supporting actor rather than the lead. With the advent of 911, the work of firemen started to become major movies. Of course engineers may or may not have the same box-office pull now or in the future but real life stories of bravery, hard work and dedication are abound in our daily lives. So I have decided to share some of the real life (and over dramatized for TV) stories of engineers.

11.55 pm January

The pressure in the line spiked suddenly. In the late night air a sudden rumbling started from deep within the bowels of the steel labyrinth. A solitary alarm beeped on the panel in the control room. From the operating chair the pressure spike read only as an anomaly that disappeared as suddenly as it appeared.

Elsewhere the field operator who felt the line vibrate stopped his routine checking, figuring instead it would be more interesting to see where the vibration came from. There was no scheduled pump change over that night which usually led to such occurrences.

Walking down the gantry slowly he turned into the steel superstructure that led deeper into the plant. The air was humid from the steam that gushed out of the steam trap. Above, the lights were flickering signaling it was soon time to change. The sound of his safety shoes on the steel walkway beat in rhythm with the sound of the diaphragm pump, pumping below.

Reaching the area housing the complex exchangers that work tirelessly to cool the plant during operations the operator froze. A single bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face and neck.

Slowly he reached for his radio and spoke, “Panel-man, come in. We have a problem. A very big one”

End of Part One - jeng jeng jeng