Electrical Design Intern at CB&I

This summer I’m interning for CB&I, Chicago Bridge and Iron, as an electrical engineering intern in their power sector. This is a very special project because it is the first nuclear construction in the United States in 30 years. It consists of the construction of two AP1000 reactors in Jenkinsville, SC. The AP1000 is a Westinghouse designed, advanced passive plant with a power output of 1,117MWe. There are currently four AP1000s being constructed in the United States, two at VC Summer (SCE&G) and two at Vogtle (Georgia Power Company) and there are four units under construction in China. The first reactors are scheduled to come online in 2018, but there are delays when

working on such a large project that is the first of its kind. This is my fourth opportunity to intern on site. I’ve watched the site go from blasting to reach solid bedrock to vertical growth and the placement of the containment vessel head. The engineering design department supports the field engineers, who support the craft. The craft consists of boilermakers, pipefitters, and rod busters among other craftsman. They are charged with building the plant as designed per Westinghouse and CB&I engineers. As an electrical design intern I have primarily dealt with the learning ETAP, which is a program that allows for the simulation of arc flash and short circuit scenarios. An arc flash is the visible light and heat of electricity flowing through air looking for a ground to flow through.

The circuits can be modeled in the program and changed as needed to allow for a lower arc flash, and in turn allowing for a safer work environment. The other project I’ve been involved with is creating an electrical commodities list consisting of the all the different conduits and fittings among other things that the electricians will need on site. Construction is currently heavier for the civil and mechanical disciplines, but there are still significant electrical placements around site that have been interesting to see.

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