Weeks 2 and 3 of my internship with the Alvin team have been completely overrun with electrical testing. As part of the overhaul procedure, the electrical engineering team has been tasked with resistance checking, insulation testing (megger testing), and operational testing of all the electrical circuits on board Alvin. As Alvin in technically an electrical vehicle, you can imagine how much work this demands. Most of the testing has required 2 people at a time, one at each end of the circuit. Communication has been completed using walkie talkies, and all readings are recorded into a rather large binder which will be submitted for review. We are about two-thirds of the way done and will hopefully be ready to move on by the end of next week. One benefit to this process is that I have been able to physically get my hands on many of the circuits used onboard the vehicle which has tied together a better understanding of the operation of the sub as a whole. During the testing we have also been able to correct any discrepancies between the schematics, actual wiring, and testing procedures which will make the next overhaul and any on-ship troubleshooting more organized and accurate. This entire process has been immensely beneficial to me and I am grateful for such a unique experience as an intern.
One of the best benefits to having a land-based internship vs at sea is that I can explore the WHOI campus and network with other WHOI employees. Due to my background in the diesel world and some possible interest in being an engineer on a ship, I was given a personal tour of the research vessel Neil Armstrong. I was shown around the ship including the engine room, fire room, backup generator, and navigation room. The two things that surprised me the most were the steering wheel for the ship, which was roughly the same circumference as a cantaloupe, and the engine room, where all of the engines running the main generators were Cummins QSK 38s. It was nice seeing some familiar equipment and meeting the guys on board who keep the ship moving. I was also able to meet the group leader for Sentry, the autonomous ocean floor vehicle, and see a service in progress. I was also able to look around the prototype NUI which is designed to explore below the ice. These few views into some of the other projects and opportunities with WHOI have got me inspired to start applying for more internships and even some open positions.
Outside of work I have continued to play on the AOE&P team in the WHOI softball league. Our team consists of mostly engineers and, unfortunately, we are probably the worst in the league. But our spirits stay high as we continue to have fun and cheer each other on. So far since I started, we have lost to biology, geology, and carpentry. Hopefully our luck changes when we play the chemists this upcoming week.
Three weeks down and about another six to go. I am looking forward to learning more about Alvin’s unique systems and hopefully will get to explore more of the research equipment and research vessels during my time here. 