POWERGRAMS

6 The heat was on but the students visiting Alabama Power's Technology Applications Center (TAC) in Calera didn't sweat it. They were witnessing electricity's versatility, power and potential in action. The students, from Carver High School in Birmingham, were there to experience the many ways electricity can improve their way of life. They were part of Academy Engineers, a career- oriented branch of the school funded in part by the Alabama Power Foundation. The budding engineers were right at home at the TAC, where Alabama Power looks to the future to help its customers today. "When you think of marketing, you think of increasing sales of electricity and the use of electrical products," said Market Specialist Marcus Givan. "But we are also in the business of trying to help customers use those products efficiently and effectively." The TAC tour covered cutting-edge applications and technologies. Students took turns handling a whirring 3-D printer or pointing an ultrasonic gun to measure wasteful leaks. At one point, Givan turned up the heat with four massive, 11-kW infrared heaters used to warm large warehouses or dry industrial products. By contrast, a typical office space heater under a desk uses about 300 watts, or about 1/36th the power of the infrared version. "It was pretty interesting," said Cameron Dansby, a sophomore interested in electrical and mechanical engineering. "The biggest thing is the kids get hands-on experience," said Project Manager Arthur Burrell. "Once you graduate from college, all that theory is just that. It's about how you apply what you learned to the real world. Most engineering jobs are, 'How do I solve a problem?'" Indeed, the students saw how modern problems such as the need for housing can be solved with electricity. A film showed 3-D printing in China that molds and builds 10 homes in a day. The TAC's smaller printer was used to grind out plastic alphabet letters for the students to take home. The students were ushered into a model kitchen that uses induction heating to cook meals in a fraction of the time and with far less energy than typical gas ranges. "You can buy this commercial technology," said Nick Hartmann, food services specialist. "In this high-velocity oven, you can cook a steak in 90 seconds and it will be well-done and juicy and tender. Not that you would want to cook a steak well- done; that's sacrilege." Hartmann recounted a cooking assignment using 1,800-watt induction technology. "At a planning meeting at Corporate Headquarters," he said, "we cooked bananas Foster for 200 people. That's the power equivalent to a hairdryer." Givan showed the students how Alabama Power helps industrial and commercial customers get the most bang for their energy buck. "Sometimes they request that we recreate an entire manufacturing process in the lab and test their product," said Givan. "We're trying to work with customers and make them as productive as possible." The students began the day with a safety briefing. After their tours, they enjoyed lunch and asked questions of the engineers. "They made me feel like I was at home," said sophomore Sabrina Lambert, who wants to be a civil engineer. "I didn't know you could use electricity for all those different things." The TAC employees' emphasis on energy efficiency and savings is reflected throughout the company. For example, the "My Power Usage" app enables residential and industrial customers to monitor their daily energy use. Visit alabamapower.com/residential/save-money-energy/ for more information. By John Herr Technology center tour inspires students in engineering pursuits EDUCATION Carver High students listen as Givan describes electric applications. TAC's 3-D printer was part of the tour. Photos by John Herr

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