The majority of the tour walked us through the assembly building where many machines cut out various parts, and workers milled and assembled turbines ranging from small television sized units to units that were being created for naval ships, about 1 1/2 times the size of a laying elephant (there were eight being built for one ship).
After the tour, we were given a free lunch of subs, chips, and soda, then spoken to by engineers who worked in another part of the facilities. I only wish our tour showed us the engineering office area, no matter how unexciting it may look.
Also, every Thursday we have a mandatory seminar where engineering speakers from companies come in to talk to us. They almost are always ceramic based, and have nothing to do with mechanical engineering. Well, last Thursday was probably the most interesting seminar I can remember. A speaker from GM came and talked about their new fuel cell technology, which allows cars to run on hydrogen gas, and emit water vapor as exhaust. He drove the fuel cell powered Chevrolet Equinox to the school, so I took pictures and a video after seminar had ended and he showed a group of us the fuel cell in action.
Looks ordinary.
The four slots are where water vapor exits. Air blasts the water out of the fuel cells to keep the cells efficient, so if you reach down in front of it, you feel warm air. Feel close enough, and you can feel the moisture after a few seconds.
Not much to see under the hood. Some of the students popped off the panels, just to see tubes and tanks underneath.
Your not so standard gas intake.Here's some video I got of the car in action.
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