Internship – Chemical Engineering

Description

Calpine Corporation is Americas largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with operations in competitive power markets. Its fleet of 77 power plants in operation represents over 27,000 megawatts of generation capacity. Through wholesale power operations and its retail businesses, Calpine serves customers in 22 states and Canada. Its clean, efficient, modern and flexible fleet uses advanced technologies to generate power in a low-carbon and environmentally responsible manner.

The company was established on the premise that a strong commitment to the environment is inextricably linked to excellence in power generation and corporate responsibility. Since its founding in 1984, Calpine has led the power industry in its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. In addition, its renewable geothermal plants use steam generated deep below the earths surface to produce clean, renewable electricity.

Job Summary (includes but is not limited to the following, other duties may be assigned)

The Geysers is the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world. Calpine is the largest geothermal power producer in the US and one of the most reliable energy sources in California accounting for approximately one fifth of the green power produced in California. See www.geysers.com for more information regarding Calpine.

Job Responsibilities

Assist the Chemistry Department in a variety of chemical process control and monitoring efforts for The Geysers, which may include for example:

Work alongside Chemical Engineers on projects including: Plant Performance, Historical Analysis, and/or Chemical Laboratory improvements.

Learn how H2S Abatement systems operate and conduct studies and audits at different plant locations, and evaluating H2S abatement process salt minimization strategies.

Building a spreadsheet material balance around a geothermal power plant and develop an overall kinetic equation for the H2S abatement reaction.

The remainder of unloaded intern time will be utilized in assisting lab personnel in analytical laboratory tasks including field sampling, chemical analyses and data entry, which may include:

Utilize lab equipment including wet chemistry, atomic absorption, liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, and gas chromatography. Analyze geothermal steam and cooling water samples including iron, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and other geothermally sourced chemical species.

Perform site visits with Calpine personnel at local plants to learn the environment and activities in them and assist in troubleshooting H2S abatement system problems.

The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the essential functions of the job and are not to be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.

Job Requirements

GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Legally eligible to work in the U.S. now and in the future for any company

Candidate should have completed coursework in their junior year in engineering science, including chemical engineering coursework in Chemical Process Analysis, Transport Phenomena, and chemistry coursework in General Chemistry with lab, and Quantitative Analysis with lab.

Candidate should be familiar with Microsoft Office Tools software (Word, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel (& preferably VBA as well)), willing to work as a team with good writing and communication skills.

The candidate should also be willing to work as a team with good writing and communication skills. Intern must hold a valid driver’s license, and have the ability to drive mountainous, winding, narrow roads. Work environment includes an office setting as well as outdoors in an industrial/power plant setting.

Strong work ethic and initiative

Good academic standing

This job will be based at The Geysers power plant near Middletown, California.

Work schedule is 4×10 (Monday – Thursday)

Salary Information

$20.00 to $30.00

Additional Calpine Information

Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

Calpine is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply for a position, please send an e-mail with your request to hrrecruitment@calpine.com. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation are made on case-by-case basis.

Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here (http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)