WHAT'S ALL THAT RACKET? SEMO TESTING ITS BOILER

Southeast Missouri State University is making a lot of noise testing its power plant boiler and cleaning the steam pipes.

High pressure steam is released for brief periods at regular intervals.

Significant noise and a plume of steam will accompany each release," said Al Stoverink, director of facilities management for the university.

Each release will last about one to three minutes and recur about every hour.

The noise resembles the sound made by a low-flying jet, Stoverink said.

The cleaning work began at 4 p.m. Friday. It is scheduled to continue daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until the system is clean.

During the first few steam blows, it is likely that material will be blown out and onto surfaces surrounding the power plant.

After that, fine material that is emitted will be caught in screening in the pipe system, Stoverink said.

The cleaning is necessary as the university nears completion of major renovation of the power plant, he said.

The university must clean the boiler before restarting it. The boiler hasn't run for eight years.

Following the cleaning, the power plant's electricity-generating turbine will be tested.