Will “Plant Control Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
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Job Description
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 49-9099.01
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Geothermal Technicians”.
Also Known As…
- Geothermal Technicians
- Operator Technician
- Operations Technician
- Mechanical Technician
- Maintenance Technician
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Technician (I C & E Technician)
- Instrumentation and Electrical Technician (I & E Technician)
- Instrument and Controls Technician (I & C Technician)
- Control Room Operator (CRO)
- Control Operator
- Pump Technician
- PPO (Power Plant Operator)
- Plant Technician
- Plant Operator
- Plant Mechanic
- Operator
- Operations and Maintenance Technician
- Mechanic
- Ground Source Heat Pump Technician (GSHP Technician)
- Geothermal Technician
- Geothermal System Installer
- Geothermal Installer
- Geothermal HVAC Technician (Geothermal Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Technician)
- Geothermal Field Technician
- Distribution Field Technician
- Corrosion Technician
Tasks for “Plant Control Operator”
- Operate equipment such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
- Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.
- Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
- Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
- Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
Related Technology & Tools
- Laptop computers
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Tracked excavators
- Protective respirators
- Ratchet sets
- Safety gloves
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Adjustable pipe wrenches
- Butt fusion machines
- Grout pumps
- Portable welding equipment
- Claw hammers
- Wire cutters
- Straight screwdrivers
- Pipe squeeze off tools
- Socket wrench sets
- Air monitoring equipment
- Coil tubing units
- Trench compacters
- Alignment clamps
- Well drilling rigs
- Valve wrenches
- Pyrometers
- Grout mixers
- Personal computers
- Deburring tools
- Channel lock pliers
- Air wrenches
- Wire strippers
- Pavement saws
- Pipe cutters
- Depth meters
- Desktop computers
- Safety glasses
- Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- SAP
- Distributed control system DCS
- WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
- Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD
- ClimateMaster GeoDesigner
- Microsoft Excel
- Email software