Will “Plant 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 Mechanic
- Plant Control Operator
- 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 Operator”
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- 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.
- Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
- Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
- Operate equipment such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
- 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.
- Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
Related Technology & Tools
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Safety gloves
- Depth meters
- Personal computers
- Well drilling rigs
- Ratchet sets
- Adjustable pipe wrenches
- Wire cutters
- Grout pumps
- Laptop computers
- Pyrometers
- Trench compacters
- Butt fusion machines
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Wire strippers
- Alignment clamps
- Pipe cutters
- Pipe squeeze off tools
- Air wrenches
- Portable welding equipment
- Coil tubing units
- Claw hammers
- Desktop computers
- Safety glasses
- Protective respirators
- Tracked excavators
- Socket wrench sets
- Grout mixers
- Straight screwdrivers
- Deburring tools
- Valve wrenches
- Pavement saws
- Channel lock pliers
- Air monitoring equipment
- Microsoft Word
- ClimateMaster GeoDesigner
- SAP
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool
- WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
- Distributed control system DCS