Will “PPO (Power 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
- Plant Technician
- Plant Operator
- 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 “PPO (Power Plant 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).
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
- 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.
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
- Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
- Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
Related Technology & Tools
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Grout pumps
- Protective respirators
- Air monitoring equipment
- Wire strippers
- Ratchet sets
- Pyrometers
- Pipe cutters
- Deburring tools
- Personal computers
- Portable welding equipment
- Alignment clamps
- Tracked excavators
- Straight screwdrivers
- Grout mixers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Adjustable pipe wrenches
- Pipe squeeze off tools
- Laptop computers
- Desktop computers
- Well drilling rigs
- Claw hammers
- Safety glasses
- Wire cutters
- Air wrenches
- Trench compacters
- Safety gloves
- Butt fusion machines
- Channel lock pliers
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Valve wrenches
- Socket wrench sets
- Depth meters
- Coil tubing units
- Pavement saws
- Microsoft Excel
- Email software
- Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD
- WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
- Microsoft Word
- SAP
- Distributed control system DCS
- Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool
- ClimateMaster GeoDesigner
- Microsoft Office
- Autodesk AutoCAD