Will “Operator Technician” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
Sadly, the research paper did not provide any information about this occupation. Maybe have a look at our directory?
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
- 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
- Plant Control Operator
- Operator Technician
- 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 “Operator Technician”
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
- Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
- Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- Operate equipment such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
- Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
- Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
Related Technology & Tools
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Valve wrenches
- Pavement saws
- Trench compacters
- Air wrenches
- Butt fusion machines
- Straight screwdrivers
- Portable welding equipment
- Wire cutters
- Pyrometers
- Depth meters
- Ratchet sets
- Wire strippers
- Alignment clamps
- Deburring tools
- Air monitoring equipment
- Adjustable pipe wrenches
- Safety glasses
- Safety gloves
- Personal computers
- Coil tubing units
- Tracked excavators
- Pipe squeeze off tools
- Well drilling rigs
- Pipe cutters
- Laptop computers
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Protective respirators
- Channel lock pliers
- Grout mixers
- Socket wrench sets
- Claw hammers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Desktop computers
- Grout pumps
- Email software
- SAP
- Microsoft Office
- ClimateMaster GeoDesigner
- Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
- Distributed control system DCS
- Microsoft Excel
- Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD
- Microsoft Word