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