Steam plant operator

Steam plant operators operate and maintain mechanical equipment such as stationary engines and boilers to provide utilities for domestic or industrial use. They monitor proceedings to ensure compliance with safety regulations, and perform tests to ensure quality.

A steam plant operator typically does the following:

• Operates a steam-electric generating station control board for main generating equipment such as boilers, turbines, generators, transformers, switchyard, and related auxiliary equipment;
• determines necessary settings and adjusts controls of generating equipment for desired operating conditions and synchronizes equipment with the system;
• directs and provides functional supervision and training to Steam Plant Assistants;
• receives and executes orders from electric system Load Dispatchers relative to load, voltage, frequency and switching required;
• prepares switching orders which include procedures for accident prevention tagging and handling high voltage equipment;
• continually scans and monitors dials, gauges and recorders which indicate load, amperage, and voltage levels, boiler water levels, steam pressure and temperature, steam, feedwater, air and fuel flow, stack emissions, and boiler and turbine metal temperatures;

The following job titles also refer to steam plant operator:

steam plant safety operator
steam jet refrigeration operator
steam power plant maintenance operator
steam heating operator
steam power plant operator
steam boiler operator
steam plant maintenance operator
steam plant worker
steam power heating plant operator
steam plant operative
steam refrigeration operator

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a steam plant operator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Steam plant operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to steam plant operator.

surface miner
underground miner
gas service technician
industrial machinery assembler
industrial machinery mechanic

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of steam plant operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of steam plant operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

steam turbine operator
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineering technician
biogas technician
power production plant operator
geothermal power plant operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of steam plant operator.

• Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
• Thermodynamics: The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy..
• Types of steam engines: The different types of heat engines which use steam as working fluid and are used to produce motion, such as steam turbines and stationary steam engines, and their various components.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of steam plant operator.

• Monitor utility equipment: Monitor equipment which provides utility services such as power, heat, refrigeration, and steam, in order to ensure they are functional, operate according to regulations, and to check for faults.
• Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
• Conduct routine machinery checks: Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
• Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
• Perform maintenance on installed equipment: Perform the maintenance on installed equipment on-site. Follow procedures to avoid uninstalling equipment from machinery or vehicles.
• Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
• Adjust cylinder valves: Adjust the tension on the cylinder valves or change the valves with torque wrench.
• Monitor valves: Monitor and accordingly adjust the valves in order to allow a specific amount of liquids (such as ammonia sulfuric acid or viscous soap) or steam into the mixer or machine.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of steam plant operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration parts: The different parts constituing heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems such as the different valves, fans, compressors, condensers, filters and other components.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Automation technology: Set of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.
• Manufacturing of steam generators: The manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The manufacture of nuclear reactors, parts for marine or power boilers. Also the production of pipe system construction comprising further processing of tubes generally to make pressure pipes or pipe systems together with the associated design and construction work.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of steam plant operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Operate automated process control: Operate process control or automation system (PAS) used to control a production process automatically.
• Repair heating equipment: Repair boilers, heat exchangers, fired heaters, tanks, reactors and other pressure vessels by use of welding techniques applied to cut and formed metal sheets.
• Maintain records of maintenance interventions: Keep written records of all repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, including information on the parts and materials used, etc.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Arrange equipment repairs: Arrange for equipment repairs when necessary.
• Operate boiler: Operate sealed vessels which contain fluids which are heated or vaporised, not always up to boiling, for heating or power generation, such as in utilities. Ensure safe procedures by monitoring the blower auxiliary equipment closely during operations, and identifying faults and risks.
• Operate steam turbine: Operate equipment which uses thermal energy, extracted from pressurised steam, to generate rotary motion. Ensure that the turbine is balanced, and operates according to safety regulations and legislation, by monitoring the equipment during operations.
• Collaborate with engineers: Work closely and communicate with engineers on designs or new products.
• Operate hydraulic machinery controls: use correctly the controls of specialized machinery by turning valves, handwheels, or rheostats to move and control flow of fuels, water, and dry or liquid binders to machines.
• Perform minor repairs to equipment: Conduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.
• Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.
• Operate stationary steam engine: Operate engines which are fixed in place and use power generated by steam to drive equipment, ensuring that the equipment is safe, and monitoring the equipment to identify faults and risks.

8182 – Steam engine and boiler operators

---

References

1. Steam plant operator – ESCO