What are the duties of a power plant operator

Power plant operator job description

Electricity is probably the most vital underpinning for most everyday activities. From the moment the first electric light is switched on in the morning, a connection is made to a huge network of people, electric lines, and generating machinery. Power Plant Operators control the equipment that generates electricity that will be distributed over a network of transmission lines to industrial plants and electric power substations and, finally, over distribution lines to commercial and residential users.

By the use of control boards, Power Plant Operators operate, control, and monitor boilers, turbines, generators, and auxiliary equipment in power-generating plants. They distribute power demands among generators, combining the current from several generators, and monitoring instruments to maintain voltage and regulate electricity flows from the plant. When power requirements change, they must start and stop generators and connect or disconnect them from circuits. They often use computers to keep records of switching operations and the loads on generators, lines, and transformers.

Power Plant Operators in facilities with automated control systems work mainly in a control room and often are called control room operators or, if they are in training, control room operator trainees or assistants. In older plants, the controls for the equipment are often not centralized, and operators (called switchboard operators) control the flow of electricity from a central point in the plant. Operators called auxiliary equipment operators work throughout the plant, operating and monitoring valves, switches, and gauges. The tasks of Power Plant Operators, be they control room operators or auxiliary equipment operators, usually include:

Adjusting controls to generate specified electrical power, or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations
Taking readings from charts, meters, and gauges at established intervals, and undertaking corrective steps as necessary
Controlling generator output to match the phase, frequency, and voltage of electricity supplied to panels
Placing standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitoring the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system
Receiving outage calls and summoning needed personnel during power outages and emergencies
Starting or stopping generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, and other power plant equipment, and connecting or disconnecting equipment from circuits
Regulating equipment operations and conditions such as water levels, based on data from the recording and indicating instruments or from computers
Cleaning, lubricating, and maintaining equipment to prevent failure or deterioration
Collecting oil, water, and electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis
Controlling and maintaining auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feedwater heaters, filters, and chlorinators
Testing electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using standard testing devices
Inspecting records and log book entries, and communicating with other plant personnel in order to assess equipment operating status
Monitoring and inspecting power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems
Recording and compiling operational data, completing and maintaining forms, logs, and reports

Because electricity is provided around the clock, Power Plant Operators often work nights and weekends, usually on rotating shifts. Shifts are usually eight hours long, with three shifts per day, and are often rotated so that duty on less desirable shifts is shared by all Operators. Power Plant Operators generally report to a shift supervisor or to senior system operational personnel.

Salaries for power plant operators

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of Power Plant Operators were US Dollars 52,530 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between US Dollars 43,310 and US Dollars 62,030. The lowest 10 percent had incomes of less than US Dollars 34,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than US Dollars 70,330.

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