This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to establish combustion in a boiler through to a stage at which combustion support energy is no longer necessary.

Aboileris a closed vessel in which water, under pressure, is converted into steam. Combustion is an important key to boiler operations; it occurs when oxygen combines with an element or compound to release heat.

Competency in this unit requires the ability to plan and prepare boiler unit start up, conduct boiler unit boiler unit start up, test and analyse boiler unit system faults and complete documentation. Individuals will, in general, work under supervision, in a power generation facility as an operator.

Power generation plant operators are typically trained and authorised to isolate, prepare plant and issue permits to work.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Note: Workplace practice

The application of the skills and knowledge described in this unit may require a licence or training permit to practice in the workplace where work is carried out on gas and electrical installations. Additional conditions may apply under state and territory legislative and regulatory licensing requirements.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Plan and prepare boiler unit start upwork

1.1

Safety issues are identified in accordance with Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations and workplace procedures

1.2

Work requirements are identified from appropriate personnel and documentation, in accordance with workplace procedures

1.3

Preoperational checks are carried out on boiler unit plant, in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and workplace procedures and site requirements

2

Conduct boiler unit start up

2.1

Boiler auxiliary systems are started up to support boiler unit start up, in accordance with manufacturers' specifications and workplace procedures

2.2

Pre-light up conditions for boiler unit are established, in accordance with workplace procedures

2.3

Combustion is established with fuel consumption kept at minimum levels, in accordance with workplace procedures and manufacturers' recommendations

2.4

Fuel, air and feed water flows are adjusted, in accordance with workplace procedures, to achieve required steam conditions and demand

2.5

Boiler unit plant is operated within limits of its' design, in accordance with workplace procedures

2.6

Boiler unit plant is monitored, in accordance with workplace procedures, to detect deviations from required operating conditions

2.7

Corrective actions are taken to rectify boiler unit abnormalities, in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and workplace procedures

3

Test boiler unitplant operation

3.1

Tests are performed, in accordance with workplace procedures

3.2

Power generation system and boiler unit plant is observed, in accordance with workplace procedures, for correct operational response

3.3

Corrective action is taken, in accordance with workplace procedures, when response does not meet documentation, plant integrity or personnel safety requirements

3.4

Boiler unit plant is returned to required operational status upon completion of testing, in accordance with workplace procedures

4

Analyse system faultsduring boiler unit start up

4.1

Causes of abnormal boiler unit plant operating conditions are identified, in accordance with workplace procedures, by analysing technical and operational information

4.2

Corrective action is taken, in accordance with workplace procedures

4.3

Boiler unit plant integrity and personnel safety is maintained, in accordance with workplace procedures and through consultation with appropriate personnel and technical and operational documentation

4.4

Appropriate personnel are notified, in accordance with workplace procedures, when defects are detected

5

Complete documentation

5.1

Boiler unit plant problems, movements, and status are reported, in accordance with workplace procedures

5.2

Documentation is updated, in accordance with workplace procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Electricity generation

Operations