Powerhouse Technician

Job description:

JOB SUMMARY

Maintain and repair equipment for safe and efficient operating conditions of all powerhouse equipment, steam boiler/chilled water plant equipment, and monitor the compressed air equipment and the distribution systems. Under indirect and intermittent supervision of a Site Manager and occasional work direction of other Powerhouse Technicians, operates and provides protection on all plant equipment. Performs operating care and maintenance on plant equipment. May train other Powerhouse Technicians. Must be able to work independently and with a team, to perform required repairs by means of proper troubleshooting and repair methods.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

· Carries out verbal or written operating orders and instructions of Site Manager and other Powerhouse Technicians. Starts stops and/or regulates plant equipment. Diagnoses, compensates, and corrects various operating conditions on equipment through the use of automatic control systems or manual regulation.

· Previous mechanical repair experience is required, i.e. powerhouse, automotive, etc.

· Operates equipment such as steam generators (boilers), turbine pumps and fans, system steam regulating valves, electrical equipment, chillers and cooling towers, air compressors, pumps and their attendant auxiliaries to maintain loads, voltages, frequencies, pressures, temperatures and flows, etc., as required.

· Directs the work of other Powerhouse Technicians in starting, stopping, and regulating plant equipment, protective lock/tagging, switching, inspections, etc.

· Reads and interprets operating orders, blueprints, and sketches, etc.

· Inspects assigned plant equipment for efficiency and safety. Looks for defects in equipment, faulty operating, poor housekeeping, fire hazards, unsafe working conditions, etc., and takes corrective action as necessary. Troubleshoots assigned plant equipment. Recommends and assists in developing changes in operating procedures.

· Accepts or rejects (as delegated by Plant Manager) new, rebuilt, or repaired equipment for services.

· Keeps Plant Manager and other Powerhouse Technicians informed of status of equipment and conditions and prepared repair requests as needed.

· Plans, coordinates and performs or directs the Lock-out/Tagging-out operations on plant equipment.

· Performs and/or directs others to perform the operating care and maintenance on power plant equipment such as, cleaning, lubricating, changing oil, brushes, packing valves, pumps, changing water glasses, filters, cleaning burner tips, replaces sections of threaded pipe, valves, fittings, etc.

· Reads and records data from various plant instrumentation. Maintains files of operating and work orders, lubrication records, etc. Fills out necessary operating records, reports, changes charts, etc.

· Adjustment and logging of chemical changes, troubleshooting, and pump adjustments in a defined format. Handle corrosive chemicals and wear proper protective equipment. Monitoring of all chemical feed systems. Mixing and dilution of lab chemicals. Extensive jar testing for chemical feed rates.

· Daily operation of the Atomic Analyzer for monitor of metal limits. Sampling for process optimization: Assembly influent, effluent, and jar; EMF influent, effluent, and jar; testing of concentrate and sludge from sludge mix tank. Knowledge of WWTP chemistry and the impact on our process - pH testing, jar testing using anionic, cationic, alum, caustic, ferric chloride, defoamer, AA Standards, etc. Daily collection of sludge sample using Imhoff cones to set lamella pump rate.

· Interact with City of Hamtramck when compliance sampling is being performed. Monitor oil shipments and oil storage tanks. Facilitate lab sampling for compliance. Have knowledge of our legal requirements and permit when discharging to municipality.

· Assists in developing and preparing PTU’s: Trains Powerhouse Technicians as requested.

· Uses computer terminal to process work request/work orders to obtain and enter information the performance of maintenance duties.

· Assists other Powerhouse technicians or vendor representatives with the repair of plant and distribution equipment.

· Performs mechanical maintenance in varying degrees to turbines, steam generators, boilers, auxiliaries, chillers, air compressors, pumps and mobile equipment.

· Fills out written reports on inspections and repairs made to equipment and verbally reports on faulty or unsafe equipment to the P