The Boiler Plant Operator uses manual and automatic controls to operate the Boiler Plant in the Operations Section of Facilities Management Service at the Lyons Campus. Performs all duties required to maintain the safe and efficient operation of a high-pressure steam boiler plant and performs all preventive maintenance duties, adjustments and corrective actions as required and necessary.
The Boiler Plant Operator performs all duties required to maintain the safe and efficient operation of a 3500-horsepower high-pressure steam boiler plant, operating steam pressure of boilers between 100 and 135 psi, consisting of five (5) 700-HP fire tube boilers (with economizers) automatic and. manually fired combination oil and natural gas burning. The total capacity is 120, 750 lbs. /hr. with an average output of 40,000 to 45,000 lbs. /hr.
The Incumbent performs all preventive maintenance duties, adjustments and corrective actions as required and necessary. The incumbent operates the feed water system, the steam system, domestic water, natural gas, fuel oil, and local control panels at each individual boiler and the main control panel with plant and boiler master controls along with all associated transmitters and recorders. The Incumbent operates systems and related components. Operations of the feedwater system consists of backflow preventers, water softeners, make-up tank, transfer pumps, a 100,000 lbs./hr. Deaerating Feedwater Heater and feed water pumps. The domestic water system includes a plant water softening system. The chemical feed system includes batch tanks, chemical storage tanks and chemical feed pumps. The natural gas system includes the main gas meter and regulator, solenoid operated cut-out valve, emergency cut-off switches, high and low gas pressure switches, filters, pressure regulators, pilots, solenoid valves, vents, and propane back-up pilot system. But are not limited to:
- Knowledge of principles and methods of operating high-pressure oil and gas-fired boilers and of the methods employed in determining and obtaining efficient combustion.
- Knowledge and ability to perform combustion and efficiency calculations.
- Knowledge to adjust firing rates for best combustion, efficiency and steam production.
- Skills to determine necessary settings and to adjust controls of generating equipment for desired operating conditions and synchronization of equipment with the system.
- Ability to read and interpret precision recording instruments, including valves, piping equipment, gauges, dials, controls, relays, switches and trips, and to record information noted.
- Skill in reading flow meters and charts to determine how much steam is being produced and whether it is meeting demands, how much fuel is being used, and how much water is being evaporated.
- Skills to interpret readings from charts and meters to determine whether to increase or lower fire in boiler, whether to start or stop boiler feed pumps, and to determine how long these are to operate.
- Ability to determine the type and amount of chemicals that need to be added to boilers for treatment of boiler water in order to control corrosion and scale formation.
- Has skill and knowledge to operate hand and power tools; Uses electrical tools, tools of the trade such as pipe wrenches, tap and die, hammer, drills, power equipment, pick and shovel, portable pumps and grease guns.
- Ability to understand and execute written and oral instructions and relay instructions to follow-on shifts
- Ability to communicate effectively with supervisor, other operators and plant personnel.
Work Schedule: Shift Work
Position Description Title/PD#: Boiler Plant Operator/807A
Physical Requirements: The incumbent will frequently work in confined areas in and around boilers and support equipment (i.e., auxiliary and pollution control equipment). The work requires moderate to strenuous effort and long periods of walking, standing, climbing, bending, and crouching. Workers frequently lift and carry boiler parts and chemical supplies weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) unassisted and occasionally items weighing over 18 kilograms (40 pounds) with assistance of other workers or weight handling equipment.
Starting at $32.20 Per Hour (WG 9)
