The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

The nationally recognized Power Plant Operations training course and online program will prepare you for an entry-level career as an Power Plant Operator. In the United States there are thousands of power plants. These plants use hydrocarbon-based fuels (oil, gas or coal) to produce electricity. These plants are operated by Power Plant Operators. The power plant operators are highly paid and enjoy a stable work environment. There is an ongoing need for entry-level personnel. Generally, power plant operators enter the workforce in entry-level positions and work their way up - sometimes to the senior management positions. Currently a large portion of the workforce is retiring - creating a critical shortage of technical workers for many years to come.

There are very few institutions that provide training for entry-level operators. This is a unique user-friendly course designed for people who have minimal knowledge of industry, math, physics or chemistry. The necessary science concepts are built into the course modules.

Power plant operators have the responsibility to make sure unit/process systems function properly. Their job includes the following:

• Consider personnel safety as the primary objective and ensure production processes are operating safely
• Continually monitor instrumentation and the operation of equipment
• Make adjustments to keep system process variables such as flows, temperatures and pressures within acceptable ranges
• Detect potential and actual problems and take corrective action to prevent the interruption of system operations
• Analyze operational trends and take corrective actions
• Use standard operating procedures to start/stop production equipment
• Maintain communication with other operators, maintenance and the management

Benefits of becoming a pulp mill operator:

• High salary. Depending upon industry and location, generally entry-level power plant operators make $13.00 to $20.00 per hour. After a few years of experience generally the pay range is $18.00 to $30.00/hr.
• Stable employment. Power plant operators are rarely laid off.
• Employment portability. Power plants are found in all regions of the United States.
• Career enhancement potential. Many entry-level power plant workers eventually make their way into supervisory and management positions.
• Better benefits. Generally power plants have above-average benefits for workers.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Operate a power plant with safety as the prime consideration
• Monitor instrumentation and the operation of equipment
• Make adjustments to keep system process variables such as flows, temperatures and pressures within acceptable ranges
• Detect potential and actual problems and take corrective action to prevent the interruption of system operations
• Analyze operational trends and take corrective actions
• Use standard operating procedures to start/stop production equipment
• Maintain communication with other operators, maintenance and the management

This is a comprehensive course and consists of a number of learning modules. Each of the modules addresses a specific scope and consists of an on-line test. The pass mark for the tests is 70% - however the students are allowed to take the tests a number of times. This course consists of the following modules:

• Basic Safety
• Basic Hazard Communication
• Basic Lockout-Tagout
• Math 1000: Basic Math 1
• Math 2000: Basic Math 2
• Math2500: Basic Math 3
• Applied Physics 1
• Applied Physics 2
• Applied Physics 3
• Heat Exchangers
• Lubrication and Bearings
• Electrical Safety
• Electricity for Operators and Technicians
• Industrial Valves
• Compressed Air
• How to Read Process Drawings
• Basic Process Instrumentation and Control
• Pump Fundamentals
• Centrifugal Pumps - Operation
• Power 1000: Steam Generation
• Power 2100: Basic Boiler Systems
• Power 3000: Fuels and Combustion
• Power 3100: Boiler and Auxiliaries 1
• Power 3200: Boiler and Auxiliaries 2
• Power 3300: Boiler and Auxiliaries 3
• Power 3500: Cogeneration and HRSG