Classifications 

County of Orange
Class Code: 3393
Revised: 8-7-73
Previous Revision: 2/69

PLANT OPERATING ENGINEER

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, to operate a high pressure steam generation and central refrigeration plant; to inspect, maintain and make mechanical repairs on all types of equipment involved in the production of steam and chilled water; and to do other work as required.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Positions in this class operate either (1) the Central Utility Plant on a shift or (2) multiple smaller capacity heating and air-conditioning installations in outlying locations. Primary responsibility of positions in this journey operator class is to insure the safe continuous production of steam and chilled water; in addition, incumbents also maintain and repair associated equipment.

This class is distinguished from the class of Air Conditioning Mechanic which has responsibility for accomplishing the full range of major repairs to refrigeration and heating systems.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

1. Operates high pressure, gas and oil fired steam boilers; operates large centrifugal and absorption refrigeration equipment; places units into service or takes units out of service as necessary; monitors pressure, temperature, water level, flow, revolutions per minute and related meters and gauges and adjusts regulating controls to maintain desired readings.
   
   
2. Inspects heating and refrigeration equipment for deficiencies and diagnoses malfunctions; determines need for shutting down equipment, performing emergency repairs, continuing operation under critical conditions and/or making atypical compensating adjustments.
   
   
3. Maintains and makes major repairs to machinery, including: condensers, evaporators, pumps, compressors, turbines, valves, bearings, water softeners, boilers, motors, blowers, cooling towers, heat exchangers, surge tanks, expansion tanks and chemical additive, steam reduction and related auxiliary equipment.
   
   
4. Performs instrument and chemical tests; tests and calibrates mechanical, electrical and pneumatic control instruments and safety devices; tests chemical contents of boiler water, condensate, cooling tower water, high pressure steam, domestic chlorinating systems, chilled water, condensing water, bearing cooling water, water conditioning systems and water from other systems and adds corrective chemical as required; tests and operates alternate fuel emergency electric generators.
   
   
5. Supervises and trains personnel assigned to shift; instructs personnel in proper procedures for all phases of plant operation and machinery repair.
   
   
6. Works with various crafts workers performing extensive repairs and scheduled major maintenance to utility plant systems.
   
   
7. Maintain logs and other plant operating records and prepares routine reports including: maintenance and repair work performed, equipment operation changes and unusual switching operations performed; confers with relief operator on plant status.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

General Knowledge of

Standard safety devices built into boiler and refrigeration equipment and safety factors to observe in utility plant operation.

The principles and methods of operation, maintenance and repair for high pressure steam generation, centrifugal and absorption refrigeration and auxiliary equipment, including positive displacement pumps, and condensing and non-condensing turbines.

The principles of combustion and heat transfer and automatic combustion control system operation.

The tools and equipment used in calibrating gauges and repairing the machinery used in steam and refrigeration utility plants.

Operation and maintenance of various pumps, regulating valves, motors, compressors, blowers, control switches and instruments related to boilers, refrigeration and water treatment systems.

Ability to

Work at the journey level in operating high pressure steam boilers, centrifugal refrigeration and absorption refrigeration units.

Perform preventive maintenance on all types of machinery associated with the production of high pressure steam and chilled water used to heat and cool a large building complex.

Diagnose operating problems and perform repairs such as in steam and refrigeration pumps, valves, connections, condensers, auxiliary equipment and pneumatic or related electronic instruments.

Perform standard chemical tests of boiler, cooling tower, conditioned and supplied well water and make adjustments to chemical treatment equipment or chemical mixtures to establish desired values for pH, chloride, sulphide, phosphate, hydrate alkalinity and totally dissolved solids.

Interpret and record information on strip, tracing and circular charts, blueprints and diagrams.

Isolate and integrate segments within steam and refrigeration systems.

Follow detailed written and oral instructions and write routine reports in English.

VLH:mm

5-12-99