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You may be familiar with the power lines out the front of your home, but did you ever wonder who produces the electricity we may take for granted? Power generation plant operators are monitoring and controlling machinery such as steam boilers, auxiliary pumping systems and turbine generators units that produce the electricity.
In The Beginning...
Electrical power comes from a power plant. To produce power you need a spinning electrical generator - spun by anything such as a windmill, a waterwheel, diesel engine or a steam turbine.
At Western Power, the generators are spun by a steam turbine created by burning coal. Other power stations may use oil, natural gas or nuclear power. Once the power is generated, it is sent to a transmission substation and converted into high voltages for long distance transmission on the State's transmission grid. After it comes off the transmission grid, it goes to the distribution grid (this happens in a power substation) and is finally distributed to all the suburbs, and our houses.
''We heat water in a boiler by burning coal in the furnace. The steam that is produced is put through a turbine, which spins at 3,000 rpm and is connected to a two pole generator which produces AC power at 50 Hertz. The power is supplied to a switchyard where the voltage is dramatically increased and the transmission is controlled by the System Operations Control Centre in Perth. From here the power is transmitted and distributed throughout the South West interconnected grid system, stretching from Geraldton in the north to Albany in the south,'' says Harry Charles, a power station controller.
The Power Watchkeepers
''Basically we operate the plant from the central control room and monitor computer controlled processes. It used to be 70% manual work; nowadays it is 70% computer controlled work,'' says Harry Charles.
The main task of a power generation plant operator is to monitor the computer controlled systems of a power plant, making sure everything is operating efficiently. This could involve checking instruments and switchboards, and checking the flow of fuel to boilers, or the flow of power. In times of greater power need (e.g. early morning electric trains servicing commuters), the operators may need to start up more boilers and turbines or switch in alternative circuits. Generally speaking, their role is to ensure that a sufficient amount of power is flowing from the plant, and always at the correct voltage and frequency.
Although most of the work is indoors in the control room, occasionally operators have to perform minor maintenance work. Major technical problems are referred to the personnel in the maintenance area.
Power generation plant operators are also responsible for issuing work permits for other plant personnel to work safely. For example, if a mechanical fitter wants to replace a valve, they must get the all clear from the power generation plant operators. The power generation plant operator must go to the area and make it safe by locking off switches, isolating high pressure steam, or depressurising oil, turbines, and boiler systems.
Take The Pressure Down
''Power stations have a lot of high pressure steam, electricity and heat so there is a potential for fires. You must be able to react in an instant, logically and without panicking to solve the problem,'' says Tony Oakley, a Western Power consultant.
Don't even consider this line of work if you are a person who can't handle pressure. A power generation plant operator must be able to respond to glitches in the system quickly and with a level head. They also need to be able to troubleshoot in times of systems breakdowns, being able to conceptualise a problem and work out where the fault lies. Remember the whole of the State depends on these problem solving skills! Blackouts are disruptive to everyone concerned and can be costly for businesses.
Shift work is a necessary part of this job since electricity needs to be available 24 hours a day. Good eyesight and a reasonable level of fitness are a must when reading instrument gauges and being able to do things like climb ladders to manually turn off valve controls.
The Lowdown On Operators
The demand for power generation plant operators depends on many factors, including the number of power stations currently servicing the Western Australian community. At present Western Power owns five major power stations and 26 smaller regional stations.
With the increased use of automation in the plants, employment opportunities have declined. However, industry sources suggest that with the rise of smaller natural gas generation plants (operated by local government and mining companies) there may be increased opportunities for skilled plant operators.
Other large organisations such as ALCOA employ power generation plant operators.
At Western Power there are four levels of plant controller/operator and this is reflected in the pay levels. Salaries begin at around $50,000 and can be as high as $85,000 plus per year.
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