49-9099.01 - Geothermal Technicians
Green occupations will likely change as a result of the green economy. Green economy activities and technologies are increasing the demand for occupations, shaping the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generating new and emerging occupations.
This is a Green New & Emerging occupation — the impact of green economy activities and technologies is sufficient to create the need for unique work and worker requirements, which results in the generation of new occupations.
Geothermal technicians work in the following green economy sectors:
- Renewable Energy Generation — This sector covers activities related to developing and using energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This sector also includes traditional, non-renewable sources of energy undergoing significant green technological changes (e.g., oil, coal, gas, and nuclear).
They perform these tasks important to the green economy:
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
- Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
- Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
- Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
- Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
- Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
- Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
- Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.
- Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
- Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
- Test water sources for factors such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
- Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.