Geothermal Technicians — Tasks

Task statements

• Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
• Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
• Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
• Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
• Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
• Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
• Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
• Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
• Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
• Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
• Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
• Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
• Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
• Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
• Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
• Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.
• Test water sources for factors, such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
• 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.
• Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
• Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
• Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
• Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
• Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).