Control Room Engineer
This position is responsible for the operation, regulation and monitoring of all generating units including the binary plant and its auxiliary equipment to ensure safe, efficient and reliable operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES (What-How-Why)
Plant Operation
- Optimizes the efficiency of generating units by regular and close monitoring of the parameters. Use all available platforms and monitoring files to determine the deviation from the design. Inform the Production Supervisor to carry out the action needed.
- Performs startup and or shutdown of generating units in a timely and safe manner in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
- Ensure that all pre-startup activities for all the systems (mechanical, electrical and instrumentation) are performed in accordance with SOP and the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) standards.
- Performs the remote switching of circuit breakers and disconnect switches in coordination with Maintenance), grid substation engineer and the system operator.
- Conducts functional test of plant protections, standby and emergency equipment as part of preventive maintenance program to ensure functionality and reliability.
- Assists other working groups and contractors in commissioning and testing of new and existing equipment that undergo corrective and preventive maintenance works.
Generation, Equipment and Process Monitoring
- Monitors and regulates critical operating parameters of generating units and its auxiliaries to ensure that all are within operating limits.
- Inspects control, monitoring and recording instruments to ensure the reliability and accuracy of parameter values.
- Conducts inspection of all major and auxiliary equipment to detect any abnormalities and initiates immediate corrective actions.
Operational Coordination
- Coordinates with the trader and the system operator regarding plant capability, Real-Time Dispatch (RTD), Day Ahead Submission (DAS) and its modifications for load scheduling.
- Coordinates with the steam supplier regarding steam supply capability and well status to optimize plant generation. Keeps the steam field monitoring tools up to date.
- Coordinates with the grid operator regarding system status, load reduction, frequency regulation and switching of Switchyard circuit breakers and associated disconnect switches for a stable transmission system.
- Coordinates with the chemical laboratory team on the steam and cooling water quality, including the chemical treatment programs to ensure that parameters are within allowable limits.
- Coordinates with the maintenance team regarding preventive and corrective works on plant equipment and auxiliaries to meet deadlines and schedules to ensure smooth and safe workflow.
Data Recording, Analysis and Reporting
- Records hourly reading of critical parameters of turbine-generator and its auxiliary equipment, various processes and remote monitoring instruments for trending and data analysis.
- Ensures that all assigned plant operation monitoring tools are timely and accurately updated.
- Performs trend analysis on plant parameters from hourly logs, monitoring and recording instruments and recommends or implements actions to optimize plant generation and provides critical insights on plant performance and confidence level.
- Prepares and submits daily gross generation, load variations and plant operational reports/activities to production supervisor.
- Accomplishes the CRE shift turnover checklist to document identified risks, equipment abnormality and deficiencies for proper turnover and mitigation. Reviews and approves the checklist of the production operator.
- Reports all abnormalities observed during the tour of duty that will affect the operation of the plant for immediate remedial measures to the Production Supervisor and generate work requests.
- Accomplishes preventive maintenance work orders, updates the monitoring file and routes work orders in asset management tools to ensure one hundred percent completion.
- Ensures that all significant events and activities are accurately recorded in the operator’s log.
Regulatory Compliance
- Keeps a complete and accurate record of event details given for internal and external reports such as government regulatory bodies.
- Ensures that the Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies are informed about the status of generating units and all outage events are reported using the prescribed reporting tools (PPORT) or its alternative (manual SMS) in a timely and accurate manner.
- Monitors and ensures that the actual load dispatch of all generating units are within the RTD thresholds and performs the necessary adjustments to prevent potential non-compliance.
Binary Plant Operation (if applicable)
- Monitors and regulates remotely the operation of the binary plant to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation, and compliant to dispatch regulations
- Performs remote startup and shutdown of the binary plant in a timely and accurate manner as prescribed in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with close coordination to field Binary Plant Operators and Steam Supplier counterparts.
- Performs trend analysis on plant parameters from hourly logs and recommend or implements actions to optimize plant generation
- Coordinates with steam supplier counterparts regarding brine supply and plant capability for load scheduling.
- Coordinates with trader and the system operator regarding plant capability, Real-Time Dispatch (RTD) and its modifications for load scheduling.
- Prepares plant operational report for tracking of performance.
- Safety, Health and Environment (SHE)
Implements Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) programs and Permit To Work (PTW) systems within the area of responsibility. - Observes safety and 6S to promote workplace efficiency and eliminates waste.
- Staff Development and Manpower Planning
Attends the production common day for internal or external training and information dissemination.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the immediate superior.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be a graduate of a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Must be a Registered Mechanical Engineer or Registered Electrical Engineer
- With at least three (3) years of relevant experience in geothermal, thermal, or industrial plant operations and maintenance
- 1 vacant position available in Calauan, Laguna