Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

1) Scope: 

1.1) Descriptor 

This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to control the safe and effective operation of energy production to meet demand on an electricity generating unit.

Application of the Unit 

2) 

This unit is intended to augment formally acquired competencies. It is suitable for employment-based programs under an approved contract of training.

License to practice 

3)  

The skills and knowledge described in this unit do not require a licence to practise in the workplace. However, practice in this unit is subject to regulations directly related to Occupational Health and Safety and where applicable contracts of training such as apprenticeships and the like.

Prerequisite Unit(s) 

4)  

Competencies 

4.1) 

Granting of competency in this unit shall be made only after competency in the following unit(s) has/have been confirmed.

Where pre-requisite pathways have been identified. All competencies in the Common Unit Group must be have been completed.

There are no pre-requisite units.

Literacy and numeracy skills 

4.2)  

Participants are best equipped to achieve this unit if they have reading, writing and numeracy skills indicated by the following levels. A description of what each level entails is provided in Section 2.3.1 Language, Literacy and Numeracy.

Reading

4

Writing

4

Numeracy

4

Employability Skills 

5)  

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.

6)  Elements describe the essential outcomes of a competency standard unit

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Plan for plant operation

1.1

Safety issues are identified to comply with enterprise/site requirements

1.2

Work, plant and resource requirements are identified from relevant information and documentation

1.3

Pre-operational checks are carried out in accordance with enterprise and site requirements

2

Operate generator and excitation system

2.1

System is operated in accordance with enterprise/site and manufacturer’s operating procedures

2.2

Synchronising requirements are assessed, evaluated and achieved to ensure machine/system stability during synchronising

2.3

System is monitored and observed to detect deviations from normal operating conditions

2.4

Corrective actions are taken to rectify abnormalities in accordance with manufacturer’s and enterprise/site procedures

2.5

Where appropriate, the teams and individuals roles and responsibilities within the team are identified and, where required, assist in the provision of the on-the-job training

3

Control generation of electrical energy

3.1

Generator output is adjusted to meet demand whilst observing operating requirements

3.2

Reactive power generation and voltage regulation requirements are assessed and the system is controlled to achieve the desired output

3.3

Generator stabilities and operating limits are assessed and the system is controlled to maintain those limits in accordance with enterprise/site and manufacturer’s procedures

3.4

Generator cooling systems and limits are monitored and assessed, excitation system is controlled to maintain those limits in accordance with enterprise/site and manufacturer’s procedures

4

Complete documentation

4.1

Documentation is updated and plant problems, movements, abnormalities and status are reported and logged in accordance with enterprise/site procedures

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

8)  This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired controlling electrical energy production.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

The extent of the Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills required follows:

KS01-PO457A Electrical energy production

T1 Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired for safe working practices of:

• Relevant environmental, occupational health and safety legislation and regulations
• Enterprise procedures
• Plant drawings and manufacturers manuals
• Introduction to and typical arrangements of power production plant
• Relevant plant and equipment, its location and operating parameters
• Relevant state and territory regulations
• Electric motor types and characteristics
• Switchgear types and characteristics
• Electrical protection types and characteristics
• Electrical principles
• Process control principles
• Plant process control systems
• a.c. generators types and characteristics
• Transformers types and characteristics
• Generator excitation and cooling systems, types and characteristics types and characteristics
• Enterprise recording procedures
• Control and data acquisition systems
• Supervisory, alarm, protection and control equipment
• Principles of generator and system stability
• The systems components and interactions
• Auxiliary supply systems
• High voltage systems

T2 Specific skills needed to achieve the Performance Criteria:

• Interpret plant drawings and manufacturers manuals
• Apply relevant state and territory regulations
• Apply enterprise recording procedures
• Identify plant status
• Prepare plant/equipment for operation
• Organise resources
• Coordinate power generation
• Apply diagnostic and testing techniques
• Identify and respond to abnormal plant operating conditions
• Plan and prioritise work
• Use relevant hand tools
• Communicate effectively
• Apply data analysis techniques and tools
• Coordinate the operation of interacting systems
• Coordinate the operation of plant and equipment
• Maintain generator unit integrity
• Apply principles of electrical generation.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

9)  This provides essential advice for assessment of the competency standard unit and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria and the Range Statement of the unit and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this competency standard unit and shall be used in conjunction with all components parts of this unit and, performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment 

9.1) 

Longitude competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with Industry and regulatory policy.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Hence, sources of evidence need to be ‘rich’ in nature so as to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal every day work have a bearing on the decision as to how much and how detailed the data gathered will contribute to its ‘richness’. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practised. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

9.2) 

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all pre-requisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each element and associated Performance Criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the “Assessment Guidelines – UEP12”. Evidence shall also comprise:

• A representative body of work performance demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

• Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the Performance Criteria and Range Statement
• Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the Performance Criteria and Range Statement
• Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in 6) Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills of this unit
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of employability skills
• Conduct work observing the relevant Anti-Discrimination legislation, regulations, polices and workplace procedure

• Demonstrated performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

• The preparation and planning of work
• The operation of generator and excitation systems
• Coordination of unit operations
• Analysing plant faults
• Monitoring plant operation
• Controlling system energy generation
• The knowledge of generator and system stability principles

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

9.3) 

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

• OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.
• Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual work as prescribed by this unit.

Competency Standards should be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions.

Assessment of this unit will be supported with documentary evidence, by means of endorsement stating type and application of work.

In addition to the resources listed above in Context of assessment’, evidence should show competency working in limited spaces with different types of plant and equipment as well as different structural/construction types and methods and in a variety of environments.

Method of assessment 

9.4) 

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Section 1.3.00 Assessment Guidelines.

Note:

Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Industry to which this unit applies. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units 

9.5) 

There are no recommended concurrent assessments with this unit, however in some cases efficiencies may be gained in terms of learning and assessment effort being concurrently managed with allied competency standard units where listed.

Nil

RANGE STATEMENT 

10)  This relates to the competency standard unit as a whole, providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the Performance Criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

Systems, plant and equipment may include generator cooling systems; fuel delivery systems; generator and generator auxiliary plant; generator seal oil system; generation fire protection system; boiler, turbine and unit coordinated control systems; generator circuit breaker/transformer; unit auxiliary switchboards; electricity market auto loading systems; generator excitation systems which may include- d.c. pilot excitors and amplidyne(s) control, a.c. pilot excitors and thyristor control, brushless systems, static systems, associated supervisory, control and protection equipment; Circuit breakers, field, excitor, flashing, associated supervisory, control and protection equipment; Transformers, excitation, earthing and neutral, voltage and current; and automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system.

Safety standards may include relevant sections of Occupational Health and Safety legislation, enterprise safety rules, national standards for plant, relevant State and federal legislation and Australian standards.

Information and documentation sources may include verbal or written communications; enterprise safety rules documentation; enterprise operating instructions; equipment and alarm manuals; dedicated computer equipment; enterprise standing instructions and plant notes; enterprise log books; market load profile forecasts; electricity market bidding information; and manufacturer’s operation and maintenance manuals.

Technical and operational indicators may include stimuli (audio, smell, touch, visual), remote or local indicators and recorders, computers and alarms (visible and/or audible).

Communications may be by means of telephone, two way radio, pager, computer (electronic mail) and operating logs (written or verbal).

Tests may include supply change-over tests, “black” start tests and capability tests.

Appropriate personnel to consult, give or receive direction may include supervisor/team leader or equivalent; other coordinators of energy production; other operating staff; technical and engineering officers or equivalent; maintenance personnel; and contractor staff.

Operating environment may be remote from plant and equipment being operated; where operation is assisted by remote indicators of plant status and other parameters monitored; during night periods; during inclement or otherwise harsh weather conditions; and in wet/noisy/dusty areas.

Unit operations (systems requirements) may include normal generating models and system auto frequency control mode.

Faults and abnormal operating conditions may include unit trip; market distribution network disturbances; loss of station a.c. supplies; generator excitation/transformer; CB faults/malfunctions; and unit coordinated controls malfunctions.

Generic terms are used throughout this Training Package for vocational standard shall be regarded as part of the Range Statement in which competency is demonstrated. The definition of these and other terms are given in Section 2.1 Preliminary Information and Glossaries.

Competency Field 

11)  

Operations