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Occupational Title: Chemical/Refining Process Technician
Key Purpose: Monitor and regulate chemical refining processes in a safe efficient environment.

Critical Work Function
3 Control Reaction Systems.

Occupational Skills, Knowledge and Conditions

Key Activities

Performance Criteria

Occupational Skills and Knowledge

Conditions

Those duties or task clusters that are necessary to perform each critical work function.

Specific demonstrable performance and standards that indicate when the key activity has been performed successfully.

Those skills and knowledge that are specific to the occupation, such as technical processes or procedures common across the occupation that are critical to the related key activity.

Tools, resources and equipment necessary to carry out key activities and their related performance criteria.

KA3.1

Monitor and Regulate

Continuous Reaction

System

Number

Criteria

3.1.1 

Chemical reaction rates meet desired production level per company specifications.

3.1.2 

Production costs which are controlled by operators indicate efficient use of equipment, raw materials, utilities and other resources.

3.1.3 

Product/process meets established process specifications.

3.1.4 

Equipment is monitored and maintained according to manufacturer/company operational parameters, safety standards and government regulations.

3.1.5 

Equipment maintenance is coordinated according to mechanical requirements, maintenance schedule or equipment malfunction.

3.1.6 

Equipment is prepared for mechanical work including shut down and Lockout/Tagout according to company policy.

3.1.7 

Equipment is returned to service following mechanical work including verifying work, completing Lockout/Tagout, completing paperwork and start-up according to company policy.

3.1.8

Process variables meet product and equipment parameters.

Process Variables - Knowledge of effects and relationships of process variables such as pressure, composition, temperature, level, and flow.

 

Operating Parameters - Knowledge of normal operating procedures and design limits, and the differences between them.

 

System Components - Knowledge of system components and their functions (e.g., stationary equipment, rotating equipment, instrumentation and controls).

 

Heat and or Material Balances - Calculate heat and or material balance for quality and cost optimization.

 

SHE (Safety, Health, & Environment) - Understand incidents, hazards (e.g., electrical, physical, chemical, biological, environmental), risks (e.g., releases, equipment failures, chemical incompatibility, and other exposures), audits, investigations, and unsafe work practices, and awareness of critical federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, USCG, and DOT; read and interpret MSDS sheets) in order to help ensure compliance with the regulations.

 

Procedures - Understand and follow established procedures to operate safely, efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner (e.g., emergency, startup, shutdown, SOP, LOTO, emissions violations, and other OSHA regulated procedures).

 

Maintain Quality  - Optimize process systems by acquiring data and making adjustments.

 

Instrumentation and Control Systems - Knowledge of measurement, controls (e.g., indicators, recorders, and gauges), instrumentation (e.g., manual, automatic, cascade, and ratio) and Distributive Control Systems (DCS).

 

Troubleshooting - Ability to recognize a problem, collect and analyze information, define root cause, and take an appropriate plan of action.

 

Process Symbols - Understand symbols used in process diagrams.

 

Use Process Drawings - Interpret and sketch process diagrams (e.g., block/flow, process flow, and P&ID) in order to trace and learn systems, and to aid communication.

 

Continuous Reaction - Understanding of continuous reaction fundamentals (e.g., flow, temperature, reaction rate, feed quality & consistency, catalysts, and pressures) and continuous reaction systems (e.g., what is a fixed bed, liquid, catalyst injection, fluidized bed).

 

Batch Reaction - Understanding of batch reaction system fundamentals (e.g., levels, temperature, reaction rate, feed quality and consistency, pressures, catalyst, agitation)

 

Instrument Air - Understanding of instrument air fundamentals (e.g., compression, dewpoint, filtration, system pressure) and instrument air systems (e.g., dryers, filters, cycles, compressors, desiccant filters, switching, receivers, KO pots,

back-ups – N2 utility air).

 

Material Sampling - Knowledge of sampling techniques and of proper labeling procedures for samples collected.

 

Quality Assurance - Interpret and verify quality (e.g., certificate of analysis) and quantity when receiving materials.

 

Hazard Labeling - Knowledge of standard labeling systems (e.g., NFPA for equipment).

 

Equipment Monitoring - Conduct physical inspections of equipment (e.g., tanks, pipes, drums, pumps, vents, and safety equipment).

 

Inventory Control - Knowledge of inventory control fundamentals and its impact.

 

PPE - Knowledge of personal protective equipment and their appropriate use.

 

Safety Equipment Operations - Knowledge of operating safety equipment.

 

Nitrogen - Understanding of nitrogen fundamentals (e.g., inert, properties, hazards, uses, sources) and nitrogen systems (e.g., regulators, knock-out pots, generators-varies by site, compressors, analyzers, O2 content).

Drums

Hoses

Compressors

Extruders

Flares

Boilers

Cryogenic unit

Economizer

Switch gears

Skimmers

Steam traps

Gloves

Respirator

Acid suit

Ear muffs

SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus)

Face shield

Motor control centers

Reverse osmosis unit

Safety goggles/glasses

Drum dolly

Pumps (centrifugal, vacuum, positive displacement)

Drivers (such as electrical motors, steam turbines, gas turbines, air drivers)

Piping

Scrubbers

Valves

Filters

Demisters

Condenser

Generators

Transformers

Aerators

Clarifiers

Fork lift

Hand truck

Slicker suit

Hard hat

Eyewash fountain

FRCs (Flame Retardant Clothing)

Thermal suit

Furnaces/fired heaters

Fire extinguisher

Metatarsal guard

Control valve (regulator)

Instrumentation (analyzers, gauges, control loops, temperature sensing devices)

Tools (such as sample thief, strapping tape, pipe wrench, channel locks, valve wrenches)

Tubing

Tanks

Resins

Cooling towers

Dryers

Eductors

Meters

Incinerator

Basins

pH meters

Superheaters

Safety boots

Ear plugs

Safety shower

First aid kit

Fire monitors

Tower (tray, packed)

API separators/traps

Microfiltration equipment

Desuperheaters

Heat exchangers (coolers, reboilers, fans)

Heat recovery steam generator (waste heat boiler)

Reactors (batch stirred tank or continuous stirred tank, fixed bed catalyst or fluidized be catalyst)

Fittings

Safety harness

Personal lift

Computers

UPS (uninterruptible power source)


 

KA3.2

Monitor and Regulate

Batch Reaction

System

Number

Criteria

3.2.1

Chemical reaction rates meet desired production level per company specifications.

3.2.2 

Production costs which are controlled by operators indicate efficient use of equipment, raw materials, utilities and other resources.

3.2.3

Product/process meets established process specifications.

3.2.4 

Equipment is monitored and maintained according to manufacturer/company operational parameters, safety standards and government regulations.

3.2.5 

Equipment maintenance is coordinated according to mechanical requirements, maintenance schedule or equipment malfunction.

3.2.6 

Equipment is prepared for mechanical work including shut down and Lockout/Tagout according to company policy.

3.2.7 

Equipment is returned to service following mechanical work including verifying work, completing Lockout/Tagout, completing paperwork and start-up according to company policy.

3.2.8

Process variables meet product and equipment parameters.

Process Variables - Knowledge of effects and relationships of process variables such as pressure, composition, temperature, level, and flow.

 

Operating Parameters - Knowledge of normal operating procedures and design limits, and the differences between them.

 

System Components - Knowledge of system components and their functions (e.g., stationary equipment, rotating equipment, instrumentation and controls).

 

Heat and or Material Balances - Calculate heat and or material balance for quality and cost optimization.

 

SHE (Safety, Health, & Environment) - Understand incidents, hazards (e.g., electrical, physical, chemical, biological, environmental), risks (e.g., releases, equipment failures, chemical incompatibility, and other exposures), audits, investigations, and unsafe work practices, and awareness of critical federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, USCG, and DOT; read and interpret MSDS sheets) in order to help ensure compliance with the regulations.

 

Procedures - Understand and follow established procedures to operate safely, efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner (e.g., emergency, startup, shutdown, SOP, LOTO, emissions violations, and other OSHA regulated procedures).

 

Maintain Quality  - Optimize process systems by acquiring data and making adjustments.

 

Instrumentation and Control Systems - Knowledge of measurement, controls (e.g., indicators, recorders, and gauges), instrumentation (e.g., manual, automatic, cascade, and ratio) and Distributive Control Systems (DCS).

 

Troubleshooting - Ability to recognize a problem, collect and analyze information, define root cause, and take an appropriate plan of action.

 

Process Symbols - Understand symbols used in process diagrams.

 

Use Process Drawings - Interpret and sketch process diagrams (e.g., block/flow, process flow, and P&ID) in order to trace and learn systems, and to aid communication.

 

Continuous Reaction - Understanding of continuous reaction fundamentals (e.g., flow, temperature, reaction rate, feed quality & consistency, catalysts, and pressures) and continuous reaction systems (e.g., what is a fixed bed, liquid, catalyst injection, fluidized bed).

 

Batch Reaction - Understanding of batch reaction system fundamentals (e.g., levels, temperature, reaction rate, feed quality and consistency, pressures, catalyst, agitation)

 

Instrument Air - Understanding of instrument air fundamentals (e.g., compression, dewpoint, filtration, system pressure) and instrument air systems (e.g., dryers, filters, cycles, compressors, desiccant filters, switching, receivers, KO pots,

back-ups – N2 utility air).

 

Material Sampling - Knowledge of sampling techniques and of proper labeling procedures for samples collected.

 

Quality Assurance - Interpret and verify quality (e.g., certificate of analysis) and quantity when receiving materials.

 

Hazard Labeling - Knowledge of standard labeling systems (e.g., NFPA for equipment).

 

Equipment Monitoring - Conduct physical inspections of equipment (e.g., tanks, pipes, drums, pumps, vents, and safety equipment).

 

Inventory Control - Knowledge of inventory control fundamentals and its impact.

 

PPE - Knowledge of personal protective equipment and their appropriate use.

 

Safety Equipment Operations - Knowledge of operating safety equipment.

 

Nitrogen - Understanding of nitrogen fundamentals (e.g., inert, properties, hazards, uses, sources) and nitrogen systems (e.g., regulators, knock-out pots, generators-varies by site, compressors, analyzers, O2 content).

Drums

Hoses

Compressors

Extruders

Flares

Boilers

Cryogenic unit

Economizer

Switch gears

Skimmers

Steam traps

Gloves

Respirator

Acid suit

Ear muffs

SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus)

Face shield

Motor control centers

Reverse osmosis unit

Safety goggles/glasses

Drum dolly

Pumps (centrifugal, vacuum, positive displacement)

Drivers (such as electrical motors, steam turbines, gas turbines, air drivers)

Piping

Scrubbers

Valves

Filters

Demisters

Condenser

Generators

Transformers

Aerators

Clarifiers

Fork lift

Hand truck

Slicker suit

Hard hat

Eyewash fountain

FRCs (Flame Retardant Clothing)

Thermal suit

Furnaces/fired heaters

Fire extinguisher

Metatarsal guard

Control valve (regulator)

Instrumentation (analyzers, gauges, control loops, temperature sensing devices)

Tools (such as sample thief, strapping tape, pipe wrench, channel locks, valve wrenches)

Tubing

Tanks

Resins

Cooling towers

Dryers

Eductors

Meters

Incinerator

Basins

pH meters

Superheaters

Safety boots

Ear plugs

Safety shower

First aid kit

Fire monitors

Tower (tray, packed)

API separators/traps

Microfiltration equipment

Desuperheaters

Heat exchangers (coolers, reboilers, fans)

Heat recovery steam generator (waste heat boiler)

Reactors (batch stirred tank or continuous stirred tank, fixed bed catalyst or fluidized be catalyst)

Fittings

Safety harness

Personal lift

Computers

UPS (uninterruptible power source)