Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:26 AM AWST

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Operate a gas turbine

Operate a gas turbine

Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS324
State Code
AXN03
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
02/06/2016
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
05/08/2016
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
05/08/2016
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to operate a gas turbine in a power generation, compression or similar operation. It applies to a gas turbine that is a complex, independent item of equipment. Typically it will have a specialised start-up and shutdown procedure. It may have its own control panel and inbuilt vibration monitoring equipment. This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the turbine’s operating system. A unit/system comprises two or more components of plant/equipment that are operated together to produce product, including one or more of:gas turbine engineselectric motorsgoverning systemspower supplysafety and shutdown systemscooling systems.This unit of competency applies to operations technicians who are required to demonstrate a significant understanding of the process and the equipment operation in order to identify and rectify operational problems, operate and monitor the gas turbine and ancillary equipment to ensure output meets all requirements. This unit of competency applies to an individual operating independently in a plant with local control or in liaison with the control room operator in a plant with a centralised control panel, such as distributed control system (DCS) type controls. In the case of large complex plant, the operations technician would be part of a team during start-up and shutdown procedures.This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.Some jurisdictions may require the holder of this unit to be licensed or certified and users should check with the relevant authorities.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare for work
  • 1.1 Receive and give shift handover
  • 1.2 Identify work requirements
  • 1.3 Identify and control hazards
  • 1.4 Coordinate with appropriate personnel
  • 1.5 Check for recent work undertaken on gas turbine
  • 1.6 Note any outstanding/incomplete work
  • 1.7 Check operational status of gas turbine
2 Start the gas turbine
  • 2.1 Check that the turbine is not subject to maintenance or that other permitted activities are not taking place near the equipment
  • 2.2 Check the control panel to ensure that all indications support the safe starting of the turbine
  • 2.3 Conduct required safety checks and pre-starts to determine or verify the operational condition of the equipment
  • 2.4 Commission turbine protection devices prior to the start-up of equipment
  • 2.5 Achieve operational flows and temperatures of ancillary equipment before bringing the system on line for use
  • 2.6 Start the gas turbine according to procedures
3 Monitor and assess gas turbine systems
  • 3.1 Complete routine checks, logs and paperwork taking action on unexpected readings
  • 3.2 Change rate, smoothly as required
  • 3.3 Monitor and correct fuel and energy systems and flows to ensure that the system provides the proper operational mixture for turbine use
  • 3.4 Ensure adequate supplies of clean air at the stated rate or temperature are delivered to the turbine to allow for successful operation to be achieved
  • 3.5 Check exhaust gas and turbine operating temperatures to ensure correct temperature gradients in the turbine
  • 3.6 Monitor lubrication systems to verify that operational parts are functioning efficiently and effectively, and to ensure that all moving parts are operating in a friction free and clean environment
  • 3.7 Monitor and adjust cooling systems to allow for the most efficient operating temperature to be maintained throughout all operating conditions
  • 3.8 Monitor governing systems to allow correct operational speeds of equipment to be maintained and regulated
  • 3.9 Adjust turbine and its component plant items as appropriate to their type and duty to maximise performance
4 Check maintenance requirements
  • 4.1 Conduct routine inspections and checks to ensure normal or stated turbine operation is maintained
  • 4.2 Identify equipment faults through observation of the operational equipment and periodic sampling and testing
  • 4.3 Determine action and communicate maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel
  • 4.4 Record operational data to provide a historical record of the operating condition of equipment
5 Respond to gas turbine problems
  • 5.1 Monitor turbine and its component plant items frequently and critically throughout shift using measured/indicated data and senses
  • 5.2 Describe impacts of any changes upstream and downstream
  • 5.3 Recognise actual and developing situations which may require action
  • 5.4 Apply operational knowledge to resolve problems
  • 5.5 Take other appropriate actions on abnormal situations which cannot be resolved during the shift to ensure safety and the resolution of the situation
  • 5.6 Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
6 Isolate and de-isolate turbine and its component plant items
  • 6.1 Shut down turbine according to the turbine type and duty in liaison with other personnel
  • 6.2 Shut down/changeover component plant items within unit according to their type and duty in liaison with other personnel
  • 6.3 Isolate entire turbine system and/or any component plant item
  • 6.4 Make safe for required work
  • 6.5 Check turbine/plant item is ready to be returned to service
  • 6.6 De-isolate and prepare turbine/plant unit/plant item for return to service
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
W8878 PMAOPS324A Operate a gas turbine Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OCK59 PMAOPS331 Operate and troubleshoot gas turbine system Unit of competency