Power Engineering Technology

This course will provide the student an opportunity to know and use the physical principles, laws and mathematical relationships relating to scalar and vectors quantities; linear and rotational motion; Newton's laws of motion; torque and equilibrium; shearing forces and internal bending moments in beams; work, energy, and power; simple machines including velocity ratio, mechanical advantage and efficiency; power transmission in belts and pulleys; properties of solids; introduction to fluids at rest and in motion; and fundamental thermodynamics.

This course provides information dealing with Canadian and Alberta legislation, CSA codes, ASME standards and regulations as it applies to Power Engineers. The course will begin with ASME codes as they apply to design, construction and safety of Boilers and Pressure vessels. This course will provide an introduction to materials and their various applications to piping, fittings and joining techniques. Understanding of the Power Engineering Regulations and classifications of Certifications are introduced.

In this course we will explain control logic for plants, equipment and control systems. Explain different control systems and how they apply to plant processes. Perform electrical calculations Describe magnetism and A/C systems and explain AC/DC theory and distribution.

In relation to the power engineering field, this course assesses equipment running on thermodynamic principles including heat transfer and applications of phase change. It relates basic chemistry concepts and boiler combustion to power engineering applications, predicts and assesses equipment corrosion issues, metallurgy and its applications.

Power Engineers are employed in Operational Plants that work 24/7 - 365 days a year. Safety and Environment legislation are the "License to Operate" for these plants. This legislation is an integral part of a Power Engineer's scope of practice and responsibility. Work integration learning concepts and skills will be discussed and professional employment documents will be created and tailored to the field of Power Engineers. Power Engineering communication avenues will be explained and may be practiced including: radio communication, work requests, safe work permits, lock out and tag out of energy sources and process flow diagrams.

In this course students will develop teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills to ensure safe and efficient operation of the Power Lab. Students in 4A Power Lab will learn how to produce process flow diagrams, operate and test water treatment systems, get a basic understanding of burner management systems, identify boiler fittings, operate boilers, and the associated auxiliaries in a safe and efficient manner.

The Power Engineer is the principle operator and manager of all pressure regulated vessel systems both fired and non-fired. Knowledge of the design, construction, maintenance, trouble shooting of all safety devices is imperative for the safe operation of equipment and fittings. This course will explain internal and external water treatment with associated control parameters. It will also describe components of condensate systems, cooling water systems and how to apply treatment. It will also describe recirculating closed loop treatment systems.

This course is an introduction to Power Engineering duties, job responsibilities, and the governing authorities that surround the industry. It encompasses the different types of plants and their auxiliary systems relating to Power Engineering. These include, but are not limited to, gas processing facilities, pulp and paper industry, food processing facilities, hot oil heating systems, utilities and building heating. The course includes a practical lab component where students apply hands on skills to different maintenance applications in the Power Lab. These include: gauge glass installation, construct a heat exchanger to specifications using different techniques and skills.

This course focuses on Prime Movers, namely steam turbines, gas turbines and industrial internal combustion engines. Topics include types and modes of operation of this equipment. Prime Mover Plant auxiliary equipment that is covered includes compressors and compressed air systems, pump types and their operation, as well as cooling towers. The types of rotating equipment bearings and lubrication methods will be delivered. Fourth and Third Class material will be covered in this class.

Refrigeration and air conditioning is used to provide cooling in an industrial and commercial setting. Principles of operation, maintenance, design, safety devices, hazards and construction are introduced and explored at a Third Class and Fourth Class level. Thermodynamics of refrigeration, refrigeration codes, properties of refrigerants, compression and absorption systems, operation, maintenance, controls and accessories, and psychometrics. A hands on refrigeration lab that includes the operation and troubleshooting of a refrigeration compression system.

This course covers the Power Engineering lab. The student will continue to develop teamwork and communication and interpersonal skills for safe and efficient operation of pressure regulated equipment and auxiliaries. Students will operate air handling-heating/cooling units, refrigeration systems, hot water heating systems, boilers, prime movers, generators and auxiliaries. Students will individually perform a practical assessment that includes generating at least 15 kw of power from a steam turbine generator.

Fundamental concepts include conservation of energy, types of energy, transitory energies, internal energy, Mechanical Equivalent of Heat, Specific Heat Capacity, temperature systems, sensible heat vs latent heat, 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics, and thermodynamic properties of steam. Introduction to Gas Laws including calculations involving end-state properties during Isobaric, Isothermal, Isometric, Polytropic, and Adiabatic Processes; work as area under a curve on a P-V diagram and calculation of work quantities during various types of Expansion/Compression Processes.

All eligible Power Engineering Technology Diploma students will participate in a paid or unpaid plant practicum in the spring, fall or winter terms in order to satisfy 480 hours of the ABSA-required 3rd Class steam time. The purpose of this course is to provide industrial power engineering experience in the field required by the Power Engineering Provincial Regulations. Students will write personal learning goals during the first month of their practicum, keep a daily logbook and write a reflection based report on experiences, learning goals, and logbook notes. The student's supervisor will evaluate the student and provide an attendance record. The student and supervisor will complete the appropriate components on the ABSA forms. Students must have a valid Fourth Class Certificate registered with ABSA or in the jurisdiction that they are working in to be successful in this course.

This course will provide students an opportunity to build essential math skills that are fundamental to Power Engineering. Its aim is to review and extend topics in linear algebra, functions, exponentials, logarithms, and trigonometry, and introduce students to the topics of differential calculus and statistics.

This course will develop the student’s knowledge of fundamental engineering and operating principles with various plant systems and the purpose, design, and administration of industrial plant sites. This includes describing the configurations, components, purpose, processes, control, and application of cogeneration systems, heat transfer equipment, and wastewater treatment systems. A lab component of this course allows students to perform simulated cold start-up and operation of heat exchangers, pumps, and single and multi-boiler operations.

This course covers the causes, consequences, monitoring, testing and treating of waters used in boilers. This encompasses both internal and external strategies for the control of dissolved solids, dissolved gases and suspended matter. Also covered is the various types of equipment used in the pre-treatment processes for boiler water coupled with the testing procedures used to determine the water quality. Effluent identification, testing and control will also be covered. Terms associated with pumps and pumping are examined and pump calculations are explained and practiced. Various welding techniques are covered along with the different welding procedures and testing methods used. Pressure Vessel designs are examined covering the requirements for the construction, repair and testing of those pressure vessels. Also included are references to the applicable ASME Codes both for welding and for pressure vessels.

This course will describe and explain the material regarding boilers required to write the Third-Class Boilers exam at ABSA, 3B1. This includes the designs, construction, and operation of boilers. It goes into details of boiler parts, heat transfer components, boiler fittings, feedwater controls, combustion controls, temperature controls, and common boiler maintenance and operating procedures.

This course covers the operation of steam turbines, gas turbines and internal combustion engine otherwise known as prime movers. The theory learned in this course is the basis for the prime mover operation in the Power Lab.

This course provides hands on operation of the process equipment in the Power Lab. This includes boilers, feedwater systems, pumps, steam turbines, pressure vessels, and other auxiliary equipment. Topics covered are boiler inspection, boiler and control system troubleshooting, confined space entry, equipment lock out and tag out, and the operation of boilers and auxiliary equipment. A valid Fourth Class Certificate registered with ABSA is required to take this course.

A Power Engineer Technologist must be able to understand mechanical properties of materials to ensure safety and serviceability of pressure equipment in a facility. Knowledge of material types, predicted performance and expected life cycles is important. The student will learn the causes and characteristics of corrosion types.

This course will provide the student an opportunity to learn and use the physical principles, laws, and mathematical relationships relating to static, linear, and rotational systems using the kinematics equations, momentum, and Newton’s 3 laws of motion; work, energy and power in both linear and rotational systems; centroids and center of gravity for various geometric shapes both static and rotating; shearing forces and bending moments for simple supported beams and cantilevers, and beam design; properties of solids including stress, strain, Modulus of Elasticity and restricted expansion for solids; and fluid properties for both static and dynamic systems.

This course provides students with skills and knowledge to use legislation, management styles, design and construction techniques, maintenance philosophies, safety programs and code calculations that deal with plant, boiler, pressure vessel applications that Power Engineers are required to utilize in the work place.

This course is designed to develop knowledge of fundamental engineering and operating principles with simulated programs. The student will operate a heat exchanger and centrifugal pumps as a floor operator and console (CCR) operator through simulation software. They will be able to explain steam generation, advanced pump systems, and advanced boiler water treatment and non-boiler water treatment in preparation to challenge their Second Class ABSA 2A3 paper.

This course is used to provide a connection between advanced theory courses such as Thermodynamics and Physics and the practical application of that theory in a practical hands-on lab environment. This includes the analysis of flue gas and calorimeter results to determine boiler efficiencies, gas turbine driven power generator efficiency analysis, steam turbine and generator efficiency analysis and boiler plant black start simulation using a diesel generator.

Advanced thermodynamics are used by Power Engineers to analyze, and troubleshoot complex systems. Thermodynamic Systems will be covered in this course including topics on the Laws of Thermodynamics, Ph and Mollier Diagrams, Calorimeters, Carnot Cycle, Heat Engines, Boiler/Turbine/Pump/Compressor Steady Flow Energy Equations, compression/expansion processes, air compressors, internal combustion cycles, convection, and radiation heat transfer.