A course in applied power and facilities plants fundamentals designed to provide introductory practical science studies for students entering the power, facilities, HVAC, and process operation and maintenance fields. Covers basic thermodynamics, operation and maintenance fundamentals, energy conversion, and conservation. Coursework and laboratory activities meet or exceed requirements of National Skill Standards for heat, power, process, HVAC, and facilities technicians and engineers. Mandatory plant visits. Laboratory activities.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Communication Reporting, Reports-Memos-Work Orders, Mechanical Drawing/Layout, technical Article Review-Reporting
- Using Tools and Instruments, Measuring-Calculating Materials, Weights, Measures and Math, Strength of Drums, Shells & Joints
- Safety for Maintenance Shop, Plant Operations and Hand and Power Tools
- Piping and Tubing and Fabrication
- Industrial Maintenance Service and Repair Principles
- Basic Maintenance Skills and Operations Including Rigging, Cutting, Welding, Basic Bench and Machine Tool Operations
- Basic Thermodynamics-Heat Transfer-Measurement Including Basic Force, Pressure, Work, Energy, and Power Principles
- Basic Thermodynamics-Heat, Steam, Calorimeters, Compression Including Gases, Gas Laws, Measuring Heat, Temperature, Pressure Flow, and Level
- Basic Fuels and Combustion Including Flue Gas Analysis, and Combustion Efficiency Measuring
- Basic refrigeration and Air Conditioner Operation, Checking and Testing
- Basic principles of Hydraulics, Pressure/Flow and Basic Mechanical Systems
- Basic Pumps, Valves, Piping and Process Systems and Equipment
- Controls: Electrical, Electronic, Digital for Controlling Power Engineering Systems
- Basic Heat and Power Plant Water Treatment
- Knowledge and Skills Required by DOE-EERE Industrial Technologies and Building Technologies Programs for Authentic Field Equipment and Systems
- Complete written reports, memos, work orders as specified in workbook exercises.
- Demonstrate field expertise through drawing, sketching, lettering exercises as specified in workbook exercises.
- Demonstrate field expertise through properly written technical article reviews and reports from research on the Internet.
- Apply the proper use of precision measurement instruments, gages, tools, and other equipment to determine dimensions on electrical and mechanical components such as fasteners, nuts and bolts and other materials and equipment.
- Demonstrate skill in the proper and safe use of measuring tools and instruments to determine volume, linear measurements, flow measurements, and level measurements to determine capacities of tanks, mechanical systems, and equipment.
- Complete problems and exercises according to workbook requirements for weights, measures, levers, mechanical systems, and stresses in pressure vessels and for force, pressure, work, energy, and power.
- Complete workbook and lab exercises as specified for basic thermodynamics-heat temperature and steam including using the steam tables.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook and lab exercises as specified for gases including study and exercises for basic thermodynamics of gases, air compression, and compressors.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook and lab exercises as specified for fuels-combustion-basic fuel origin-properties, measuring combustion, and combustion efficiency and flue gas analysis for boiler or heating units.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook and lab exercises as specified for refrigeration, HVAC air condition operation-air flow measurement including identification and operation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook and lab exercises as specified for hydraulics, basic gages, piping, valves, pump calculations, theory, pumps, pumping systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, and pumps.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook and lab exercises for measuring level and flow.
- Demonstrate field expertise through workbook exercises for measuring-testing pressure.
- Demonstrate field expertise through exercises on methods for controlling equipment and systems for process control, boiler control, power and heating plant control, and commercial-industrial HVAC equipment and system control.
- Demonstrate field expertise through sketching control diagrams for power and heating systems and those for larger boilers and current power plant control systems.
- Analyze plant visit data from authentic plant equipment and systems as compared to example bench marked plants.
Assessment and Requirements
The following assessment tools will be common to all sections:
- Lab assignments
- Multiple-choice question tests
- Multiple-choice question final exam
- Class participation
Due to the nature of this course, attendance is mandatory.
Prescribed by the subject matter expert instructor responsible for curricular development and implementation of this course.
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
This course is identified as a departmental course for which a learner can receive college credit for prior college-level learning and/or skills acquired outside the traditional classroom. Terms of the HFCC Credit for Prior College-Level Learning Policy may be met by review of the appropriate documentation, skill, certifications, and/or knowledge acquired by the learner and submitted for evaluation by the appropriate departmental faculty. As required, one or more of the following may be considered in the evaluation process:
A. field experience
B. licenses held
C. completing course exams and/or
D. performance sequences and/or
E. competing a portfolio.
F. assessment of private trade school or other extensive college level industry training and learning by a departmental faculty member