National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Golden, CO
posted 2 months ago
Be a part of a world-class research laboratory at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as a Plant Operator for the Renewable Fuels Heating Plant (RFHP). As a team member in NREL's Office of Site Operations, Maintenance group, you will operate the RFHP facility and its equipment under limited supervision. The RFHP was built in 2008 on the South Table Mountain Campus to use renewable wood residue fuel to power a secondary heating plant. In this role, you will be responsible for all day-to-day operations, performance, maintenance, and repair tasks associated with the RFHP and its equipment. You will also assist with the facility maintenance of other facilities at the laboratory in addition to the RFHP, as assigned. Primary job functions include supporting continuous RFHP operations and all maintenance activities, prioritizing safe operations that comply with all applicable regulations and NREL policies and procedures. Safety is always a priority, and you will continually manage the facility's level of environmental emissions. You will perform operations tasks at facility specifications, including continual or periodic equipment monitoring and manual and automated building controls adjustments required to achieve facility and energy conservation performance requirements. Your responsibilities will also include maintaining the wood chip boiler, fuel storage pit, fuel augers, and other handling components, conveyors, sensors, air locks, fans, ash system, and associated instrumentation and controls. You must be able to read and interpret original manufacturer's equipment specifications, CAD drawings, operating procedures, and other instructions to ensure safe operations and achieve facility and energy conservation performance requirements. Additionally, you will inspect and sample the quality of the wood fuel supply, inspect all boiler controls and combustion equipment, and related systems for conformance with operational standards. Observing and recording boiler controls, gauges, and other operating data will be essential, as well as making necessary adjustments to fuel and airflow to maximize RFHP system performance and detect operating issues. You will troubleshoot energy and facility performance issues and related mechanical and equipment issues, working with the RFHP's Environmental Services Contractor as necessary to identify and resolve all plant performance or equipment issues. You will oversee annual system shutdown and associated facility cleaning and preventative maintenance, as well as annual system start-up and associated inspections and verifications of system parameters. Minor fitting and plumbing repairs, such as tightening joints and related housekeeping of the plant, will also be part of your duties. You will procure necessary spare parts and materials, including working with Procurement to secure the required amounts and quality of the wood residue fuel source. Recording and compiling plant operational and maintenance data by completing forms, logs, and other reports will be required, as well as receiving outage calls and calling in necessary personnel during outages and emergencies. Participation on cross-functional teams for special tasks and projects, and other projects and duties as assigned, will also be expected.