Next Intakes (up to 4 new students per intake)
November 4th, 2024
(First Monday of every month)
Full 4th Class TSBC accredited and PTIB certified power engineering course.
Our co-operative style power engineering courses combine classroom-based education with practical work experience, including firing time.
Complete course of 12 months consists of:
- 600 hours of classroom time
- 400 hours of laboratory time
- 1000 hours of practical experience
Theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge will be gained in:
- Steam Plant Operations and Processes
- Maintenance
- Steam Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics
- Technical Communications
- Basic Instrumentation
- Industrial Electronics
The Skeena Technical School course follows the Standardization of Power Engineers Examinations Committee (SOPEEC) syllabus, the full details of which can be found here: www.sopeec.org.
Contact us for more information and to apply.
Course Content:
Part A
Applied Math Mat 100
Description: This coarse will cover basic mathematical operations involving fractions, decimals and percentages using SI and Imperial units. Students will be able to describe ratios and proportions, and transpose equations.
Elementary Mechanics Mec200
Description: Students will be able to calculate various types of measurement and volumes and perform simple mechanics and the mathematical relations pertaining to mechanics.
Thermodynamics THR 300
Description: In this course students will be able to describe the laws of thermodynamics and heat;; thermodynamics of steam; steam tables; interpolation and basic chemical and physical properties. Students will perform heat calculations in metric and imperial measurement systems.
Sketching & Admin SKT 400
Description: Students will plan, write and edit routine work related messages, practicing writing fundamentals and sentence, paragraph and memo composition. Students will apply mechanical drawing fundamentals with various views and use of drawing instruments to make basic engineering sketches of plant equipment
Codes COD 500
Description: the Student will have a solid understanding of the purpose of codes and provincial acts and regulations with respect to boilers and pressure vessels. The student will be familiar with ASME Codes and the B.C. Safety Authority. The student will discuss typical regulations pertaining to design, construction and installation of boilers and pressure vessels and the role of the local boiler inspector.
Work Place Hazards WPH 600
Description: Students will learn the significance of the Workplace Hazardous Materials information System (WHMIS) for classification and labelling of controlled products, and use of Material Safety Data Sheets.
Safety SAF 700
Description: Students will explore Plant Safety including the costs and effects of workplace injuries and use of personal protective equipment. Isolation of mechanical and electrical equipment will be applied as well as confined space entry. First Aid, CPR will be practiced and the role of the safety committee will be described.
Fire Protection PFP 800
Description: Students will learn the fundamentals of fire protection and procedures, classification of fires and types of extinguishing methods including use of portable fire extinguishers.
Environment ENV 900
Description: The student will become familiar with the interaction and interdependency between the various elements in the environment. Students will discuss pollutants and the impact they have on the environment and methods used to control them.
Welding WLD 100
Description: This course is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the mechanical properties and selection of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, plus the effects and purposes of various alloys. Heat treating, case hardenings are described. The methods, equipment and safe applications for oxy-acetylene and MIG/TIG welding and brazing will be covered. Students will also define welding terms and apply methods of weld inspection and describe welding qualifications.
Piping PIP 110
Description: The student will be introduced to basic types of piping, piping connections, supports and drainage used in industry. Different kinds of valves, traps and maintenance practices will be discussed.
High Pressure Boilers HPB 120
Description: This course covers development of boiler design, terminology, fire tube, water tube and electric boilers: construction, support, suspension and refractory. Fluidized bed, grate systems, safety and relief valves, steam drums, superheaters, reheaters, economizers, air heaters and insulation are included.
Cause and prevention of boiler explosions are explored. Students will study in depth the purpose and content of relevant ASME and CSA Codes and B.C. Safety Authority concerning Provincial Acts and Regulations pertaining to boilers and pressure vessels. Students will apply these skills with hands on experience with our operating boilers.
Draft combustion fittings DCF 140
Description: Students will discuss the definition of natural, forced, induced and balanced methods of mechanical draft and combustion including oil, gas and coal burners. Safety, fuel composition and heating values will also be discussed.
Boiler Operations HPO 140
Description: Students will explore in detail the operations of different kinds of boilers, with an introduction to start-up, shut-down, normal operating conditions, emergency situations. Operation of soot blowers, blowdown, chemical and mechanical cleaning, boil out and lay up and hydrostatic testing, safety and inspection are addressed.
Feedwater Treatment FWT 150
Description: The student learns the importance of feedwater treatment; testing and deaeration are covered in detail
Part B
Prime Movers PME 160
Description: This course will introduce students to the conversion of heat into mechanical energy including the construction and operation of the simple steam engine, steam turbines, internal combustion engines. As well as prime mover terminology and application of cooling towers and condensers.
Pumps and Compressors PAC 170
Description: Students will learn about various types of pumps: their theory, operation and maintenance. Air compression is explored including theory, altitude and barometers. The student will also be introduced to Reciprocating and Centrifugal Compressors: construction, equipment, systems, lubrication and operation.
Lubrication LUB 180
Description: Principles of lubrication, classes, viscosity, application and lubrication systems. The application of lubricants and other maintenance procedures are addressed, as well as bearing lubrication, maintenance and failure.
Electricity ELC 190
Description: In this course students will learn the concepts of basic electricity and simple calculations using voltage, current, resistance and power. Ohm’s law, basic principles of magnetism, the use of electrical metering devices, the operating principles of the various types of AC and DC motors and generators, and the operating principles, construction and maintenance of transformers will also be covered. Safe operation of all electrical equipment is also covered.
Controls and Instrumentation CAI 200
Description: The course covers plant instrumentation terms and definitions and methods for process measurement. Control loop components, instrumentation, gauges, and control systems and programming, the construction and operation of commonly used devices for measuring pressure, level, temperature, flow and the function of transmitters, recorders, controllers, control valves are all explored. Types of computers, principles, software, are reviewed. The design, operation and testing of low water cut offs, mercury switches and thermocouples are also covered. The operation of equipment used to automatically start-up and shut down boilers and the proper testing and maintenance procedures will be examined.
Heating Boilers HTB 210
Description: This course will allow the students to identify the types of watertube, tubular and firetube boilers used in heating systems. Explain the use of Cast iron boilers, and identify the various oil burners and gas burners used on heating boilers.
Steam and Water Heating systems SWH 220
Description: The principles of steam and hot water heating systems, equipment components and various designs, accessories and operation, along with trouble shooting of hot water boiler systems will be covered. Principles of warm air heating sources, along with maintenance requirements of typical air heating systems will be looked at. The operating principles of pressure gauges, safety valves and boiler fittings on low pressure steam boilers will be examined. Students will explain the operating principles of basic boiler fittings on hot water boilers and steam heating boilers.
Heating Boiler Controls HBC 230
Description: Feedwater control methods, devices used on low pressure steam boilers, various operating controls and the design and operation of combustion controls on heating boilers, and the design and operation of various pneumatic control systems, electric and electronic control circuit systems will also be covered.
Aux. Building Systems ABS 240
Description: This course covers various building systems including lighting systems, Building water supply, operation and maintenance including hot water heaters, controls and protection and trouble shooting are studied. Sanitary drainage systems and maintenance are included.
Vapour Compressors VCR 250
Description: This course will cover vapour compression systems including safety, application of CSA B52 code, thermodynamics of refrigeration and properties of refrigerants, compression refrigeration systems and compressor components Controls, metering devices and system accessories will be studied. Maintenance and troubleshooting are applied.
Absorption Refrigeration ABR 260
Description: Absorption refrigeration systems, components, auxiliaries, operation and maintenance are reviewed.
Air Conditioning1 AIR 270
Air conditioning is explored through psychometric properties of air, applications looked at for comfort, fans for distribution, ducting, coil type as well as humidification and dehumidification
Air Conditioning 2 AIR 280
Air conditioning systems are addressed including unitary and central systems, combined systems components, auxiliaries, operation and maintenance, heat recovery system, controls and well as heat gains and losses in building.
Boiler Maintenance BMT 290
This courses will cover power plant maintenance from the perspective of the safe use of common hand and power tools, safe and proper set up of equipment for climbing, hoisting, and rigging such as scaffolds, ladders. The General servicing and maintenance required for all boiler types including refractory, tubes, stays, safety valves and preparation of a boiler for inspection, cleaning testing, lay up and welder qualifications are covered.
Types of plant TOP 300
This course will explain the basic design of hot oil systems, components, auxiliaries, operation and maintenance, including the safety requirements of the direct-fired heater. The basic equipment and processes used in refining of natural gas and the production of pulp mill process, equipment operation and safety will be studied. Steam related processes in food processing plants, sawmills and oil refineries will also be covered.