Methane Gas Generation System Technician

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A methane gas generation systems technician could...

Overview Listen to this section

Every day, trash collectors across the nation haul our garbage (minus the recyclables) to a landfill. There, the garbage decomposes into gas and leachate. This sounds gross, but the good news is that the gas can be used to create electricity. Landfill gas-collection power plants harvest the methane gas from landfills, then burn it to generate electricity. These power plants need people to keep the equipment functioning properly. Methane gas generation systems technicians are responsible for maintaining and monitoring landfill collection components and systems in order to ensure efficient power generation.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Methane Gas Generation System Technician?

1. Operations Monitoring: ? Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
2. Operation and Control: ? Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
3. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Quality Control Analysis: ? Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

6. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
7. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
8. Troubleshooting: ? Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
9. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
10. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Methane Gas Generation System Technician might do:

• Operate landfill gas-, methane-, or natural gas-fueled electrical generation systems.
• Perform routine maintenance or minor repairs to landfill gas collection and power generation systems, including equipment such as pneumatic pumps, blower or flare systems, and condensate management systems.
• Balance individual gas extraction wells at landfill gas facilities.
• Diagnose or troubleshoot problems with methane or landfill gas collection systems.
• Download landfill gas well field monitoring data.
• Measure landfill gas vegetative covering, installing additional covering as required.
• Measure liquid levels in landfill gas extraction wells.
• Monitor landfill well fields periodically to ensure proper functioning and performance.
• Prepare and submit compliance, operational, and safety forms or reports.
• Read, interpret, and adjust monitoring equipment, such as flow meters and pressure or vacuum gauges.
• Record and maintain log of well-head gauge pressure readings.
• Verify that well field monitoring data conforms to applicable regulations.
• Analyze the layout, instrumentation, or function of electrical generation or transmission facilities.
• Monitor landfill gas perimeter probes to identify landfill gas migration.
• Perform landfill surface scans to determine overall effectiveness of the landfill gas site.
• Repair or replace landfill gas piping.
• Trace electrical circuitry for landfill gas buildings to ensure compliance of electrical systems with applicable codes or laws.