This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to operate ammonia (R717) refrigerant refrigeration plants.

It includes operating an industrial refrigeration plant using ammonia as the refrigerant. It also includes applying specialised refrigeration principles that apply to ammonia, specifying the normal operating parameters for the plant, rectifying faults and defective components within organisational guidelines, and completing the necessary service documentation.

The skills and knowledgein this unit will be applied by ammonia refrigeration plant operators during the start-up, operation and shutdown of ammonia refrigeration plants.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace where work is carried out on electrical installations which are designed to operate at voltages greater than 50 volt (V) alternating current (a.c.) or 120 V direct current (d.c).

Competency development activities in this unit are subject to regulations directly related to licensing. Where a licence or permit to practice is not held, skills and knowledge described in this unit require a relevant contract of training, such as an Australian Apprenticeship.

Additional and/or other conditions may apply in some jurisdictions subject to regulations related to refrigeration, air conditioning or electrical work. Practice in the workplace and during training is also subject to work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations

Permits may also be required for some work environments, such as confined spaces, working aloft, near live electrical apparatus and site rehabilitation.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare to operate ammonia refrigerant plant

1.1

WHS/OHS hazards, risk control methods, relevant standards, codes and legislation are obtained and applied

1.2

Ammonia refrigerant, refrigeration system and components on which the work is to be carried out are identified

1.3

WHS/OHS risk control measures, safety data sheets (SDS)/material safety data sheets (MSDS) and workplace procedures are followed in preparation for refrigeration work

1.4

Safety hazards not previously identified are reported and advice on risk control measures is sought from work supervisor

1.5

Nature of work is obtained from documentation or work supervisor to determine the scope of work to be undertaken

1.6

Advice is sought from work supervisor to ensure the work is coordinated effectively with others

1.7

Sources of materials required for refrigeration work are accessed in accordance with workplace procedures

1.8

Tools, equipment and testing devices needed to carry out refrigeration work are obtained and checked for correct operation and safety

1.9

Refrigeration system operating conditions are established from service documentation, supervisor and the application of refrigeration fundamentals

2

Operate ammonia refrigeration plant

2.1

Refrigeration plant is started up in accordance with workplace procedures, industry standards, codes of practice and regulations

2.2

Measurement of refrigeration system operating parameters is conducted in accordance with WHS/OHS requirements and workplace safety procedures

2.3

Supervisor or person in charge is advised of system and components performing outside their operating parameters to facilitate remedial action

2.4

Refrigeration plant remedial action is determined and implemented, as required, in accordance with workplace procedures

2.5

Refrigeration service procedures are completed in accordance with workplace procedures

2.6

Daily processing requirements are calculated to predict demand on refrigeration plant

2.7

Oral and written information on the performance of the refrigeration plant is exchanged formally and informally between the operator and supervisor/production team

2.8

Equipment controls are adjusted to prepare refrigeration plant to meet the load

2.9

Action is taken in a proactive way to maintain the performance of the plant

2.10

Demands on plant consumables are calculated to facilitate the ordering of replacements

2.11

Strategies are developed to meet demand in the event of refrigeration plant equipment malfunction or breakdown

3

Complete work and report on ammonia refrigeration plant operations

3.1

Worksite is cleaned and made safe in accordance with workplace procedures

3.2

Refrigeration plant performance records are maintained and distributed in accordance with workplace procedures

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least two separate occasions and include:

applying relevant legislative, industry standards and practices

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (WHS/OHS) requirements and workplace procedures and practices, including using risk control measures

applying sustainable energy principles and practices

completing necessary service documentation

conducting servicing procedures in accordance with the schedule

dealing with unplanned events/situations in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

determining plant operating condition, rectifying faults and defective components in accordance within workplace procedures and guidelines

documenting operating conditions correctly

identifying anhydrous ammonia (R717) refrigerant safety data sheets (SDS)/material safety data sheets (MSDS) and workplace emergency response procedures

identifying the conditions of the refrigerant at various locations in the vapour compression and liquid recirculation system

operating an industrial refrigeration plant using ammonia as the refrigerant

recording measurements

selecting and using appropriate measuring devices correctly

shutting down ammonia refrigerant plant

starting up ammonia refrigerant plant

taking remedial action within workplace emergency response procedures and job role

using calculation methods accurately.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

adding refrigerant, draining/adding oil and purging non-condensables

ammonia refrigeration system operation

hazardous goods, segregation, storage and handling

refrigeration plant start-up, shutdown and emergency procedures

refrigeration systems, including:

ammonia refrigeration system types, operating principles, major components, flow controls and ancillary components

operating conditions of ammonia refrigeration systems

refrigeration vapour compression system principles, including:

heat, heat energy (definition and unit of measurement), enthalpy (definition and unit of measurement) and heat transfer

pressure, scale types (imperial, metric and absolute) and their units of measurement, vacuum scales (Pascals and microns), and conversion to/from absolute values and gas laws (Boyles, Charles and Daltons)

refrigerant conditions, saturation temperature, saturated liquid saturated vapour, superheated vapour, sub-cooled liquid and pressure temperature relationships

sensible and latent heat, definition of latent heat and sensible heat (including units of measurement) and measurement devices

temperature and relative humidity, scale types (imperial, metric and absolute) and units of measurement and measurement devices

vapour compression cycle, primary system components, and high and low pressure sides

relevant job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes, including ammonia (R717) refrigerant SDS/MSDS

relevant manufacturer specifications

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures, including workplace emergency response plan

vapour compression system, including operation and major components.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, emergency response plan, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Operating ammonia refrigeration system conditions must include at least the following:

starting up

determining operating conditions using measurement and calculation methods

repairing components

shutting down the system

checking:

suction

inter-stage and discharge pressures

ambient, evaporator, inter-stage and condensing temperatures

evaporator and condenser temperature differences

Electrotechnology

Refrigeration and air-conditioning