Gas Turbine
Training

About this course

This course covers the skills and knowledge needed to operate complex, independent gas turbine systems used in power generation, compression and similar industrial applications, including specialised start-up and shutdown procedures, control panels and vibration monitoring equipment. It applies to autonomous operators with a strong understanding of both the process and the equipment, working either alone or in coordination with control room personnel; in larger and more complex facilities, operators may work as part of a team during critical operations. The role calls for effective communication with shift personnel and compliance with Australian legislation, industry standards, licensing requirements and codes of practice.

Gas turbines are critical assets. They provide power generation, mechanical drive and process support, and their complexity means the people running them need a thorough grasp of turbine systems, operating procedures, safety requirements and troubleshooting. The course is built around real operating scenarios so that participants can manage the turbine confidently while keeping people safe and the plant reliable.

Who it is for

• Plant, process and operations technicians
• Power generation personnel and energy sector workers
• Oil and gas operators, including LNG and gas processing
• Maintenance technicians and production personnel
• Shift supervisors and operations team leaders
• Anyone working in process plant operations, refineries, gas processing plants and industrial manufacturing

What it covers

The course is built around four stages.

1. Operate the gas turbine system according to procedure.Receive and deliver shift handovers, coordinate work with personnel, identify and report hazards, review maintenance activities, verify system status, carry out routine inspections and documentation, and adjust the turbine within approved operating parameters.
2. Identify and respond to abnormal situations.Continuously monitor the turbine using sensory observation, field data and instrumentation, assess upstream and downstream impacts, respond to actual or potential abnormal conditions in line with procedures, and document corrective actions and incident management.
3. Shut down and prepare the turbine for maintenance.Pre-shutdown checks, safe shutdown according to procedure, hazard management and reporting, equipment changeovers, and isolating the system from all energy sources.
4. Prepare and start the turbine.De-isolate, prepare and start up according to procedure, pre-start checks, start-up hazards, performance monitoring and response to abnormal operating conditions.

Across those stages the course works through seven topic areas:

• Gas turbine operation and control. Operating principles, compressor, combustion, turbine section, fuel delivery, air intake, exhaust, auxiliaries, control system architecture and protection systems, alarms and interlocks.
• Start-up and shutdown procedures. Pre-start inspections, equipment verification, safety checks, energisation, fuel system preparation, ignition sequencing, acceleration monitoring and load application; controlled shutdown, load reduction, cooling, isolation, equipment preservation, emergency shutdown protocols and post-shutdown inspection.
• Monitoring and performance control. Temperature, pressure, vibration, fuel consumption, output, efficiency, alarm management, trend analysis and reading the data.
• Abnormal situation handling. High vibration, temperature excursions, fuel system issues, lubrication failures, compressor abnormalities, combustion instability, control system faults, sensor failures and emergency shutdown events: detecting, assessing, correcting and escalating.
• Safety and hazard control. Hazard identification, risk assessment, isolation, permit-to-work, lockout and tagout, safe operating limits, emergency response, incident reporting and PPE.
• Coordination and communication. Shift handovers, operational reporting, control room communication, maintenance coordination, incident communication and emergency protocols.
• Maintenance preparation. Equipment shutdown, isolation planning, energy source control, inspection, worksite preparation, permit verification, coordination with maintenance and system reinstatement.

Reading and writing workplace procedures and documentation, liaising with the team and reading field data and process parameters are part of the assessment.

What you will be able to do

• Safely operate an industrial gas turbine system
• Apply correct start-up and shutdown procedures
• Monitor turbine performance and operating conditions
• Identify and respond to abnormal operating situations and troubleshoot faults
• Apply workplace safety procedures
• Coordinate with control room and shift personnel
• Prepare the system for maintenance and reinstate it afterwards
• Keep the operating documentation

Where this applies

Power generation, oil and gas, LNG facilities, mining, chemical and petrochemical processing, refining, manufacturing and utilities. Roles include gas turbine operator, process plant operator, operations technician, power plant operator, utilities operator, production technician and operations supervisor.

Assessment

Assessment may include practical demonstrations, workplace observations, knowledge assessments, scenario-based exercises, troubleshooting activities, operational simulations, documentation reviews and verbal questioning. Participants must show they can operate and troubleshoot the gas turbine system in line with workplace procedures.