Description
Control and monitor thermochemical biomass conversion systems (e.g., gasification and pyrolysis) and perform operations, product quality checks, and maintenance to safely produce syngas, bio-oil, or char.
- • Measure and monitor biomass feedstock properties (moisture, size, ash) for thermochemical processing.
- • Operate feeders, valves, pumps, blowers, and conveyors to control pyrolysis and gasification systems.
- • Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on reactors, burners, conveyors, cyclones, scrubbers, and condensers.
- • Assess quality of conversion products, including syngas composition, bio-oil properties, and char integrity.
- • Calculate, dry, size-reduce, and load biomass feedstock to meet reactor specifications.
- • Calibrate temperature, pressure, and flow instruments, including thermocouples, pressure transmitters, and mass flow meters.
- • Inspect thermochemical equipment, recording and reporting leaks, slagging, refractory damage, and mechanical issues.
- • Operate biomass gasifiers per procedures, adjusting air/oxygen or steam ratios to meet targets.
- • Operate heating systems to achieve required ramp rates, setpoints, and residence times in reactors.
- • Start up, shut down, and regulate reactors, syngas cleanup units, compressors, and flare systems.
- • Operate particulate and tar removal systems, such as cyclones, filters, scrubbers, and condensers.
- • Preprocess feedstock via drying, chipping, grinding, pelletizing, or torrefaction as required.
- • Record and report operational data from meters, instruments, and gas analyzers; maintain logs and batch records.
- • Clean work areas and process equipment to maintain housekeeping and safety compliance.
- • Manage spare parts, consumables, and chemical inventories for thermochemical systems.
- • Read and interpret P&IDs, SOPs, and technical manuals for thermochemical conversion equipment and controls.
- • Perform gas and liquid sampling and analysis using GC or online analyzers; adjust controls based on results.
- • Maintain and test safety systems, including LEL/CO detectors, purge systems, interlocks, and relief devices.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
