Seeking help regarding learning *for thermal engineering beginners*.
Thread Content
Hello everyone. I am a beginner in thermodynamics. The company is a small thermal power firm, and it is still in the testing phase. The Xinhua xdc800 system is being used. The company does not have any talent in the field of thermal control, and it has not hired anyone in this area for various reasons. My original field of expertise is power systems and relay protection, but my supervisor has transferred me to the thermal control department (I’m the only one in this role). I know absolutely nothing about this area; there’s no project manager either, and I’m completely clueless when it comes to configuration tasks. My supervisor tells me to obtain more certifications, learn more, and ask questions and listen carefully. I would like to ask some questions of the seniors here. For someone in my situation, are there any recommended introductory books? It would be best to be able to provide the name of the publisher. The leaders say it’s best to obtain a certificate. I’m not quite sure which certificates are suitable for those working in automation. Do any of the more experienced colleagues have any advice? What certificates can be helpful for my work? I have currently applied to become a certified metrologist; after studying for two months, I feel it’s not very useful in my field. It’s very annoying.
First of all, there are no **organized exams in the instrumentation field, nor are there certificates like those for electricians or welders. Only in schools and large state-owned enterprises is it necessary to obtain certificates through examinations, and such certificates can be considered as proof of qualification. Secondly, instrumentation is still a specialized field; one needs to spend 3 years in school under the guidance of specialized teachers before they can even start working. Here, your boss just says you should learn on your own without any mentor – I really wouldn’t dare to work in such an organization. The same can be said for other specialties, which aren’t very professional either. To dare to start production under such conditions is truly terrifying.
Understand the working principles, signal types, and control circuits of various instruments first; then grasp the DCS cabinet before moving on to system configuration. The main types of instruments are those for measuring temperature, pressure, flow rate, liquid level, weight, as well as analyzers. It’s also important to understand the direction of signal transmission and the control principles. Once you have a basic understanding, learning will go much faster.
Yeah, our workplace also seems really terrifying. I’m pretty familiar with boilers, and the equipment in our company gives the impression that it could cause deaths at any moment.
Since I have started working, the first thing to do is to get familiar with the production process. Xinhua’s configuration software is relatively simple; it’s easy to view the configurations, and they can be downloaded from the internet for further study. There is a lot to learn about instruments; it is recommended to start by studying the adjustment manuals for the instruments in use on site.
If you can do one thing, you can do many; don’t be afraid. Although I majored in electrical automation, I am proficient in electrical work, instrumentation, DCS, PLC, as well as electric welding. . . . What you said makes me want to cry. . .