Level 2 Certification in Chemical Process Equipment
Level 2 Certification in Chemical Process Equipment
- Core Knowledge: Gain a comprehensive understanding of various chemical process equipment used in industry, from pumps to reactors.
- Practical Application: Learn how to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot critical equipment within chemical processing plants.
- Industry Relevance: Perfect for those seeking a career in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and other process industries.
- Career Opportunities: This certification enhances career prospects in chemical engineering, manufacturing, and production.
- Hands-On Learning: Emphasizes practical skills that are directly applicable in real-world process environments.
- Understand the basic principles behind key chemical process equipment.
- Gain knowledge of the operation and maintenance of reactors, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, and distillation columns.
- Understand the role and operation of valves, piping systems, and control equipment in chemical processes.
- Be able to identify common problems and faults in chemical process equipment and apply troubleshooting techniques.
- Understand how to improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of process equipment in an industrial environment.
- Be familiar with industry safety standards and best practices for the operation and maintenance of equipment.
- Develop the ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for equipment handling and maintenance.
- Introduction to Chemical Process Equipment
- Overview of chemical process industries and the importance of equipment in chemical production.
- Basic principles behind the function of key process equipment.
- The role of process equipment in manufacturing and production lines.
- The relationship between equipment efficiency and overall process performance.
- Reactors and Mixing Equipment
- Different types of reactors: batch reactors, continuous reactors, and semi-batch reactors.
- Understanding reaction kinetics and its impact on reactor design.
- Mixing equipment used in chemical processes: agitators, mixers, and blenders.
- Safe operation and common maintenance issues associated with reactors and mixing equipment.
- Heat Exchangers
- The role of heat exchangers in chemical processes, focusing on their use in temperature control.
- Types of heat exchangers: shell-and-tube, plate, and air-cooled heat exchangers.
- Principles of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
- Operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of heat exchangers.
- Pumps and Compressors
- Types of pumps used in chemical processes, including centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, and gear pumps.
- Function and types of compressors used for gas and vapor applications.
- How to select the right pump or compressor for a specific application.
- Routine maintenance tasks and common issues encountered with pumps and compressors.
- Distillation Columns
- Introduction to distillation as a separation technique used in chemical processes.
- Types of distillation columns: continuous and batch distillation.
- Key components of a distillation system: trays, condensers, and reboilers.
- Troubleshooting common issues in distillation columns, such as flooding and weeping.
- Valves, Piping Systems, and Control Equipment
- The importance of valves and piping systems in controlling the flow of materials through chemical processes.
- Types of valves: ball valves, gate valves, and check valves, and their application in process systems.
- Overview of process control systems, including control valves and actuators.
- Introduction to piping layout, flow diagrams, and instrumentation.
- Safety and Best Practices in Equipment Operation
- Safety protocols for operating and maintaining chemical process equipment.
- The importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazard analysis.
- Emergency shutdown procedures and the role of safety valves in preventing accidents.
- Common safety standards in the chemical process industry: ANSI, OSHA, and ISO.
- Chemical Process Operator
- Maintenance Technician
- Production Assistant
- Process Control Technician
- Equipment Technician
- Plant Operator
- Process Safety Coordinator
- Industry-Centric Learning: Learn about equipment that is directly applicable to the most important chemical processing industries.
- Hands-On Training: Gain practical knowledge of equipment operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- Qualified Instructors: Learn from experts in the field with significant experience in chemical process environments.
- Real-World Relevance: Understand the essential equipment that drives efficiency, safety, and profitability in the chemical process industry.
- Career-Focused: This certification provides you with the skills required to enter the chemical, pharmaceutical, and oil & gas sectors, as well as other process-driven industries.
Study Units
- Introduction to Chemical Process Equipment
- Overview of chemical process industries and the importance of equipment in chemical production.
- Basic principles behind the function of key process equipment.
- The role of process equipment in manufacturing and production lines.
- The relationship between equipment efficiency and overall process performance.
- Reactors and Mixing Equipment
- Different types of reactors: batch reactors, continuous reactors, and semi-batch reactors.
- Understanding reaction kinetics and its impact on reactor design.
- Mixing equipment used in chemical processes: agitators, mixers, and blenders.
- Safe operation and common maintenance issues associated with reactors and mixing equipment.
- Heat Exchangers
- The role of heat exchangers in chemical processes, focusing on their use in temperature control.
- Types of heat exchangers: shell-and-tube, plate, and air-cooled heat exchangers.
- Principles of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
- Operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of heat exchangers.
- Pumps and Compressors
- Types of pumps used in chemical processes, including centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps, and gear pumps.
- Function and types of compressors used for gas and vapor applications.
- How to select the right pump or compressor for a specific application.
- Routine maintenance tasks and common issues encountered with pumps and compressors.
- Distillation Columns
- Introduction to distillation as a separation technique used in chemical processes.
- Types of distillation columns: continuous and batch distillation.
- Key components of a distillation system: trays, condensers, and reboilers.
- Troubleshooting common issues in distillation columns, such as flooding and weeping.
- Valves, Piping Systems, and Control Equipment
- The importance of valves and piping systems in controlling the flow of materials through chemical processes.
- Types of valves: ball valves, gate valves, and check valves, and their application in process systems.
- Overview of process control systems, including control valves and actuators.
- Introduction to piping layout, flow diagrams, and instrumentation.
- Safety and Best Practices in Equipment Operation
- Safety protocols for operating and maintaining chemical process equipment.
- The importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazard analysis.
- Emergency shutdown procedures and the role of safety valves in preventing accidents.
- Common safety standards in the chemical process industry: ANSI, OSHA, and ISO.
Upon completion of the Level 2 Certification in Chemical Process Equipment, learners will:
- Understand the basic principles behind key chemical process equipment.
- Gain knowledge of the operation and maintenance of reactors, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, and distillation columns.
- Understand the role and operation of valves, piping systems, and control equipment in chemical processes.
- Be able to identify common problems and faults in chemical process equipment and apply troubleshooting techniques.
- Understand how to improve the efficiency, safety, and reliability of process equipment in an industrial environment.
- Be familiar with industry safety standards and best practices for the operation and maintenance of equipment.
- Develop the ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for equipment handling and maintenance.
This certification is ideal for individuals looking to build a solid foundation in the operation and maintenance of chemical process equipment. It is tailored for:
Aspiring Process Industry Professionals
Individuals aiming to begin their careers in chemical processing, petrochemicals, food production, or pharmaceutical manufacturing who need core knowledge of plant equipment.
Plant and Production Operators (Entry-Level)
Operators and assistants working on production floors or process lines seeking formal training to boost their operational competence and safety awareness.
Maintenance and Mechanical Technicians
Technicians involved in maintaining pumps, valves, compressors, and heat exchangers who want to deepen their technical understanding and troubleshooting skills.
Engineering and Technical Graduates
Fresh graduates in chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering looking to enter the process industry with hands-on technical knowledge of equipment.
Safety and HSE Assistants
Personnel in safety roles who wish to understand the functionality and risks associated with chemical process equipment to ensure compliance and operational safety.
Interns and Technical Trainees
Young professionals or diploma holders undergoing internships or trainee programs in process industries who want to strengthen their practical understanding of plant equipment.
Upskilling Candidates and Career Switchers
Individuals from other sectors who are looking to enter the chemical or process industries and need equipment-specific technical qualifications.
Our assessment process is designed to ensure every learner achieves the required level of knowledge, skills, and understanding outlined in each course unit.
Purpose of Assessment
Assessment helps measure how well a learner has met the learning outcomes. It ensures consistency, quality, and fairness across all learners.
What Learners Need to Do
Learners must provide clear evidence that shows they have met all the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for each unit. This evidence can take different forms depending on the course and type of learning.
Types of Acceptable Evidence
Assignments, reports, or projects
Worksheets or written tasks
Portfolios of practical work
Answers to oral or written questions
Test or exam papers
Understanding the Structure
Learning outcomes explain what learners should know, understand, or be able to do.
Assessment criteria set the standard learners must meet to achieve each learning outcome.
Assessment Guidelines
All assessment must be authentic, current, and relevant to the unit.
Evidence must match each assessment criterion clearly.
Plagiarism or copied work is not accepted.
All learners must complete assessments within the given timelines.
Where applicable, assessments may be reviewed or verified by internal or external quality assurers.
Full learning outcomes and assessment criteria for each qualification are available from page 8 of the course handbook.
