Source: Pathways to Technology: "Success Story: Sandra Garcia"
In this video adapted from Pathways to Technology, observe how Sandra Garcia is studying to be a process technician, and learn about the field of process technology. Sandra explains how her love of science brought her to community college after years away from school and how she's looking forward to a career in process technology. Also learn about the mysterious refractometer and how it can keep things running smoothly in a refinery.
How do the people who run an oil refinery keep track of where oil is moving through the plant, monitor the oil to make sure nothing's being lost in leaks, and get rid of the impurities that are refined out of the oil? They hire a process technician.
That’s what Sandra Garcia is studying to be. She’s learning how chemicals flow through the pipes of a refinery or chemical plant as well as how to separate chemicals and refine them and how to monitor the entire process to reduce waste and increase output. Process technology involves every aspect of chemical processing: extracting chemicals such as oil and natural gas, refining them, and carefully monitoring the processes that make it all happen. Special instrumentation, pumps, turbines, and compressors are designed to monitor and separate the chemicals that make up the countless products we use everyday.
Process technology spans many industries. Power plants depend on it to maximize output and minimize emissions. Waste- and water-treatment plants use it to monitor industrial waste, environmental impact, and human health and safety. In the pharmaceutical industry, process technology is even used to apply the coating on aspirin.
Sandra chose to study process technology because she always enjoyed science and because three of her uncles worked at refineries and chemical plants. “I’ve always loved science, especially the experimental part of it,” says Sandra; “You see how something works, but also why it works or what made it work.” That’s the "process" of process technology.
A degree in process technology opens doors in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, food processing, power plants, and offshore oil drilling. Technicians monitor and maintain safety systems, which include drivers, compressors, pumps, and other operational equipment. They also install new equipment, monitor operations, and trouble-shoot any equipment problems.
“When I graduate, I’m planning to go straight to work,” says Sandra. “I feel confident that I can apply what I’ve learned to field work.”
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