The complete Third Class Power Engineer certificate curriculum, mapped to the official SOPEEC syllabus. Grounded in the PanGlobal/SAIT learning materials. Flagged for founder verification.
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Study time
400 questions
Exam
65%
Pass mark
SOPEEC syllabus
4 papers
100 multiple-choice questions · 3 hours · 65% to pass
Mensuration — areas and volumes of plane and solid figures
Natural and Naperian logarithms (using calculators)
2. Applied Mechanics
Applications of forces; vector diagrams
Friction on level surfaces
Linear and angular velocity and acceleration
Work, power and energy
Moments of force and simple machines; mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, efficiency
Stress and strain; safe working stress; yield point and ultimate strength; factor of safety
Bending of beams; equilibrium, shearing forces and bending moments
Density, specific gravity, fluid pressure and fluid flow
3. Thermodynamics
Temperature measurement units and scales
Expansion of solids (linear, area, volume) and liquids
Quantities of heat; specific heat
Changes of state: sensible and latent heat; mixtures of water, ice and steam; saturated and superheated steam
Steam tables; temperature-enthalpy charts; critical temperature and pressure; dryness fraction; equivalent evaporation; factor of evaporation
Methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation
Work and heat; mechanical equivalent of heat; laws of thermodynamics
Expansion and compression of gases: Boyle’s and Charles’s laws, general gas law, gas constant; isothermal, adiabatic, polytropic processes; p-v diagrams; work done in cylinders; indicated power; thermal efficiency
4. Applied Science
Basic chemistry: atomic structure, the mole and molar mass, periodic table; chemical formulae and balancing equations; acids, bases, salts; organic chemistry/hydrocarbons; industrial applications (water treatment, combustion, corrosion)
Metallurgy and engineering materials: ANSI/ASME metal classifications; iron and steel production; cast iron, steel and alloys; non-ferrous and non-metallic materials; corrosion principles, monitoring, prevention
Industrial drawings: interpret process flow diagrams, P&IDs, engineered construction drawings, equipment layout, material balance
100 multiple-choice questions · 3 hours · 65% to pass
45 objectives · 1 lesson
5. Industrial Legislation and Codes
Purpose, content and application of boiler/pressure vessel codes and regulations, including the jurisdiction’s Power Engineers’ Regulations
Common and specialty valves: purpose, design, operation, applications; flow configurations; trim; actuators
9. Electrotechnology
DC theory: electron theory; magnetism; force on a conductor; electromagnetic induction (Faraday’s, Lenz’s laws; Fleming’s right-hand rule; self and mutual induction)
DC machines: generators and motors — operating principles, construction, commutation, speed control, types, protection
AC theory: alternating EMF; sinusoidal waveforms; phase; reactance and impedance; power and power factor; single and multi-phase circuits
AC machines: alternators (excitation, parallel operation, synchronizing); induction and synchronous motors; transformers (theory, losses, efficiency, cooling)
AC systems, switchgear and safety: industrial AC power system; generator panel; protective and switching equipment; UPS/inverter systems; electrical safety for operators
10. Electrical Calculations
Current, voltage, resistance in series and parallel; Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s laws; Wheatstone bridge
Work, energy and power: relationship between electrical, mechanical and heat units
Sinusoidal waveforms: maximum, average and RMS values; frequency; phase
AC circuits: inductive reactance, capacitive reactance, impedance, kVA, power factor
Relationship between poles, frequency and speed for AC machines
Transformer calculations: step-up and step-down
11. Control Instrumentation
Control loops and strategies: pneumatic, electric and digital systems; on-off, proportional, reset, derivative; feedforward, feedback, cascade, ratio, split-range, select; alarms and shutdowns
Instrument and control devices: design and principles of common temperature, pressure, flow and level instruments
Distributed and logic control systems: DCS components and functions; PLCs and ladder diagrams; SCADA in process control
Fire protection systems: classes of fire and extinguishing methods; detection and alarm; sprinkler systems; fixed fire systems (firewater pump, hydrants, deluge, foam); industrial fire response
100 multiple-choice questions · 3 hours · 65% to pass
35 objectives · 1 lesson
13. Boilers
Boiler classification: watertube designs (multi-drum bent tube, D/A/O, packaged, once-through, forced circulation, sub- vs super-critical) and special designs (fluidized bed, HRSG, black liquor, waste heat, biomass, HP/HT hot water)
Boiler construction: shells, drums, tubes and attachment, nozzles, headers, hand/manholes; field assembly; boiler metals
Boiler heat transfer components: settings and refractory, waterwalls, superheaters, reheaters, economizers, air heaters, sootblowers
High pressure boiler fittings: water columns and gauge glasses; safety valves and setting; low-water fuel cut-offs; non-return valves; pressure gauges, vents, blowdown valves and procedures; drum internals
Fuel, draft and flue gas systems: solid-fuel firing (stokers, pulverizers, ash handling); oil and gas burning equipment; draft equipment (natural/forced/induced/balanced, fans, control); flue gas clean-up
Boiler operation and maintenance: manual start-up/shut-down; commissioning; routine and emergency operation; furnace and pressure explosion causes/prevention; cleaning, inspection, hydrostatic test
14. Boiler Control Systems
Boiler water level control: single, two and three-element control; swell and shrinkage
Combustion control: control system designs; safety devices and interlocks; flame-failure detection; programmed start-up/shut-down
Steam temperature control: desuperheating, attemperation, gas recirculation, gas bypass, tilting burners
15. Feedwater Treatment
Feedwater impurities and their effects on boiler operation
Internal boiler water treatment: pH and magnetite; sludge conditioning; chemical deaeration; carryover; dissolved solids and blowdown; return-line corrosion; scale control
Chemical feed systems: shot and continuous feed; chemical feed pumps
Feedwater and boiler water testing methods: sampling, monitors, parameters and test locations
16. Pumps
Theory of pumping: head terms; head and pressure calculations; cavitation
Reciprocating pumps: drivers; single/double-acting; plunger and diaphragm types; protection
Centrifugal pumps: classification and principles (volute, diffuser, turbine, axial, mixed flow); construction and components; operation (starting, stopping, priming); installation
Rotary pumps: gear, lobe and screw designs
17. Welding Procedures and Inspection
Welding processes overview: metal arc, shielded arc, submerged arc, gas (TIG), MIG