SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Describe the working principle of compressed air systems associated with process plant 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
10587  Describe the working principle of compressed air systems associated with process plant 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Power Plant Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A person credited with this unit standard will be able to describe compressor theories, identify compressor types and applications and maintain compressor operability. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Exposure to process plant configuration.
Apply engineering principles and concepts in a power generation process plant. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
See range statements in the specific outcomes. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Describe compressor theories. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Compressor purposes known and understood. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Compression theory known and understood. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Politropical compression.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Typical compressed air system configuration illustrated. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Pipe work, Valves, Moisture traps, Driers, Filters, Air receivers and Measurement devices.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Identify compressor types and applications. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Compressor types identified. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Reciprocating, Rotational, Positive Displacement, Single stage and Multi stage.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Compressor application theory defined. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
High pressure low volume, Low pressure high volume.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Compressor components identified and purposes known. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Included but not limited to inter coolers, after coolers and stages.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Compressed air pressure regulation systems explained. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Mechanical and binary control.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Compressed air application purposes known. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Service and instrumentation, essential and non essential air.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Maintain compressor operability. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Potential out of normal conditions identified. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Noise, heat, loading, de-loading, blocked air filters, over loading, load rejection, air line corrosion, vaporization, vibration and leaks.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Precautionary measures known and understood. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Observable conditions.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Compressor protection systems described. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Temperature, high pressure, oil levels, over loading, loss of cooling water.
 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
According to SAQA requirements.

Moderation: Standard Generating Group Fossil Power Plant Operations-Technical Group. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
Understanding of technical concepts, theories and application of compressor types and designs associated with process plants. 

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
N/A 

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
N/A 


Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
Identifying & solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization, community. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
Organising and managing oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
Collecting, analysing, organizing and critically evaluating information. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:
a. Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
b. Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.
c. Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.
d. Exploring education and career opportunities.
e. Developing entrepreneurial opportunities. 

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
N/A 

REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
Occupational Role: Process Plant Operator. 

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
  ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core  35941   National Certificate: Pulp and paper Manufacturing  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 
2007-02-11  Was FPMSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
Core  23677   National Certificate: Power Plant Auxiliary Systems Operation  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2009-02-18  Was EWSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
Core  61549   National Certificate: Power Plant Auxiliary Systems Operations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2023-06-30  EWSETA 
Elective  77163   National Certificate: Industrial Water Treatment Support System Operations  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2023-06-30  EWSETA 


PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
 
1. MONDIPAK KUILSRIVER 
2. MONDIPAK PINETOWN 
3. MPUMELELO TRAINING 



All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.