Tag: instrumentation
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Passive vs. Active Sensors
Sensors are normally used to convert physical variables like pressure to signal variables. Sensors are also often termed to as transducers since they are devices that convert input energy of one form into output energy of another form. Sensors can be classified into two broad classes depending on how they interact with the environment they…
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Manipulating Devices & Actuators in Process Instrumentation
The function of the manipulating device is to influence the process variable. Its main purpose is to regulate a mass or energy flow. Mass flows can be either in gaseous or liquid state e.g. steam, natural gas, fuel oil, etc. The energy flows typically take the form of electrical energy. The energy supply can be…
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Designing a System to Measure & Display a Shaft Rotation Speed
We would like to design a system to measure and display the rotational speed of a shaft. To accomplish this, we shall use a number of integrated circuits (ICs) to create the desired functionality of this system. A simple technique to measure the speed is to count the number of shaft rotations during a given…
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What is a Microsyn Transducer?
This is a variable-reluctance transducer used to detect small motions, giving output signals as low as 0.01° of changes in angles. The figure below shows an example of Microsyn: In the Microsyn transducer above, the coils are connected in such a way that at the null position of the rotary element, the voltages in coils…
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Steam-heated Reboiler Control System
When steam-heated reboilers are used in distillation columns and the heating medium is steam, a flow control loop for the steam will typically be incorporated. The control valve can then be placed either in the steam or condensate line. Steam pressure compensation is always recommended in these cases, and the controls are illustrated in the…
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Installation Considerations of an Orifice Plate Flow Sensor
If a constriction is placed in a pipe as shown in figure 1 below, the flow must be higher through the restriction to maintain mass flow at all points. Since the mass flow must be equal at all points, the flow velocity must increase in the region of A2. As there is no net gain…
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Furnace Control System for a Rapidly Changing Demand
Let’s consider the figure below: In the system above, the output of temperature controller TC represents the process demand, and this signal is applied as one of the inputs, each to a high (>) and a low (<) signal selector block (module). The second input to the high (>) selector is obtained from the measurement…
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Industrial Process Temperature Control System
Let’s consider the industrial process control system shown below: The requirement is to control the temperature ϴ in the tank. The voltage r, obtained from a potentiometer, is calibrated in terms of the desired temperature ϴc. This voltage represents the input quantity to the feedback control system. The actual temperature ϴ, the output quantity, is…
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How to Perform Mass flow Measurements with DP sensors
Let’s assume we are measuring flow by differential-creating primary device for example an orifice plate and a DP cell as illustrated in Figure 1 below: The differential head across the primary device is corrected for temperature variation in the first calculation block, but there is no need for pressure correction because a liquid is virtually…
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Key factors to consider when selecting flowmeters
Selecting the right flow measuring instrument for a given flow application can be a challenging task given the numerous measurement techniques available. In this article, we look at some of the key pointers that can help you in the decision making process. What is discussed here isn’t exhaustive in itself but should act as some…