Author: John Mulindi
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AC Transmission and Distribution Systems
Electrical energy is generated, transmitted and distributed in the form of AC. Since, alternating voltage can be changed in magnitude by means of a transformer; it is possible to transmit AC power at high voltage which reduces the current in the conductors hence the line losses. The conductors system is the means by which electric…
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What is the Safety Instrumented Function (SIF)?
The safety instrumented function (SIF) is used to monitor a selected process parameter and takes an executive action to make the process safe, if certain limits are exceeded. An illustration of safety instrumented function in a process plant is shown below: The figure above illustrates a gas pipeline which supplies a feed to a power…
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Gunn Diode – Features, Operation & Applications
Features of a Gunn Diode A gunn diode is made up of only N-type semiconductor which is typically sandwiched between two metal conductors. The central section is usually lightly doped N– surrounded by heavily doped N+ layers. The central section is N-gallium arsenide whereas the two outer sections undergo epitaxial growth from GaAs with increased…
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What is Calibration of the Sensor?
Calibration of the sensor is the relationship between the physical measurement variable input and the signal variable output for that specific sensor. Typically, a sensor or an entire instrument system is calibrated by providing a known physical input to the system and recording the output. The data is plotted on a calibration curve such as…
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How HAZOP Technique is used to identify Hazards in a Process
In functional safety, hazards are events which have the potential to cause harm such as personal injury, damage to the environment or the business. Hazards in the process industry might include: the pressure of liquid in a vessel (high pressure may result in loss of containment, leaks or vessel rupture), the level of liquid in…
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Safety Function in a Machine Control System
A safety function is executed by the safety-related parts of the machine control system to achieve or maintain the equipment under control in a safe state with respect to a specific hazard. A failure of the safety function can result in an immediate increase of the risks of using the equipment; that is, a hazardous…
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Types of Load Cells and How Do They Work?
In the vast landscape of industrial measurement, load cells play a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of weight and force measurements. These sophisticated devices, integral to myriad applications across industries, convert mechanical force into measurable electrical outputs. Australia, with its robust and diverse industrial sector, is home to a significant demand for…
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What Is the Aluminium Layer of a PCB?
Aluminium is among the most important metals on earth. It’s used in various industries and applications, including aircraft parts, furniture, and sporting equipment. However, did you know it’s also used to create aluminium substrate PCBs – one of the most important components of modern electronics? In this post, we’ll discuss the design, function, benefits, and…
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Frequency Synthesizer – Features, Operation & Applications
Frequency synthesis is a technique of producing a range of frequencies with crystal-controlled stability. A frequency synthesizer uses phase-locked loop (PLL) to generate output frequencies over a wide range. The typical range is from 1 MHz to 160 MHz. As illustrated in the block diagram above, the key components of the frequency synthesizer are: The…