Tag: instrumentation
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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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Radio Frequency (RF) Signal Generator – Features & Applications
A radio frequency (RF) signal generator is used in generating high frequency signals at a specific frequency for testing laboratories. The output frequency may range for example from about 100 kHz to around 40 GHz. A typical RG generator consists of: RF oscillator, amplifier, output level meter and a calibrated attenuator. Components of RF Generator…
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The Principle of Operation of an Induction Potentiometer
An induction potentiometer is a rotary type linear-variable inductor with two concentrated windings wound on the stator and on the rotor as illustrated in the figure below: The rotor windings are excited with an AC, inducing voltage in the stator windings. The amplitude of the output is dependent on mutual inductance between the two coils,…
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Combustion & Temperature Control for a Direct-Fired Process Heater
The figure below shows the control schemes applied to a direct-fired process heater. From the diagram above, the heat from the burning fuel is applied directly to the tubes carrying the process fluid in similar way as the water tubes in a steam generator. This type of heater is usually used as a reboiler in…
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How to Minimize Water Vapor in Instrument Air/Pneumatic Systems
Water is one of the most common contaminants in instrument air systems, causing corrosion of metal components and as a result clogging of orifices. Special devices referred to as air dryers installed in instrument air systems use solid materials called desiccants to absorb water entrained in the compressed air. The desiccant material is “regenerated” by…
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What are Control and Instrumentation Cables?
While power cables are what we can refer to the “arteries” of industry, control and instrumentation cables are its “nerves” and are used for the control of equipment and data collection. They range from switch-core cables utilized in the wiring of control panels and switchgear, to the complex control and instrumentation cables employed in power…