The Fundamentals of Process Instrumentation and Control

 1.      Instrumentation Signaling and Plant Applications

      Analog or Modulating

Digital or On/Off

Serial, Bus, and Ethernet Technology

2.      General Terminology of Process Instrumentation

What is an instrument “Element?”

Indicators (Local vs. Remote)

Transmitters and Signal Converters

Final Control Elements

3.      Level Measurement Methods – Technology, Advantages/Disadvantages and Good Installation Practices

Pressure

The physics of head measurement

The compressibility of substances

Head height vs. specific gravity

Gauge vs. differential

Pressurized vs. non-pressurized vessels

Bubblers

Remote diaphragm seals

Sight glass

Resistance/Capacitance Devices

Ultrasonic/Radar Devices

Floats

4.      Flow Measurement Methods  – Technology, Advantages/Disadvantages and Good Installation Practices

Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow

Volumetric Flow Meters

Differential Pressure (Square Root)

Magnetic

Variable Area

Vortex

Turbine/Paddle Wheel

Open Channel (Level)

Mass Flow Meters

Coriolis

Positive Displacement

Others

5.      Temperature Measurement Methods – Technology, Advantages/Disadvantages and Good Installation Practices

Thermocouples

Everything you wanted to know about Thermocouples

RTD’s

Ice Point, 2, 3, and 4 wire

IR

6.      Control Valves - Technology, Advantages/Disadvantages and Good Installation Practices

Different types of process control utilizing valves

Valve bodies and valve trim

Actuators

Electric vs. Pneumatic

Reciprocating vs. Rotary

Fail Positions

I/P’s. Positioners, and other Signal Converters

Regulators and Pressure relief valves

7.  Analytical Instrumentation – Technology

Gas Detection

Catalytic bead

Electro-chemical

UV/IR

Cross-sensitivity

pH

Conductivity

Chromatographs

8.    Control Systems - Overview

Terminology & Description

9.      Introduction to Statistical Quality Control

Utilizing Trend charts to determine if a process is out of control

Evaluating and fixing problems utilizing Fishbone Diagrams and Pareto Charts