Currently viewing the tag: "differential pressure"
While using best practices for your process control and instrumentation would seem obvious, best practices are not always common practices. Often times plants are unaware of a better way to control the process. The common adage is this is the way we have always done it. Similar to new technology, best practices take current technology […]
Reliability in a process plant commonly focuses on rotating equipment rather than fixed equipment. Through vibration monitoring and lube oil analysis a predictive maintenance program is realized. However, there is quite a bit of fixedequipment, like a heat exchanger, […]
There are many kinds of flowmeters that can be used for steam and gas applications. These range from basic variable area (rotameter) and turbine flowmeters, to more advanced differential pressure (DP) and vortex flowmeters. While these are all good technologies the process will generally dictate which flowmeter should be used. Considerations are installed cost, permanent […]
A process mixer is one of the least understood pieces of rotating equipment in a process plant. There are literally hundreds of them from small portable mixers to large main reactor mixers. Because it is similar to a gear box, and lumped in with other rotating equipment, its performance is seldom questioned. […]
Within a process plant there is all kinds of turbomachinery, including compressors, pumps and fans. They are generally steam driven and move a lot of fluid. They are large. They are expensive. The manufactures of turbomachinery will include basic controls to meet performance specification and safe operation. This presents a good opportunity to add […]
Utilities within process plants have generally been considered a fixed cost. However, with new directives from companies to reduce energy consumption, there has been a marked increase in activity. No longer are utilities seen as a cost center. With the right controls and instrumentation a significant about of savings can be realized. This includes steam, […]
It has been the standard for years to utilize impulse piping for pressure measurements. Often times piping was overhead and it was desirable to have the instrument at grade so instrument technicians could perform maintenance on this. Impulse piping is normally used to achieve this (that’s the way we’ve always done it). It is […]
Differential Pressure (DP) flow meters have been used almost as long as flow has been measured. An obstruction in a process, like an orifice plate, will create a differential pressure that can be correlated to flow (the square of the flow to be exact). There has been a recent increase in the demand for […]
Process creep is the term used to describe small changes within a process. Over time, however, these changes, while individually minor, can lead to significant changes from the original design. This can have a negative effect on your process equipment as it is now operating at a condition it was not designed to handle. Rotating […]
There are many different types of flow meters from mechanical positive displacement (paddle wheel) to Coriolis mass flow meters. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Often times you will find that several meters will work for a given application and then it becomes a personal preference. Keep in mind the more sophisticated the […]
