Introduction:

In an industrial situation where it is required to measure and control some aspect of a process, it is often the application of the knowledge and the ingenuity of the Engineer or Technician which is relied upon to solve the measurement and control problem. Therefore a fundamental understanding of the principle of operation of a range of sensors/transducers and instrumentation techniques applicable in an industrial situation combined with an understanding and  knowledge of process control techniques and tuning methods equips the engineers or technicians with the necessary skills and makes them invaluable in their workplace.

Delegates will investigate the operating principles and concepts of instrumentation and measurement systems and will acquire the knowledge relating to the characteristics and properties of the variables being measured. Moreover, the delegate will gain an understanding of the Process control systems and methods used in a modern industrial system. This course will enable the delegates to have the opportunity to design, develop, build, test and evaluate their own instrumentation systems within the course room. You will be able to:

• Understand the principle of operation of a range of sensors and transducers used in the measurement of flow, temperature, pressure, strain and level
• Review the construction and operation of the most important sensors and transducers and their application in process measurement systems
• Evaluate and select the most appropriate sensor technology for a given instrumentation system
• Design, build and test using a given specification and sensor, their own instrumentation system within the course room
• Identity components and features of a Process control system
• Calibrate and signal condition the above system and take measurements from the system
• Understand the limitations of Open loop systems and be aware of the inherent problems associated with Closed loop negative feedback systems
• Optimize control by tuning a system using relevant software

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Have an understanding of the principles of operation of a range of sensors and transducers
• Investigate the operation of an instrumentation system through designing, building and testing typical sensor combined with appropriate signal conditioning circuits
• Become familiar and confident with a range of measurement techniques
• Understand the concepts of Process Control and acquire the knowledge relating to the characteristics and properties of a process variable being measured
• Become familiar and knowledgeable with PID control and develop the ability to ‘tune’ a process control system using PID control
• Have the confidence and knowledge to apply the above techniques and principles to solve an unfamiliar and bespoke measurement situation in the workplace

Who Should Attend?

Instrumentation and Control Engineers, Process Control Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Consulting Engineers, Design Engineers, Control Systems Sales Engineers, Maintenance Supervisors, Control System Application Engineers, Project Engineers, Technicians, Plant Engineers, IT Personnel, Instrumentation Technicians, Electronic Engineers and Technicians, Automation Engineers, Chemical Engineers and Technicians, Electrical Engineers and Technicians, Electronic Design Engineers, Electricians, Installation and Maintenance Technicians, Instrument and Process Control Technicians, Instrument Fitters, Maintenance Engineers, Mechanical Engineers and Technicians, Operations Engineers, Process Technicians, Production Professionals, System Integrators, other professions (Engineers, Technicians) involved in the Process Industry who require an appreciation and understanding of the techniques used in Process Measurement and Control

Course Outline:

Introduction to Sensors, Transducers and Instrumentation Systems

• Course schedule and layout
• Introduction to Sensors, Transducers and Instrumentation Systems
• Terms and definitions associated with Instrumentation systems
• Maximum error
• Hysteresis
• Repeatability
• Sensitivity
• Resolution
• Span
• Response time
• Examples
• Process Variables
• Mass flow
• Volumetric flow rate
• Pressure
• Viscosity
• Turbidity

Strain, Pressure and Flow Measurement

• Principle of Strain Measurement – tension, compression, stress, strain, Youngs modulus
• Principle of operation, typical uses and installation considerations
• Gauge types – principle of operation and configurations
• Examples
• Principles of Pressure measurement
• Devices; principle of operation, typical uses and installation considerations of:
• Diaphragms
• Bellows
• Capacitive devices
• Fibre Optic pressure measurement techniques
• Principles of flow measurement
• Reynolds number
• Devices; principle of operation, typical uses and installation considerations of Invasive types
• Coriolis Flowmeter
• Differential Pressure type flowmeters
• Orifice plate
• Venturi tube
• Flow nozzle
• Dall flow tube
• Devices; principle of operation, application and installation considerations of Noninvasive types
• Electromagnetic flowmeters

Temperature, Level and Non-Invasive Ultrasonic Measurement Techniques

• Temperature scales
• Devices; principle of operation, typical uses and installation considerations
• Resistance temperature detectors (RTD’s)
• Thermistors
• Thermocouples
• Radiation Pyrometers
• Examples
• Principle of single point and continuous level measurement techniques
• Direct and indirect level measurement techniques
• Devices; principle of operation, typical uses and installation considerations
• Ultrasonic techniques
• Capacitive techniques
• Pressure techniques
• Principles and applications of Ultrasonic techniques for non-invasive measurement
• Doppler shift and transit techniques
• Principle of operation, typical uses  and installation considerations of Non-invasive flow measurement
• Ultrasonic flowmeters

Introduction to Process Control Engineering

• Control Strategies
• Block diagram representation
• Control components
• Servomechanisms and Regulators
• Open and closed loop systems
• Transfer Functions
• Negative Feedback (NFB)
• 1st and 2nd order systems
• Examples – Transfer functions and Closed Loop systems
• ON/OFF control
• Two step control action
• Proportional control
• Proportional band vs. proportional gain
• Proportional offset
• Reset
• Integral action
• Integral windup
• Derivative action
• PID control

Tuning PID Controllers

• Empirical methods of setting Controllers
• Open loop reaction curve method (Ziegler-Nichols)
• Default and typical settings
• Closed loop continuous cycling method (Ziegler-Nichols)
• Fine tuning

COURSE LOCATIONS