Advanced instrumentation course applying the principal aspects of instrument and control measurement, tuning and calibration for commercial and industrial building and facilities equipment and systems, for heating plant, power production and generation plant and co-generation plant systems and equipment. Emphasizes situations using computer simulations, industrial controls, and standard instrument practices. Requires students to complete activities associated with practical field instrumentation experience such as actual lab activities, virtual lab exercises, or similar types of field activities to pass the course. Laboratory activities.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Basic process control instrumentation review.
- Identify and apply skills for setting up typical process control instruments, their applications and functions: including those for the basic transmitter, recorder, controller, transducer, control valve, thermocouple, alarm, actuator, sensor, positioner, or signal control element.
- Describe the monitoring and maintenance activities associated with process control instrumentation.
- Apply techniques to operate and maintain distributive control systems.
- Explain how distributive control systems are handled in the process industries.
- Introduction to control loop calibration and controls.
- Explain the function of a control loop and its calibration.
- Apply skills and knowledge required for effective signal transmission: Pneumatic, electronic, digital, mechanical including considerations for calibration.*
- Control loops: primary sensors, transmitters, and transducers.
- Describe the relationship between the measuring instruments (pressure, temperature, level, and flow) and their role in the overall control loop process.
- Apply appropriate instrumentation skills and knowledge to instrumentation systems and equipment through various process control schemes to ensure control loops are functioning effectively and efficiently.
- Instrumentation troubleshooting.
- Explain why different facilities have different practices related to process technicians troubleshooting process instruments.
- Identify the importance of process knowledge and skills in troubleshooting including the proper use of hand tools and instrument test equipment related to process troubleshooting.
- Apply appropriate methods for determining if a sensing/measuring devices are malfunctioning and the basic troubleshooting procedures to correct the most common instrumentation equipment and system problems.*
Assessment and Requirements
The assessment for this course will include those required for practical application experiences for each objective and exams covering each major topic with the percentage of student achievement for these elements and the percentage of the total course being determined by the individual instructor.
Student must have access to a computer to complete the requirements for the course. This may be at home or when without a home computer the student must access computer lab computers on campus on a regular basis through out the course. Student must be computer literate with web browsers, word processing, spread sheets, e-mail, and other computer-online activities. Students must have the capability to utilize browsers to download software, resources and similar materials successfully from web sources on a regular basis throughout the course. Students are responsible for installing (on their computer for use in the course) the necessary materials to complete the study of systems and equipment a adjust the calibration and/or tuning of typical instrument and control systems
Prescribed by the subject matter expert FT instructor responsible for curricular development and implementation of this course.
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
This course is identified as a departmental course for which a learner can receive college credit for prior college-level learning and/or skills acquired outside the traditional classroom. Terms of the HFC Credit for Prior College-Level Learning Policy may be met by review of the appropriate documentation, skill, certifications, and/or knowledge acquired by the learner and submitted for evaluation by the appropriate departmental faculty. As required, one or more of the following may be considered in the evaluation process:
- field experience.
- licenses held.
- completing course exams and/or.
- performance sequences and/or.
- competing a portfolio.
- articulation agreement or assessment of private trade school or other extensive college level industry training and learning by a departmental faculty member.