Control Room

The first 3 items of the above list (waveguides, transducers and preamplifiers) are located at or near to the component(s) to be monitored. The other items must be installed in the control room area, mounted into a single instrumentation rack (fig. 4). 

There are three basic requirements that Hquid level control devices are designed to satisfy alarm functions, pump/valve control, and transmitted output signal to track level continuously. Alarm devices provide warning or shutdown functions when process levels pass a predeterrnined point in the vessel pump /valve control devices turn on/off pumps or open/close valves at predeterrnined levels in the vessel and transmitters provide a proportional output signal over a predetermined span to send to a local meter or signal back to a control room. 

Control of the core is affected by movable control rods which contain neutron absorbers soluble neutron absorbers ia the coolant, called chemical shim fixed burnable neutron absorbers and the intrinsic feature of negative reactivity coefficients. Gross changes ia fission reaction rates, as well as start-up and shutdown of the fission reactions, are effected by the control rods. In a typical PWR, ca 90 control rods are used. These, iaserted from the top of the core, contain strong neutron absorbers such as boron, cadmium, or hafnium, and are made up of a cadmium—iadium—silver alloy, clad ia stainless steel. The movement of the control rods is governed remotely by an operator ia the control room. Safety circuitry automatically iaserts the rods ia the event of an abnormal power or reactivity transient. 

Control Room. The control room location can be critical to the efficient operation of a faciHty. One prime concern is to locate it the maximum distance from the most ha2ardous units. These units are usually the units where LPG or other flammables, eg, hydrocarbons that are heavier than air, can be released and accumulate at grade level. Deadly explosions can occur if a pump seal on a light-ends system fails and the heavier-than-air hydrocarbons coUect and are ignited by a flammable source. Also, the sulfur recovery unit area should be kept at a healthy distance away as an upset can cause deadly fumes to accumulate. 

A central location where instmment leads are short is preferred. In modem faciHties with distributed control systems, all units are controUed from a central control room with few operators. Only a few roving operators are available to spot trouble. It is desirable to deep process equipment a minimum of 8 m away from the control room. Any equipment and hydrocarbon-containing equipment should be separated by at least 15 m if possible. Most control rooms are designed with blastproof constmction and have emergency backup power and air conditioning. The room is pressuri2ed to prevent infusion of outside air that may have hydrocarbon content in the explosive range. 

Plant Fireproofing. There is a growing practice in the chemical industry of locating principal equipment out of doors and to enclose only a control room where all instmments and control equipment are centered. The control room should be resistant to potential explosion, fire, and toxicity ha2ards of processes in the vicinity. Prompt and ordedy shutdown of processes following a serious incident is essential in order to minimise personnel-injury and property-loss ha2ards (65,66). 

FIG. 8-77 Hybrid point-to-point communications between tbe control room and tbe control valve device. 

Flevated or Remote Air Intakes Elevated or remote air intakes for control rooms will help in reducing ingress of dense, flammable vapors into those rooms. Ordinarily, elevating the tip of the air intake duct 9 m (30 ft) above the ground is sufficient. Installing flammable vapor detectors in the air intake ducts provides additional protection. Controls that automatically stop air to control rooms if vapor concentrations reach 25 percent of their LFL should also be considered. 

Control room sited closer to the batch process due to need for more operator interaction with batch processes. Infiltration of flammable/toxic release from outside. Possible overpressure from external explosion. 

Provide adequate control room ventilation system... 

Provide positive control room pressure to prevent inflow of hazardous material... 

Provide control room or facility alarm to warn occupants... 

Provide doors on the side of the control room opposite to expected hazard sources... 

Provide wind direction indication visible from inside the building / control room... 

Design control room to withstand blast overpressure... 

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