Drafting procedures, instruments

ASME PTC 50 ASME Performance Test Code 50 - Fuel Cell Power Systems provides test procedures, methods and definitions for the performance characterization of fuel cell power systems. The code specifies the methods and procedures for conducting and reporting fuel cell system ratings. Specific methods of testing, instrumentation, techniques, calculations and reporting are presented. This standard is currently being drafted and is expected to be approved and published in 2002. 

In a pharmaceutical laboratory environment, system validation for analytical instrumentation is certainly both a value and a burden. Albeit a valuable procedure, it is a process that requires considerable time and resource expenditure. Part of the latter concern is exacerbated by the fact that many laboratories are not quite sure about what exactly is required. In this chapter, the system validation terms will be defined, the responsibilities and requirements will be brought into better focus and recommended procedures will be described. This is intended to help relieve the actual burden of the process for those on-site individuals who are directly involved with the drafting and implementation of the validation procedures. The recommendations herein are provided as guidance to help streamline the actual procedures in an effort to keep both the time and financial expenditures to a minimum. 

In 1974 the Atlantic City Electric Co. placed Unit 3 of its B L England Station into commercial operation. Condenser cooling for the unit is provided by circulating sea water in a closed-cycle, natural-draft system. The cooling tower selected for the site was a hyperbolic, counterflow unit. The thermal test instrumentation procedures and test data as well as drift measurement results are given. The paper indicates that the tower operates within design specifications for thermal performance and that it meets the environmental criteria regarding the drift. 

There is another aspect in the description of activities that is very often overlooked in the drafting of SOPs. In many cases, the SOP can describe a procedure in a completely straightforward way, because it involves an activity that produces a definitive result. In other cases, however, the situation is different, in that the procedure results in an either / or situation, where a choice will have to be made. This is especially the case with calibrations of instruments, the results of which may lie either within or outside their specifications. It is of utmost importance that such SOPs do not only describe the actual procedure for calibrating the instrument, but that they also exactly advise on two additional points ... 

Composition analysis of the treated/untreated biomass was done according to the NREL Laboratory Anal)dieal Procedures Preparation of samples for compositional analysis and determination of structural carbohydrates and lignin in biomass (draft version) [32]. The moisture content in biomass was measured by an inftared moisture balance (Denver Instrument, IR-30). Sugar content in compositional analysis and enzymatic digestibility was determined by HPLC using a Bio-Rad Aminex HPX-87P. 

Draft documents should be disposed of as soon as they are no longer relevant or correct. All drafts should be destroyed prior to the issue of a final report or document. Not only does this practice reduce the potential for problems in an investigation, it also reduces the chance of internal confusion. The control of draft documentation is difficult to enforce. It is likely that each person involved with the program will have his or her own copies of documents such as piping instrument diagrams (P IDs) and operating procedures. They will also probably have made notes in their diaries and files. If there is an accident, those notes become part of the official record. Yet people are reluctant to throw such documents away because you never know when they might come in... 

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