Process flow measurement

Measurement by Electromagnetic Effects. The magnetic flow meter is a device that measures the potential developed when an electrically conductive flow moves through an imposed magnetic field. The voltage developed is proportional to the volumetric flow rate of the fluid and the magnetic field strength. The process fluid sees only an empty pipe so that the device has a very low pressure drop. The device is useful for the measurement of slurries and other fluid systems where an accumulation of another phase could interfere with flow measurement by other devices. The meter must be installed in a section of pipe that is much less conductive than the fluid. This limits its appHcabiHty in many industrial situations. 

Normal Operation. The designer of a chemical plant must provide an adequate interface between the process and the operating employees. This is usually accompHshed by providing instmments to sense pressures, temperatures, flows, etc, and automatic or remote-operated valves to control the process and utility streams. Alarms and interlock systems provide warnings of process upsets and automatic shutdown for excessive deviations from the desired ranges of control, respectively. Periodic intermption of operations is necessary to ensure that instmments are properly caUbrated and that emergency devices would operate if needed (see Flow measurement Temperaturemeasurement). 

Answers to the first question can be illustrated by giving some examples (see Table 1). Eastman Chemical reengineered its innovation process and doubled the value of its R D portfoho (71—74). A team at Eastman was asked to provide (/) an assessment of the then-current innovation process, (2) a vision of the ideal process, (J) a flow chart of the modified process, (4) measures of the process, and (5) key roles and responsibihties. The team identified four main subprocesses needs identification, concept development, implementation, and market development. 

Flow is an important measurement whose calibration presents some challenges. When a flow measurement device is used in applications such as custody transfer, provision is made to pass a known flow through the meter. However, such a provision is costly and is not available for most in-process flowmeters. Without such a provision, a true cahbration of the flow element itself is not possible. For orifice meters, calibration of the flowmeter normally involves cahbration of the differential pressure transmitter, and the orifice plate is usually only inspected for deformation, abrasion, and so on. Similarly, cahbration of a magnetic flowmeter normally involves cahbration of the voltage measurement circuitry, which is analogous to calibration of the differential pressure transmitter for an orifice meter. 

The principal classes of flow-measuring instruments used in the process industries are variable-head, variaBle-area, positive-displacement, and turbine instruments, mass flowmeters, vortex-shedding and iiltrasonic flowmeters, magnetic flowmeters, and more recently, Coriohs mass flowmeters. Head meters are covered in more detail in Sec. 5. 

For the tandem arrangement gas seal, a primary seal vent must be pro vided to vent the leakage across the process side seal. This vent ma> lie to flare or other suitable gas disposal point. The back pressure under nor mal conditions should be kept to a low value. A small amount of back pressure is recommended to keep a positive differential across the see ondaiy seal. Leakage measurement may be provided in the vent line to provide health monitoring of the primary seal. Unfortunately, the rotameter, which would be the obvious choice, should not be used because of its lack o reliability. If an orifice or needle valve is used to set the back pressure to the seal vent, pressure upstream of the restriction can be measured for a relative flow measurement. This type of reading does provide trend data that may be used to judge the seal s performance. 

Make sure to standardize units of measurement (liters, tons, or kilograms) on a per-day, per-year, or per-batch basis. Finally, summarize the measured values in standard units by referring to your process flow sheets (it may have been necessary to modify your process flow sheets following the in-plant assessment). 

The air pollution control solutions that are available to control these emissions are normally dictated by the volume of air that is to be processed. The volume of air flow, measured in cubic feet per minute, is designated as ACFM for Actual Cubic Feet per Minute of SCFM where "S" stands for standard cubic feet per minute, at 70°F, sea level, and one atmosphere. 

Once the candidate corrective measure alternatives have been identified, a more detailed evaluation of each alternative needs to be undertaken. From an engineering perspective, the first step in the evaluation process would include the development of a conceptual design for each alternative. The conceptual design would consist of a process description, a process flow diagram and a layout drawing. Preliminary sizing of equipment and utility and land requirements would be developed. In addition, chemical requirements and residuals produced can be estimated. From the conceptual design, permitability and residuals disposal issues can be identified and addressed. 

Anisotropic material In an anisotropic material the properties vary, depending on the direction in which they are measured. There are various degrees of anisotropy, using different terms such as orthotropic or unidirectional, bidirectional, heterogeneous, and so on (Fig. 3-19). For example, cast plastics or metals tend to be reasonably isotropic. However, plastics that are extruded, injection molded, and rolled plastics and metals tend to develop an orientation in the processing flow direction (machined direction). Thus, they have different properties in the machine and transverse directions, particularly in the case of extruded or rolled materials (plastics, steels, etc.). 

Over the twentieth century, the mbber industry has developed special rheometers, essentially factory floor instmments either for checking process regularity or for quality control purposes, for instance, the well-known Mooney rheometer (1931), the oscillating disk rheometer (1962), and the rotorless rheometer (1976). All those instmments basically perform simple drag flow measurements but they share a common feature During the test, the sample is maintained in a closed cavity, under pressure, a practice intuitively considered essential for avoiding any wall slip effects. Indeed it has... 

In our world, most chemical processes occur in contact with the Earth s atmosphere at a virtually constant pressure. For example, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into complex molecules animals digest food water heaters and stoves bum fiiel and mnning water dissolves minerals from the soil. All these processes involve energy changes at constant pressure. Nearly all aqueous-solution chemistry also occurs at constant pressure. Thus, the heat flow measured using constant-pressure calorimetry, gp, closely approximates heat flows in many real-world processes. As we saw in the previous section, we cannot equate this heat flow to A because work may be involved. We can, however, identify a new thermod mamic function that we can use without having to calculate work. Before doing this, we need to describe one type of work involved in constant-pressure processes. 

The brominated phosphate is an efficient flame retardant for polycarbonate resin. UL-94 ratings of V-0 with oxygen index values of greater than 40 are obtained. Polycarbonate resin containing brominated phosphate processes with greater ease than resin containing brominated polycarbonate as measured by injection molding spiral flow measurements. The heat distortion temperature is reduced... 

The three flame retardants are compared in Table VI. Brominated phosphate disperses readily in the resin presumably due to its high solubility in aromatics. Resin containing brominated polycarbonate is relatively difficult to process as measured by injection molding spiral flow measurements. 

The dissociation of 7 (Scheme 5) from poly[(G-C)] showed three relaxation times and the amplitude corresponded to the total signal, while the dissociation of 7 from poly[(A-T)] was faster and only two relaxation times, corresponding to 70% of the total signal were observed in the stopped-flow experiment. The biological activity of this class of molecules was correlated to the presence of four relaxation times when the dissociation process is measured with DNA, in particular the presence of the long-lived component of hundreds of milliseconds.86,104 105,132 143 The difference in the dissociation kinetics observed with the two polydeoxynucleotides indicates that intercalation into G-C sites is responsible for the biological activity. The dissociation of 7 from ct-DNA led to four relaxation times, a result that is in line with the relaxation times observed with poly[(G-C)] and poly[(A-T)]. 

Chase [2.32] presents an alternative method to monitor and control the freeze drying process by measuring the flow of nitrogen to keep the operation control pressure, pc, constant. The Mass Flow Controller (FMC) consists of a proportional valve, an integral flow meter and a capacitance manometer (CA). The CA measures the total pressure in the plant, the valve opens, if the pressure gets below the preset value and vice versa. The flow of... 

Suppose the flow rates entering and leaving a process are measured periodically. Determine the best value for stream A in kg/h for the process shown from the three hourly measurements indicated of B and C in Figure El.6, assuming steady-state operation at a fixed operating point. The process model is... 

Liptak, B. G. et al. in Liptak, B. G. (ed.) Instrument Engineer s Handbook - Process Instrumentation and Analysis. 3rd edn. Chapter 2, Flow Measurement (Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, 1995). 

PM = process measurement Tn = process inlet temperature r = process outlet temperature Fj = steam flow rate > = process flow rate... 

Granulation of urea [13] is a complex process that has to be controlled by experienced process operators in order to avoid critical shutdown situations. The parameters most often used for monitoring granulation processes are measured by classical univariate sensors, such as temperature, pressure and flow. However, these standard process measurements carry only little or no relevant information, or are only indirectly related to, for example particle size, clogging of the reactor, or the accumulation of a solids layer on the bottom plate. The response from these sensors often comes with quite a substantial delay time. 

Wastewater generation can be reduced by general good housekeeping procedures such as substituting dry cleanup methods for water washdowns of equipment and floors. This is especially applicable for situations where liquid or solid materials have been spilled. Flow measuring devices and pH sensors with automatic alarms to detect process upsets are two of many ways to effect reductions in water use. Prompt repair and replacement of faulty equipment can also reduce wastewater losses. 

A basic process flow diagram for the SNCR TDN process is shown in Figure 17.3. Anhydrous or aqueous ammonia is vaporized and mixed with a carrier gas of air or steam for transport to injection/distribution modules. The injection distribution modules distribute ammonia and/or hydrogen reagent and carrier gas to proprietary spray nozzles or injection lances. Reagent flow control can be controlled and trimmed by outlet NOx signals or ammonia slip measurements. 

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