Processes control sensors

Rules of Thumb about the Context for a Chemical Process Process Control Sensors... 

Electrochemical Microsensors. The most successful chemical microsensor in use as of the mid-1990s is the oxygen sensor found in the exhaust system of almost all modem automobiles (see Exhaust control, automotive). It is an electrochemical sensor that uses a soHd electrolyte, often doped Zr02, as an oxygen ion conductor. The sensor exemplifies many of the properties considered desirable for all chemical microsensors. It works in a process-control situation and has very fast (- 100 ms) response time for feedback control. It is relatively inexpensive because it is designed specifically for one task and is mass-produced. It is relatively immune to other chemical species found in exhaust that could act as interferants. It performs in a very hostile environment and is reHable over a long period of time (36). 

Sensors. One growth area for electronic ceramics is in sensor appHcations. Sensors (qv) are devices that transform nonelectrical inputs into electrical outputs, thus providing environmental feedback. Smart, or intelligent, sensors also allow for mechanisms such as self-diagnosis, recovery, and adjustment for process monitoring and control (see Process control). 

Same sensor used for basic process control system and safety instrumented system. Failure of sensor leads to loss of control system and safety system functionality. 

Control systems will play a key role in future distributed plants ]139,145]. As a rule of thumb, plants will be smaller and simpler, but the control systems will be much more advanced, of a standard not known today. Plant personnel for operation and managing will ultimately no longer be required, except for start-up, shutdown, and services. This is a shift from a regulatory to a servo role, supported by a sophisticated sequence control. Control is needed for safety issues, operability, and product quality control. Sensors have a central role to provide the information needed for control and modeling and simulation is needed for process models. 

Die Fabrik auf dem Chip, Spektrum der Wissenschafi, October 2002 Miniaturization and modularization of parts of future chemical apparatus general advantages of micro flow expert opinions specialty and fine chemical applications leading position of German technology flexible manufacture large-capacity micro reactors reformers for small-capacity applications compatible and automated micro-reaction systems process-control systems temperature and pressure sensors [209]. 

Small but environrrientallyjnendly. The Chemical Engineer, March 1993 Huge increases in technology in the past distributed manufacturing in small-scale plants miniaturization of processes domestic methanol plant point-of-sale chlorine simpler and cheaper plants economy of plant manufacture process control and automation start-up and shut-down sensor demand [145],... 

A more complicated situation in process regulation occurs when among various chemical properties there is not one that can explicitly be indicated as a key test, so that more than one sensor (1,2,..., n) has to be used, in which case one refers to "multivariable systems in process control 6. 

The strategy depends on the situation and how we measure the concentration. If we can rely on pH or absorbance (UV, visible, or Infrared spectrometer), the sensor response time can be reasonably fast, and we can make our decision based on the actual process dynamics. Most likely we would be thinking along the lines of PI or PID controllers. If we can only use gas chromatography (GC) or other slow analytical methods to measure concentration, we must consider discrete data sampling control. Indeed, prevalent time delay makes chemical process control unique and, in a sense, more difficult than many mechanical or electrical systems. 

One of the major breakthroughs in nanotechnology is the use of nanomaterials as catalysts for environmental applications [149]. Nanomaterials have been developed to improve the properties of catalysts, enhance reactivity towards pollutants, and improve their mobility in various environmental media [150]. Nanomaterials offer applications to pollution prevention through improved catalytic processes that reduce the use of toxic chemicals and eliminate wastes. Nanomaterials also offer applications in environmental remediation and, in the near future, opportunities to create better sensors for process controls. 

Miller H.H., Hirschfeld T.B., Fiber optic chemical sensors for industrial and process control, Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 1987 718 39. 

Applications of infrared sensors have been reported in the fields of biology/biochemistry, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and process control. IR sensors can measure analytes in solid, liquid or gaseous form using one of several different transducer layouts. 

The majority of currently deployed IR sensors operate in the near-IR. Although near-IR sensors suffer from limited selectivity and sensitivity due to the relatively unstructured broadband absorptions in this frequency range, the easy availability of waveguides and other instrumentation give this spectral range a significant advantage over the mid-IR. Main application areas involve substance identification and process control. 

As a conclusion it has been demonstrated that optical sensors have a wide field of applications in the process control, surveillance and biosciences. They supply the chance to monitor processes an-line and with short time resolution. Interferometric sensors are rather sensitive and applicable in... 

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