Chemical Engineering April 2023 - 19

and reliable measurements, embedded capabilities
today include more intuitive and comprehensive remote
diagnostics and increased application flexibility.
Remote partial proof testing can also be performed for
some safety-related applications in chemical facilities.
Taken together, these and other remote capabilities reduce
the need for human workers to physically access
difficult-to-reach or hazardous plant areas and improve
maintenance productivity.
Like wireless connectivity, built-in remote-diagnostics
capabilities on sensors and their associated
transmitters is not a new concept. Starting as
far back as the 1980s, leading industrial automation
suppliers began introducing " smart " instrumentation
with these capabilities. However, comparing those
early diagnostics to what's available today, would be
like comparing a Model T to a Tesla automobile. In
the past, the diagnostic data were often limited in
scope, almost always difficult to interpret, and could
only communicate digitally to the same supplier's
control systems. But as the devices became increasingly
" smarter, " with more powerful microprocessors,
more sophisticated firmware, and better and more
standardized digital communications (HART, Foundation
Fieldbus, Profibus PA and others) the scope,
accuracy and value of the onboard diagnostics have
become exponentially more valuable.
In conjunction with appropriate asset management
software, continuous onboard diagnostics allow
chemical manufacturing enterprises to move from
inefficient - and generally less-effective - calendarbased
scheduled maintenance and/or costly reactive
maintenance approaches, to far more effective and
efficient predictive maintenance for their high-value
assets. This is key for optimizing overall asset performance.
Where needed, suppliers can also access
these remote diagnostics to support their remote
maintenance and asset optimization services.
Kris Worfe, Chemical Industry marketing manager at
The fastest way
to the perfect
LIB electrode mix
Endress+Hauser (Greenwood, Ind.; www.us.endress.
com), summarized the benefits: " The advancement of
smarter diagnostics has changed the game with capabilities
like in-situ verification and testing. In-situ testing
saves millions of dollars in maintenance by extending
full-proof test intervals and calibration time. Additionally,
it mitigates risk by reducing time in the field where
plant personnel may be exposed to hazardous processes
where there is heightened risk of accidents.
This procedure also reduces downtime and unscheduled
maintenance [Figure 4], helping alleviate some
of the increased complexity end users face in today's
industrial process environments. Lastly,
it assists a
smaller, less-experienced workforce that is maintaining
complex applications and instruments. "
What's possible
While the focus in recent years has largely revolved
around exploring better ways to gain more value
from the vast amount of sensor-based data that's already
being generated in today's chemical processing
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Chemical Engineering April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering April 2023
