Chemical Engineering January 2017 - 17

Newsfront
Smart Flow Monitoring for
Better Process Control
Tighter control, increased safety and versatility result from improved
flow-measurement technology
F
low monitoring
and control are
very important
in the chemical
process industries
(CPI) because data
gathered by flow-measurement
equipment
can
pinpoint areas
where a process can
be improved and may
help predict where and
when a process is likely
to fail. While intelligent
self-diagnostic flow instruments
are essential
for repeatable and accurate
results, the information
obtained via
today's " smarter " flow
monitoring and control
instrumentation may also be used to
achieve tighter control of the process. In
addition, flow equipment advances increase
safety in the facility, allow more versatility
and application in difficult situations.
As the CPI face the challenges of having
fewer engineers and technicians in their
facilities and a large portion of the knowledge
and skills are being lost to retirement,
processors require " smarter " equipment.
" In terms of flow measurement, this results
in greater reliance on instrumentation
to give more information beyond a
flowrate. It means that devices need to
be 'smarter' and easier to use, " says Sam
Hassan, product manager, flow products,
Yokogawa (Sugar Land, Texas; www.yokogawa.com).
" Also, there are more safety,
environmental and internal regulations requiring
compliance. All these factors call for
flow instrumentation with more advanced
diagnostics to ensure measurements are
reliable, accurate and informing the facility
of any potential issues. "
Yokogawa
IN BRIEF
SMARTER INSTRUMENTS
TIGHTER CONTROL
ENHANCED SAFETY
INCREASED VERSATILITY
CHALLENGING
APPLICATIONS
FIGURE 1. The Rotamass Total Insight (TI) Coriolis product provides insight into the process
and throughout the lifecycle. The TI concept provides enhanced settings for customized set
ups, pre-defined trend views, or multiple configuration sets of fast changeover, data mobility,
increased safety and operational flexibility
Smarter instruments
Hassan adds that while there are few new
flow technologies being developed, existing
technologies are being enhanced to provide
not only a better measurement, but also
more measurement points and much more
in-depth and enhanced diagnostics. " Insight
into the process " is becoming very important
to end users, notes Hassan. " Functionality,
such as meter verification, is becoming more
important and is being supported on a wider
variety of devices. Self-diagnostic capabilities
now go beyond just monitoring the flowmeter
itself, but also monitor the flow in more detail.
Knowing what's happening in a process
besides just the basic flowrate is becoming
more of a requirement, " he explains. " Information
about the process fluid, such as concentration,
non-filled pipes or even aeration in
the liquid are all available. These are just some
of the examples of important functionality that
are allowing the industry to have better insight
and providing better control of the process. "
Yokogawa's Rotamass TI (Total Insight)
Coriolis product (Figure 1) provides this
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Chemical Engineering January 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering January 2017