Chemical Engineering January 2023 - 34

ABB
that digitalization is bringing to all
areas of industrial measurement.
Advances in temperature measurement
technology, particularly
when it comes to digitalization,
are presenting new opportunities
for disruption that can benefit the
vast majority of companies operating
processes with turbulent flows.
By switching from analog to digital,
companies can benefit from the integration
and application of process
data across the plant, enabling
them to make informed decisions
on everything from plant operation
through to maintenance.
FIGURE 4. New-generation non-invasive temperature sensors can achieve cost savings of at least 30%
by either minimizing or eliminating much of the time and effort required to plan, design and install a classic
thermowell instalation
across the world. The availability
of performance-prediction models
show the efficacy of the principle
for measuring a wide variety of
processes. From simple auxiliary
fluids like cooling-water monitoring
on heat exchangers to hightemperature,
high-pressure steam
measurements (Figure 3), the use
of the non-invasive sensing is broken
down into two simple steps.
The first is to check the expected
performance of a surface measurement
using online prediction tools
(input common process parameters
such as flow, density, viscosity
and so on). If the difference is applicable
and acceptable, the second
step is to use an accurate, repeatable,
robust measurement device
that compensates for common errors
in surface measurements.
Save time and cost
The advantages offered by this new
generation of non-invasive temperature
sensor offers the potential for
significant cost savings compared
to a classic thermowell installation.
Savings of at least 30% can
be achieved by either minimizing
or eliminating much of the time and
effort required to plan, design and
install a conventional invasive temperature
sensor (Figure 4).
Much of this can be attributed
to the easy-fit nature of the sensor.
The sensor is designed to be
mounted on the surface of a pipe,
avoiding the time, cost and disruption
involved in fitting a conven34
tional
temperature sensor. There is
no need to drill into the pipelines,
because the sensor is attached to
the pipe by two clamp collars. This
installation arrangement also helps
to reduce the amount of insulation
needed, with just the foot of the
device needing to be covered. As
a result, the sensor can typically
be installed in under an hour, enabling
operators to quickly get up
and running.
There is also little of the work
associated with specifying and
installing a thermowell, which can
often take several weeks from
start to finish. One major area that
is eliminated is the need to carry
out wake frequency calculations,
which are needed for invasive installations
to assess the design of
the thermowell device including
its size and the type of material
needed to withstand the impact of
the process medium. The need for
such calculations, together with
the associated process adjustments,
can typically increase the
total price tag of thermowells by
two to three times over and above
their material cost.
Final remarks
While temperature may be one of
the oldest process measurements,
it doesn't follow that the way that
it is measured must stay the same.
When it comes to temperature, the
conventional approach to measurement
is increasingly being
challenged by the new possibilities
As this article highlights, the many
benefits offered by non-invasive
temperature sensors address many
of the traditional drawbacks of conventional
measurement methods
that have prevented temperature
being measured more widely across
process plants.
Combining high
performance with the flexibility to be
deployed anywhere, non-invasive
temperature sensors promise to
unlock new opportunities for enhanced
plant efficiency.
Going forward, developments
in non-invasive temperature measurement
will enable companies to
transform their ability to measure
an expanding range of flow regimes
and fluids with more complex
heat-transfer behavior, such
as gases, with the same levels of
accuracy, reliability and responsiveness
as themowells.
n
Edited by Gerald Ondrey
References
1.https://my-measurement-assistant.abb.com/noninvasive
Author
Sensing
Technology,
Guruprasad Sosale is the global
product manager for non-invasive
and wireless technologies at
the ABB's business unit Measurement
& Analysis Technology
(Landsberger Strasse 320, Munich,
Germany 80687; Phone:
+49-89-58005-0). Prior to assuming
this role in October 2022,
he was senior scientist, Industrial
at ABB's Corporate Research
Center in Ladenburg, Germany. The focus of his R&D
activities were wireless and autonomous sensors, and
then non-invasive sensor technology, which also includes
temperature measurement using ABB's NiTemp.
He was part of the NiTemp development team
and now has the role of bringing this technology to
market. Sosale earned his Ph.D., M.Eng. and B.Eng.
degrees in mechanical engineering from McGill University
(Montréal, Canada).
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