Foundations of Measurement Instrumentation

Course Number: 772

This course discusses the basic principles of measurement and defines process control terms. It describes several kinds of signals and displays and traces the path of a signal through the system. It explains the operation of transducers, transmitters, signal conditioners, converters, and recorders. Also covered are specification details, conversion between English and SI units, calibration methods, and the maintenance of records.

Recommended Contact Hours - 8

Chapter 1: Introduction to Process Measurement

Topics: Measurement and display requirements; Remote and local display; Calibration; Noise; Response time; Measurement system and observation error

Learning Objectives:

• Explain why measurement is necessary and discuss conditions that affect the degree of accuracy required.
• Compare the advantages of linear and nonlinear displays.
• Compare analog and digital devices and explain how each is applied to measurement.
• Name five sources of measurement error.
• Discuss proportionality and explain how it applies to transmitters.

Chapter 2: Principles of Transducer Operation

Topics: Outputs; Mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic elements and response; Resistance, voltage, and frequency devices; Combining elements

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the need for linearity in a process.
• List examples of mechanical and electrical transducer elements.
• Compare pneumatic response and electrical/electronic response in transducers.
• Describe the operation of the bourdon tube, bellows, and diaphragm.
• Name examples of resistance, voltage response, frequency response, and electromechanical devices and explain how they work.
• Discuss the use of the Hall-effect transducer and the differential transducer.

Chapter 3: Basic Process Measurement Systems

Topics: Interaction of system elements; Transmitters; Electrical vs. pneumatic output; Converters; Signal conditioning; Indicators and recorders

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the basic elements of measuring systems and explain how they interact.
• Describe how a physical quantity is translated into another quantity.
• Discuss the use of transmitters to relay information from one location to another and explain the transfer function.
• Describe the operation of at least five kinds of converters.
• Compare analog and digital indicators and recorders.

Chapter 4: Systems Standards and Instrument Calibration

Topics: Interpreting specifications; Error; Accuracy; Precision; Resolution; Transfer function; Sensitivity; Hysteresis; Response time

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the specifications of a typical measurement system.
• Explain how to read a graph showing a linear or nonlinear transfer function, hysteresis, or the time constant.
• Discuss SI and English systems of units and explain how to convert from one to the other.
• Describe the elements of instrument calibration.

Chapter 5: Maintaining System Quality

Topics: Equipment inventory and status records; Testing and calibration; Computer and PLC emulators; Equipment decontamination procedures

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the forms used to keep track of equipment inventory, repairs, and procedures for testing and calibration.
• Describe the equipment and procedures used for electrical testing and calibration.
• Describe the equipment and procedures used for electronic testing and calibration.
• Describe the equipment and procedures used for pneumatic testing and calibration.
• Explain what an emulator is and how it is used.
• Discuss the elements of proper decontamination procedures.