Instruments used for field instrument Maintenance

In this article, I will list out a list of instruments that are used by instrument engineers in Field instrument Maintenance.

Introduction

Hello guys. Welcome to this new article with all new content.

As an Instrument Engineer, you might have faced confusion in selecting a proper Test and Calibrating Instrument at some point in your career.

This article is specifically for beginners and for engineers with intermediate experience to learn about all the Test and Calibrating Instruments used by Instrument Engineers.

I will first list down all the Test and Calibrating Instruments and then I will discuss their application with different examples in plant scenarios.

1. Decade box
2. Hand pump
3. mA source
4. Multimeter
5. HART
6. Scandura
7. Beamex

So now I will discuss all of them in detail.

1. Decade box

And it is used to generate different resistance. This box is a kind of potentiometer but a kind of industrial type.

Depending upon the range of the decade box, resistance from a few ohms to a hundred mega ohms can be generated using the decade box.

Real-time applications of Decade Box are:

1. Give input to the temperature transmitter which has RTD as a sensing element
2. Give input to the conductivity transmitter

(Courtesy to Timeelectronics )

2. Pressure pump

The hand pump is used to generate pressure. The pressure is generated using a fluid that is generally non-compressible.

This generated pressure is used to give input to various transmitters during checking or maintenance activity.

The pressure-generating range of the hand pump depends on its size. Generally, a hand pump can generate pressure from a few bars to a few hundred bars.

The hand pump can generate pressure above it also, but there is chance of getting damaged.

Real-time applications of Pressure pump are:

1. Checking of pressure transmitter by giving pressure input
2. Checking of pressure switch by generating pressure
3. Dechoking of choked tubes

(Courtesy to Instrukart)

3. mA source

mA source is used3. to generate mA for testing purposes by the Instrument Engineer. It is widely used to generate mA for 4 mA to 20 mA circuits or 0 mA to 20 mA.

Real-time applications of mA Source are:

1. Give mA to cable and check the wet loop and output in PLC or DCS.
2. Give mA to the control the valve and check the stroke in the field.

(Courtesy to hkcalibrations)

4. Multimeter

A multimeter is the simplest Test and calibration instrument used by engineers. We Instrument Engineers as well as Electrical Engineers use multimeters widely.

A multimeter can measure DC voltage, AC voltage, Current, Resistance, Continuity, and Diode Detection. Some multimeters even have the functionality to test thermocouples.

Real-time applications of Multimeter are:

1. Test voltage in field transmitter
2. Test voltage of solenoid valve
3. Test resistance of the coil of the solenoid valve
4. Test resistance of RTD
5. Check the healthiness of the switch by continuity-checking
6. Test the mA in any analog output loop of the transmitter
7. Test the mA in any analog input loop of the control valve

(Courtesy to Fluke)

5. HART Communicator

Communicator used for connecting to transmitters and other instruments. It is specifically used for instruments working on HART and foundation fieldbus communication protocol

Real-time applications of HART communicator are:

1. Connect to HART-type field transmitter for configuration and maintenance
2. Connect to HART-type positioner for configuration and maintenance
3. Connect to foundation fieldbus type field transmitter for configuration and maintenance
4. Connect to foundation fieldbus type positioner for configuration and maintenance

(Courtesy to Emerson)

6. Scandura

Scandura is one of the best Test and Calibrating Instrument. The reason for this is that Scandura can generate multiple outputs and also measure multiple inputs.

Scandura can generate pressure, generate voltage, generate current, generate resistance, measure pressure, measure voltage, measure current, and measure resistance.

It can generate frequency and pulse. Scandura can measure frequency and pulse also.

Real-time applications of Scandura are:

1. Generate pressure for differential pressure type flow transmitter in mmWC
2. Generate pressure for pressure transmitter
3. Measure pressure
4. Give input to the temperature transmitter which has RTD as a sensing element
5. Give input to the conductivity transmitter
6. Test voltage in field transmitter
7. Test voltage of solenoid valve
8. Test resistance of the coil of the solenoid valve
9. Test resistance of RTD
10. Check the healthiness of the switch by continuity-checking
11. Test the mA in any analog output loop of the transmitter
12. Test the mA in any analog input loop of the control valve
13. Generate frequency for speed transmitter

(Courtesy to WIKA)

7. Beamex

Beamex is also one of the most useful Test and calibration instruments used by Instrument engineers.

Kit comes with most of the functions like Scandura, and many additional functions. Beamex can serve as a meter, calibrator, and also as a communicator.

This kit can measure voltage, measure current, measure resistance, measure frequency, measure pulse, thermocouple measurement, RTD measurement, generate voltage, generate current, generate resistance, generate frequency, generate a pulse, thermocouple simulation, RTD simulation, HART communicator, foundation fieldbus communicator and Profibus PA communicator.

Real-time applications of Beamex are:

1. Measure pressure (using an external module)
2. Give input to the temperature transmitter which has RTD as a sensing element
3. Give input to the conductivity transmitter
4. Test voltage in field transmitter
5. Test voltage of solenoid valve
6. Test resistance of the coil of the solenoid valve
7. Test resistance of RTD
8. Check the healthiness of the switch by continuity-checking
9. Test the mA in any analog output loop of the transmitter
10. Test the mA in any analog input loop of the control valve
11. Generate frequency for speed transmitter
12. Connect to HART-type field transmitter for configuration and maintenance
13. Connect to foundation fieldbus type field transmitter for configuration and maintenance

(Courtesy to Beamex)

EndNote

I hope these resources and Knowledge will help troubleshoot non-contact type level transmitters.

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