PTAC 1432 - Process Instrumentation I

4 Credits (3 hrs. lec., 3 hrs. lab.) Study of the instruments and control systems used in the process industry including terminology, process variables, symbology, control loops, and basic troubleshooting. Prerequisite: MATH 0308 or qualifying score on MATH placement test.
Course Outcomes
1 - Explain the function of the various instruments used in the process industry.
2 - Diagram the process control elements in a control loop.
3 - Utilize terms and symbols in instrumentation.
4 - Interpret process flow diagram and piping and instrumentation drawing.
5 - Using knowledge of symbols, process diagrams and instrumentation, sketch a simple process diagram, including control loops.
6 - Describe the various process variables (flow, level, pressure, temperature, analytical, etc.) found in a plant and explain how instruments are used to sense, measure and transmit this information to the control system.
7 - Identify the types of control loops (simple and complex) and explain their operation.
8 - Identify the components of a closed control loop (primary element, transmitter, controller, transducer, final element) and explain their interrelationships.
9 - Identify typical instrument malfunctions found in control loops and explain how they may affect a process (cause and effect).