What is instrumentation and A and what do service specialists do: a fitter and engineer of instrumentation and A

A large number of modern technological equipment is automated. These are pumping stations, boiler houses, power supply systems, technological equipment. Process automation is often performed on microcontroller control circuits. But devices, measuring sensors are engaged in data collection for them. Maintenance, repair, installation and adjustment of these devices is carried out by highly qualified specialists.

How does the abbreviation KIP and A stand for and what is it

Control and measuring devices are devices for obtaining information about the state of technological processes by measuring and controlling their physical parameters. It will be abbreviated as CIP. And the letter "A" means automatic. KIP and A - instrumentation and automation.

Classification of instrumentation

The abbreviation KIP means devices used not only in production, but also in other types of human activity - in science, healthcare and in everyday life. All control and measuring instruments can be divided into:

• by appointment (showing in place and registering);
• if possible, remote transmission of measured readings;
• by type of indication (analogue, discrete, digital);
• by accuracy class;
• according to the measured physical and chemical parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rate, level, concentration, humidity and density, electrical quantities, etc.).

Consider some devices that are divided depending on the measured parameters:

1. Temperature measuring instruments - thermometers, thermometers, thermocouples, resistance thermometers, thermal imagers and pyrometers. Devices are digital, fluid, electrical, electronic, infrared, contact, and non-contact.
2. Pressure sensors - pressure gauges, pressure switches, analog pressure sensors and vacuum gauges. Pressure gauges differ in design - membrane, differential, electrocontact, spring. An electrical analog signal when measuring pressure is usually obtained due to the tensor effect - the property of solid materials to change their electrical resistance during deformation.
3. Devices for measuring the volume of flow of the working medium (liquid, gas or other substances passing per unit of time) - flow meters. Depending on the principle of operation, devices are electromagnetic, ultrasonic, including non-contact overhead, vortex, having various narrowing devices such as a diaphragm, tachometric and others.
4. Devices for determining the concentration of certain substances in gas mixtures - gas analyzers, smoke analyzers, pH meters and vapor analyzers. There are manual and automatic, stationary and portable. These devices are used to control the air in the working area, to check industrial emissions, to control technological processes, in case of leakage of gaseous media, to ensure fire safety.
5. Filling level meters for tanks - level gauges. Used to measure the level of liquid and bulk materials in tanks, containers and storages. Level gauges can be contact and non-contact, for example, buoy or float, hydrostatic, ultrasonic, radar, phase separation level gauges, bubbling and other types.
6. Instruments for measuring linear quantities. Rulers, tape measures, calipers, gauges, micrometers, depth gauges, etc.
7. Instruments for measuring the parameters of electrical energy. Ammeters, voltmeters, ohmmeters, wattmeters, multimeters etc.
8. Devices that measure radiation. These include Geiger counters, dosimeters and detectors.
9. Instruments for measuring the mass, hardness and density of materials. These are analytical and physical scales, hardness testers.
10. Tensile, compression and torque.

Elements of automation

In automated process control systems (APCS), various actuators are used to control the technological process.

Executive devices - an element of an automatic system that acts on the control object to perform some action.Typically, actuators consist of two parts - an actuator and a regulatory body. The main purpose of actuators is the conversion of any signal (electrical, mechanical, optical, pneumatic) into signals to act on controls (enabling, disabling, switching modes of operation of mechanisms, systems or devices).

The most common actuators are switching relays, drives of moving parts, rotary devices, manipulators, electromagnetic valves (solenoids), devices for opening or closing control and shut-off valves and dampers, turning on variators and switching gearboxes.

Functions and tasks of I&C specialists

The functions of the specialists of the instrumentation and automation department are to ensure the operability and accuracy of the readings of all instrumentation and automated systems of the enterprise. The tasks of this department include monitoring the operation, adjustment and maintenance, repair and restoration of devices.

In case of equipment failure, the kipovet must respond in a timely manner and replace the failed unit. The locksmith must inspect and, if possible, repair by the department or a specialized service organization. To do this, the department of instrumentation and A must have spare parts, instruments and tools. The specialists of this department must carry out metrological supervision of measuring instruments in order to ensure the operation of all equipment. The department of instrumentation and A belong to the technical service of the enterprise and functionally report to the chief engineer.

The main specialists of the department of instrumentation and A

At manufacturing enterprises, there are workshops or departments of instrumentation and A.This service is supervised by the head of a department or workshop, sometimes these duties are assigned to the chief metrologist of the enterprise. Instrumentation and A departments often include control and measurement laboratories (CIL). Depending on the type of production activity of the enterprise, the staff of the instrumentation and A department also depends. But there is a minimum set of necessary specialists, these are:

• instrumentation engineer;
• master for adjustment and repair of instrumentation;
• adjuster of instruments, equipment and automated accounting systems;
• mechanic for repair and adjustment of instrumentation and equipment;
• electrical technician;
• radio electronics engineer;

Mechanic of instrumentation and A - who is he and what does he do

A fitter for instrumentation and A must have a secondary technical education, experience in working with equipment and the qualification of a fitter of the 5th category. A mechanic for the repair and adjustment of instrumentation and automation must know:

• the principle of operation of complex equipment on which sensors are installed;
• arrangement of instrumentation, assembly and disassembly technology and alignment methods;
• device and methods for checking complex control units and assemblies;
• circuit diagrams of devices, the principle of operation and methods of adjustments;
• requirements of standards, instructions regarding the use of instrumentation.

Responsibilities of a Mechanic of Instrumentation and A:

• be able to find the cause of the breakdown, carry out repair and adjustment work;
• adjustment, installation, testing, adjustment and calibration of instruments and measuring equipment;
• adjust end position sensors at valves and shutoff valves;
• open and close impulse tubes;
• verification and adjustment of electrical measuring instruments, control equipment and automation units with electronic systems;
• carry out planned preventive work, identify and eliminate malfunctions in the operation of instruments and automation;
• keep records of devices, fill out and maintain forms for devices, submit requests for repairs.

Depending on the equipment operated at the enterprise, the locksmith carries out maintenance and is responsible for the operation of such components as instrumentation and A cabinets, control panels, consoles, actuators and measuring instruments.

Pros and cons of the profession of instrumentation fitter and A.

A Kipovet locksmith repairs and adjusts instrumentation and complex automated systems.

Pros of this profession:

• demand, respect among workers and engineers;
• the salary is higher than that of the same mechanic of the repair shop;
• the importance of the work performed, and a sense of self-worth;
• respect in the team.

Minuses:

• great responsibility for the work performed;
• a wide range of duties;
• risk of injury during repair work.

Responsibilities of the Instrumentation and Control Engineer

Instrumentation and A engineer - specialist of the department, must have a higher technical education and experience in engineering positions. In some cases, it is necessary to pass an industrial safety certification in Rostekhnadzor for the operation of installations.

The I&C Engineer should be aware of the following:

• device and principle of operation of devices, components, automation equipment and equipment of the enterprise;
• scheme, designs, technical characteristics and necessary indicators during the operation of the serviced equipment and units;
• techniques and methods for inspecting equipment, taking readings, measuring parameters and making the necessary calculations;
• methods of collecting and analyzing information, making technical and technological decisions.

The responsibilities of the I&C Engineer include:

• management and coordination of instrumentation and A services;
• organization of the work of the department to ensure the trouble-free operation of equipment;
• introduction of automated processes;
• ensuring metrological control of measuring instruments of the enterprise;
• development of technical documentation (schedules for instrument verification, flow charts, schedules and volumes of maintenance work, etc.);
• development and monitoring of the implementation of work plans for the department for the month, for the quarter.

The performance of not only the equipment itself, but the entire enterprise largely depends on the well-coordinated and competent work of the instrumentation and automation specialists.

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