Title: Field%20Operations
1Field Operations
2Field Operations (Real World)
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- Applicable technology courses, core and
non-core facilities - operations, safety courses are the main thrust
of most training - program. At the end of those training program,
we feel confident that - we are ready to run the plant and cope with
operational upsets and - emergencies.
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- Once out there in the field, some got lost in
dealing with day to day - events and failed to demonstrate workplace
competency expected. - So many views were offered regarding that
issue. Some - nasty, some polite or politically correct
criticism, most experts says it - is system failure, etc. Probably it is a bit
of everything. -
- One global company has this unwritten
culture. They expect their - people specifically Experts key staff to
know what to know and what - to look for on their own. Simple enough, but
the problem is - sometimes people hired were not prepared for
that. Some do not - even have a clue.
3Field Operations
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- Some simply insisted in practices they
learned in their previous - workplace which may differ from present
workplace practices. - But because of difference in workplace
environment what we - considered acceptable practices may not be the
right thing to do - elsewhere.
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- Even in the industry we are in, some practices
differ due to many - reasons.
- Fortunately in APC, all or most of what we
should know and what to - look for are made available for our perusal.
They were prepared - either as SI or WOI.
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4Field Operations
- In addition to our ability to operate the
plant efficiently and safely, putting into
practice those SI and WOI we are expected to
practice - certain work place behaviors. Problem is
nobody tells us. - This module attempts to give you some hints
of those expectations - by way of compiling some work practices and
behaviors which are part of the work culture in
most manufacturing plant. - Module also includes simplified basic
aspects or fundamentals of some specialized
field prepared by a non specialist so that we
will not be intimidated by technical jargon
during formal trainings. - Because we should have reasonable ideas about
field operation, this module can also help us
prompt course facilitators to teach what we more
on what is needed in our job as process
technician. -
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5Field Operation
- Process Technicians
- Process technicians are the equivalent of
plant or process operators in the old days. - Common misconception from outsiders is that
process technician - job is similar to what a TV technician or
the repair man Sony send you to fix your
electronic appliances. - In a manufacturing plant, process
technicians are the man and women who run
operate the plant. Their main task as a group
is to - manufacture/produce product required of
them. - To illustrate what process technicians do,
let us talk about lube oil refining which is a
multi-product plant with similar operating scheme - like ours.
6Field Operation
- Process Technicians (cont)
- Normally corporate tells manufacturing
volume of each products - they want for that year based on forecast.
TSD planner prepare a - running plan based on figures supplied by
corporate. Running plan includes scheduling of
raw material, chemical, and everything needed to
produce what the want. - Plant operation, of course, is programmed
based on facilities available/capabilities. Main
thrust is to prepare a running plan sequence that
would minimize slope transition product. -
- Our job as process technician is to produce
the volume of product - with the spec they want safely and
efficiently on time. -
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7Field Operation
- Process Technicians (cont)
- Plants are usually divided into two main
areas. Main plant which is usually referred as
ISBL or Core plant and OSBL or Non Core area. - Each areas are further subdivided into
several sections. These sections are divided
among the process technicians based on some
criterias. - In most plant, the process technicians is
considered the owner of assigned sections. Hence
he/she is responsible for ensuring that all
applicable rules and regulation were followed by
everybody entering/working in his area. Ensure
that all facilities/equipments under him were in
good running condition including housekeeping
- in his workplace.
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- Of course process technician main key
results area is to come up - with whatever is expected/needed from his
area to manufacture product. -
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8Field Operation
- Process Technicians (cont)
- To illustrate, lets say you are assigned in
the utilities and among your responsibilities is
steam production and cooling water. - - You should be able to treat raw water at
required spec and volume to support your demin
and cooling water system make needs. - - You should be able to produce enough demin
water to support - your boilers
- - You should be able to produce enough
steam with the right spec required at the core
plant -
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9What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Common perceptions about Process Operator
- Heard from a Refinery Manager during an induction
course - Early one Sunday morning his wife decided
that she wants to join his daily morning round of
the plant. The man obliged. No problem after all
he is the boss. - While in the middle of the plant, his wife
told him that she wanted to go the toilet. We do
not have women toilet here, just do what you want
right here, he replied. But dear, there are
some chaps walking around , his wife argued.
Dont worry about them, he replied. Those are
my operators, they dont see, they dont hear,
they dont smell.
10What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Common perceptions about Process Operator (cont)
- Heard from a Refinery Manager during an induction
course - This story was an old, recycled joke about our
profession repeated in - an audience of about 300 cross-posted operating
staff from about 6 - countries. Some of us might feel insulted hearing
that joke in an - induction course, but not that crowd. We asked
for more after a big - applause. But the refinery manager replied that
he got to get back to - business. He started his talk with something like
this I think what you want to - hear is something about pay. When is pay day,
holiday and night premium - rates etc, etc, but my job is to orient you gents
about the project. Bear with me - guys. Free lunch will be served.
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11What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator
- Elsewhere, plant operators classify their co
workers according to work - style. Here are few I had chosen from a
newsletter, I found inserted in - one training material used in preparing this
training module. - Probably, most of the type of operators named no
longer exist in - present day workplace culture, but let us look at
them just the same. -
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12What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator
- Smart Operator
- Walk around his area first hour. Sleeps
most of the night, wake up once to take his snack
and back to bed again. Morning comes he produces
his readings (because he is smart unlike some who
had readings at all times, he writes S/D on the
reading sheets whenever his facilities are on
S/D). He performs housekeeping (water flushing)
minutes before the boss comes, ensuring that he
is in a place he can be seen when the boss
arrive. - Oh, yes, he always have a friend who
knows where his bed is, in - case he is needed or the boss decided to
walk around. -
13What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 2. The Professor
- Loves to lecture on trainees and plant
visitors. Keeps correcting - junior operators on the pretext that the
later is not doing - his job according to SOP, what ever SOP
meant to him At the - same time, he lecture the guys theories
learned from University of - Hard Knock he thinks applicable to the job.
To him there is only - one way to do the job right. Do it according
to his SOP. Because - he is the professor whenever trainees join
the plant, people throw - him those guys for on the job shadowing.
- Whenever, a trainee fumbles during
assessment, he learned - to reason out that, that is what the
professor taught them, They - usually got away with it. Good laugh for all,
when assessors spread - the story at the CCR the next day.
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14What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 3. Monkey Operator
- He can run all equipments in the plant.
Usually he got what is called - a bible they call it capitulo siete in the
Phil where peculiar - procedures were written. In addition, he got
so many markings out - in the field to assist him.
- It is something similar to this Push the top
bottom on the left, next - push the bottom below, a bulb will light,
then push the green bottom - and the machine will run etc.
- If equipment failed to runs, he request
maintenance assistance. - He satisfactory performs all routine, but
hopeless when task deviates - from normal. He never fails to do his
readings. Even when plant is on - shutdown, he got one.
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15What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 3. Monkey Operator
- Sometimes, others even call him for help in
starting up machine - which made him think he is the best.
- So during yearly assessment he complains to
the boss during - assessment about his grade and talk about
his promotion claiming - he knows all, but was left out for more than
ten years. Once he even - threaten
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16What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator
- 4. Mr Credit Grabber
- He is always around in all activities. You
can be sure that he is - holding his handy talkies mouth piece all
the time to makes sure - he communicates with CCR before the man on
the job do it. - Here is a typical example While area
operator is trying to run a - turbine driven pump, Mr. C.G. would start
communicating with CCR - informing the DCS operator and for the bosses
to hear the - progress of the job. The lube oil system is
now circulating, later - Governor is now latch and steam valve is now
being open. Then - Pump is now fully commissioned, it is all
your mate. Thanks, - Raymond (Mr. C. G), excellent job, CCR would
acknowledge. -
17What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 4. Mr Credit Grabber
- Man on the job? Entirely left out of the
picture as they say. He - usually just throw their valve wrench to the
ground out of - prostration, walk away looking for someone to
complain about Mr - C.G.
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18What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- He got the sense of urgency.
- He is already at the CCR while the rest of
the gang are still halfway - the premonade. He go straight to main CCR
after getting his - props from his locker, and look for the guy
he is to relieve for - handover. He checks the DCS and discuss
status of his area with - the DCS operator. Before going to the plant he
pass by the Permits - Office to orient himself of works to be
carried in his area that day. - Unlike some, he does not return to the locker
room and waste time - looking around the place for 10 minutes or
pass by the pantry to - inspect, read bulletins he had been reading
daily for the past 3 - months nor to gather the latest gossip.
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19What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- He knows what to know and what to look for
- He performs his routines with meticulous
attention to details. Note - down concerns, rectify what he can
immediately and discuss with his - supervisor any issue that needs higher up
attention. He performs - housekeeping and do what he can immediately to
eliminate hazard - he noticed instead of just logging them and
waits for someone to - action.
- What is bad about him is he never come up
with some idiotic report - to please his boss whose expertise is to blew
up non sense out of - proportion.
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20What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- He often review engineering principles
associated with his facilities - referring to technical book to checks.
Mentally review emergency - procedures normally referring to SI/OI for
confirmation. -
- He always try to do his best to excel not
necessarily for promotion - but for the sake of learning. This type would
be happy to be promoted - but being an intelligent and realistic person,
he do not expect it, - because he knew he lack the real world core
competencies - whatever that mean. He will eventually make it
if he decides to stay - in a couple of years, and in time he will be
the big boss running the - organization.
21What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- Off course, he knew the location of all F/G
props in his area, their - functions and design, particularly the
characteristic of detection - element, because he knew that is the key to
proper management of - the system.
- He never forget to perform routine
checks/tests on safety equipment, - Prepare WOR as required.
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22What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- He have the sense of ownership
- He ensure that he is aware of every
activities in his area. Check all - ongoing work. He satisfy himself that work
permits issued are in - order, stipulations correct even though they
were signed by the boss. - Ensures workers complied with PPE and
requirements of the permit. - He stops work if warranted.
- He repeatedly checks on his equipments several
times during the - shift to satisfy himself that everything are
ok while ensuring that all - routines are done and all request from CCR are
complied with.
23What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- No butterfly in his tummy
- Because he works hard and fully aware of what
is going on, he does - not leave CCR when the boss enters nor change
direction to avoid - meeting big guys walking around the plant.
- During emergencies he emerged as the leader
directing the show - while his boss keeps tailing him or no where
to be found. - During simulated safety drill he knows
exactly what to do, problem is - sometimes he shout at people doing idiotic
actions and on occasion - can not refrain from laughing seeing stupid
things people are doing. -
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24What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- Bad Guy on the Block
- He does not mind being tagged as bad guy by
some people as long - as he is doing what are expected of him. He
would not allow people - not wearing the prescribed PPE in his area,
would not tolerate unsafe - acts, police his area to ensure people are
following company - regulations no matter who they are. He would
even sent you back to - CCR to sign the visitor log book if you
forget to do so. He would not - allow maintenance to close completed work
permits if housekeeping is - not done reasonably well.
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25What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- He does not hesitate to challenge anyone when
he thinks best - efforts/options were not being carried out
while performing activities in - his facilities.
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26What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- 5. Operator (Typical)
- Model Operator
- How come? He is the bad guy on the block, do
not support some - boss idiosyncrasies, challenge people,
insist that everybody follows - rules, checks even his boss job, stops
ongoing work if he feels - necessary, act as if he own the plant, and at
the same a model - operator.
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27What They Dont Teach You (And Tell You)
- Types of Operator (cont)
- In the former BPC forerunner of APC, there were
about 80 process technicians - And probably 50 maintenance tech. I like to think
that all of them developed a - work culture attributed to the last type I called
operator (typical). In the - newsletter they are called mga krus- why ?, you
might be asking your self. - Now almost all of them are doing good elsewhere.
Despite their relatively shorter - work experience, they were able to compete with
others with 10 or more years of - experience. Similarly all the mga krus in the
work place where that newsletter - was published were pirated by a similar firm with
compensation 6 times higher - plus benefits that is the best in the land at
that time. -
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28Pre-com (General)
- Pre-commissioning assurance of systematic
conformity to design - spec.
- 1. Pre-com encompass such requirement as
- Punch list and check out of system
- Static/de-energized tests on equipment
(calibration, loop checks and logic checks of
inst, cold alignment and rotational checks of
motors, testing of electrical equipments etc) - Flushing/cleaning of vessels/pipes
- Leak testing
- Test running all utility systems
- Test running of all instrumentation including
DCS, ESD and F/G systems - Test running of all electrical systems
- Test running of all rotating equipment
- Test running of all power generation systems
- Performance testing of telecom systems
- Testing of the accommodation module in its
entirely
29Pre-Com (General)
- Pre-com (cont)
- Pre-start up Technical Safety Audit during the
testing and pre-com phase, Owner shall perform a
pre-start up TSA to confirm that the production
facilities and associated facilities are ready
for commissioning and initial operation. - After completion of pre-com and recommendation
from audit, contractor shall apply to owner for
the issue of a Certificate of Mechanical
Completion, issue of w/c is required prior to the
commencement of the commissioning of facilities. - 2. Mechanical completion shall means completion
of pre-com activities with the punch lists of
outstanding items agreed by the parties. - All essential utilities, life support
system, carnage, electric power (supply
generation distribution), drainage and
firewater shall be commissioned as an integral
part of pre-com prior to declaring mechanical
completion -
- The plant status reached at the end of
pre-com is defined as Mechanical Completion or
Ready for Commissioning
30Pre-Com (General)
- 3. Commissioning during this phase, the
facilities, systems and equipment items are
checked and prepared for the commencement of
operations and oil in. - Mechanical completion
- Electrical commissioning
- Instrument commissioning
- Telecommunication commissioning
- Pipeline and Sub-sea Cable commissioning
- HVAC commissioning
31Pre-com (General)
- Activities undertaken at this time include
- Dynamic verification that each equipment items
performs properly (motor run-in uncoupled,
integrity checks of inst loops, electrical
breakers operations etc) - Mechanical preparation, actual running and on
line tests of plant utilities, and whenever
practical, main process equipment being run in a
closed loop condition. - Preparation of al systems so as to be ready for
the introduction of hydrocarbons such as piping
dry out, inerting, charging of various chemicals
and refractory dry out. - Lubrication of equipment as required.
32Pre-com (General)
- Completion of commissioning is defined as READY
for START UP at - w/c point the systems are ready for the
introduction of hydrocarbon. - Contractor shall apply and owner shall issue
Certificate of - Commissioning Completion only if the contractor
performed to the - satisfaction of owner the testing and
commissioning of all parts of the - FACILITIES in accordance with the approved
Commissioning Manual. - The punch list items have been cleared
- The completion of the maintenance activities,
including maintenance activities that may have
commenced during but not completed before
commissioning - The submission of all required deliverables
- The satisfactory completion of all formal
training - Start up and Performance Testing since the
start up of utilities would have been carried out
during commissioning, the actual start up begins
with the introduction of hydrocarbons into the
facilities as follows
33Pre-com (General)
- Oil in
- Bringing the plant into operation and its steady
state - X hours test run (capacity performance testing)
- XX days Production Performance Testing
34General Pre-com Activities
- System cleaning
- Running test
- Operational tightness test
- Air freeing
- Drying out
- Catalyst, dessicant, chemical loading
35Pre-com (general)
- System cleaning
- 1. Air blowing
- - A pipe cleaning method utilizing kinetic
energy of air flow - Method
- Method A - air accumulation method
- Method B - direct blowing method
- Method C - scavenging run of compressor/blower
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- Application
- Chemical lines
- Instrument/plant air lines
- Nitrogen lines
36Pre-com (General)
- Air blowing (cont)
- Hydrogen lines
- LPG/ethylene/butane lines
- Reactor and gas loop lines
- Powder conveying lines
- Pellet conveying lines
- Flare and vent lines
- Solvent, R20, and R21 lines
- Catalyst lines
- Catalyst activator lines
37Pre-com (General)
- 2. Steam blowing
- - Steam blowing utilizes the kinetic energy
of steam flow. - Since blowing and cool down of the pipe
concerned are repeated - during steam blowing, rust, weld slag or
spatter become liable to - peel off from the pipe surface due to the
repetition of expansion and - contraction of the pipe.
- Application
- Medium pressure steam lines
- Low pressure steam lines
38Pre-com (General)
- 3. Power flushing/water circulation
- - A pipe cleaning method utilizing kinetic
energy of water - Method
- Pipes are flushed using the permanently installed
pumps connected to the pipe but running on water
instead of the normal process fluid - Flushing velocity must exceed the maximum process
velocity during normal operation - Application
- It is basically applied to the following carbon
steel pipes
39Pre-com (General)
- Power flushing (cont)
- Raw water/filtered water service lines
- Potable water lines
- Demineralised water/boiler
- Cooling water supply/return line
- Condensate lines
- Fire water lines
- Process water lines
40Pre-com (General)
- Mechanical cleaning
- - manual cleaning. Wire brushes, hand
grinders, broom for sweeping or industrial vacuum
cleaners are used. - Application
- The following are manually cleaned before using
or closing them for - process use
- Vessels
- Column
- Drum
- Hopper
- Tanks
- Pits
- Large pipes, etc.
41Pre-com (General)
- Running Test
- Mechanical run in of compressors
- - To check mechanical performance such as
vibration, noise, heat generation on bearing of
compressor systems including drivers and
compressor auxiliary functions during start up or
initial operation. - Application
- Mechanical run in shall be conducted for all
compressors. The recommended test period of
mechanical run is about 4 hours. - Fluid used nitrogen or actual gas.
42Pre-com (General)
- Running Test
- Mechanical run in of pumps
- - To check mechanical performance of pump
system including drivers and pumps auxiliaries
using either water, lube oil or gas oil as
pumping medium. Vibration, heat generation on
bearing are checked. - This testing enables early detection of
machine problems and is intended to minimize
problems during operation. -
- Application
- In principle, process pumps except auxiliary
pumps for lubrication shall be mechanically run
in with water or actual fluids.
43Pre-com (General)
- Running Test (cont)
- Some pumps can be operated with water, while
other pumps can only be operated with actual
fluid due to reasons listed below - 1. Overload of motor
- Overload will occur during run in with
water for pumps which - handle fluid of lower specific gravity
than that of water. Throttling - the pump discharge flow rate to avoid
overload may cause - another problem that the minimum
allowable discharge flow rate - can not be maintained.
- 2. Water contamination not allowed
- Remaining water may enhance corrosion,
abnormal reaction with - actual fluid, contamination,
potentiality of icing/hydrate formation - and the likes at or after start up.
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44Pre-com (General)
- Running Test (cont)
- 3. Circulation route not practical
- Appropriate water circulation loop can
not be realized. Once - through run in route is planned only for
pumps with normal - flow of less than 1 m3/hr.
- 4. Difficult post work
- drain out or dry out operation of
piping/pumps as a post work of water run in is
considered to be a very big job giving an impact
on pre-com schedule.
45Pre-com (General)
- Running Test (cont)
- 3. Blower/fan mechanical run in
- - To check machine for vibration, noise,
heat generation on - bearing of blower/fan system including
their drivers to confirm - motor performance.
- Application
- - All blowers/fans
46Pre-com (General)
- Operational Tightness Test
- - Checking entire plant or part of the plant
for leakage. In general, plant handles
combustible, poisonous or other dangerous
materials. -
- Where tightness is lacking, material handled
will leak resulting to disasters. In some cases,
operation can not be continued. Further the
leakage of handled material will result to large
economic loss. - To prevent leakage during operation tightness
test is carried out to confirm that the plant
complies with the required tightness before start
up.
47Pre-com (General)
- Operational Tightness Test (cont)
- Method
- - The system is pressurized with compressed
air or nitrogen (or steam in some system). If
pressure holds for 2 hours, system is considered
leak free. - - Detection of leak is done using soapsuds.
All flanges should be taped to give better
results. - Application
- - The test shall be performed for all piping
and equipment processing/handling
hydrocarbon/hydrocarbon container within process
units, utility/offsite facilities, marine
facilities.
48Pre-com (General)
- 4. Air freeing
- - To remove potential hazard of forming an
explosive mixture when combustible hydrocarbons
are mixed with air (substantially oxygen). - Method
- - Nitrogen or steam is introduced from one
end of the system or equipment and vented from
the other end until specified oxygen level is
attained. - Application
- - All hydrocarbon process pipeline/equipment
and flammable - chemical lines within the process unit.
- - Pipe/equipment for handling or transferring
fluids in utility /offsite - /marine area facilities.
49Pre-com (General)
- 5. Dry out
- Refractory drying carried out by heating
the furnace (or - equipment with refractory) to remove
moisture and to stabilize the - crystalline structure of the refractory
under a previously specified - temperature-time program.
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- Circuit drying
- 1. Normal drying carried out by blowing
air or nitrogen to remove - moisture remaining to agreed specification.
- 2. Vacuum drying Carried out by vacuum
pump etc to remove moisture remaining to agreed
specification. - Method
- Drying will be carried out as follows
- 1. Drain out carried out after hydraulic
test or water flushing until no water drains out
from low points. - Application
- - All hydrocarbon process pipeline/equipment
and flammable - chemical lines within the process unit.
- - Pipe/equipment for handling or transferring
fluids in utility /offsite - /marine area facilities.
50Pre-com (General)
- 5. Dry out (cont)
- Method
- Drying will be carried out as follows
- 1. Drain out carried out after hydraulic
test or water flushing until - no water drains out from low points.
- 2. Drying out with air preliminary drying
out shall be carried out - with air during air blowing.
- 3. Drying out with nitrogen final drying
out shall be carried out with nitrogen during air
freeing - Application
- - All system where moisture would interfere
with operation, cause - icing and corrosion.
51Pre-com (General)
- 6. Catalyst, desiccant, chemical loading
- - Load above materials into vessels prior to
commissioning - Method
- Loading varies and are done in accordance
with specific or - applicable practice.
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- Application
- - Where applicable
52Permit to Work
- Monitoring of the PTW
- One of the daily routine tasks of operation
technicians is to monitor the PTW in her/his area
of responsibility. Below are some general guides
associated to this task - - He/she should be aware of all works
being carried out in his area. - - Ensure that all works are covered with
required PTW - - Do permit spot checks and ensure that
- 1. Relevant hazards are correctly
identified on the permit - 2. Permits and other associated
documents are displayed at the - work site
- 3. Documentation complete and authorized
correctly - 4. Specified safety equipment in place,
in good condition and - being used correctly
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53Permit to Work
- Monitoring of the PTW (cont)
- 5. Specified precaution adequate and
being implemented - 6. Work force fully understand
requirements/details of permit - - Ensure that all works are stopped during
emergency or whenever - required
- - Stop work when warranted
- - Ensure that proper order and
housekeeping are maintained at all - time
54Override
- Most modern plants are equipped with
safeguarding system to protect operations, plant
and investment. In recent years, many companies
have incorporated the principles of depressuring
or instrumented shutdown of key equipment as a
means to control a release and avoid the
actuation of pressure relief devices. - The safety/emergency and operation interlock
system are some of the commonly employed
safeguarding system. -
- Most facilities are provided with Fire and
gas detection system - to detect gas release or fire. In addition to
sounding alarm some - are provided with extinguishing means which
activates upon - detection.
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55Override
- - Interlock activated when a certain
parameter go beyond a set - operating envelop.
- - Fire detection system activate when it
sees fire - - Gas detection system activate when it
sense gas release - - Most PLC programs would abort if
requirements of next ladder - is not satisfied
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- Very convenient and helpful in our job, but
those safeguarding system can give you temporary
inconvenience (like causing total shutdown of
the plant in the case of some facilities). In
general we are not suppose to play with them, but
there are exceptional occasions wherein we should
defeat these system to prevent unwanted incident. -
56Override
- In most of the modern facilities, the root
cause of most shutdown and waste of productive
time can be traced to problem associated with
safeguarding system. - Examples
- - Activation of interlocks during
maintenance resulting to shutdown - can be due to failure to defeat or
override system at the right time - - Waste of produce and environmental damages
due to failure to - restore defeat after completion of
instrument PM. - - Damage to equipment and in some case lost
of whole plant - and agonies can be caused by unserviceable
safeguarding - system.
- - Facility shutdown and/or work stoppage due
to activation of F/G - detection system can be caused by failure
to deactivate them when - necessary
57Override
- Out there in the field as owner of the
plant, it is our responsibility - to manage those safeguarding system
intelligently. Standing and Operating
Instructions are in place to guide us, but it up
to us to decide when to put defeat/restore defeat
in those safeguarding systems. - In order to do so, we should
- - Know locations and characteristic of F/G
safeguarding system in - the workplace
- - Know systems provided with interlock,
their architecture and logic -
-
-
-
58Process Automation
- Courses in instrumentations, PLC etc are
part of our general training, but it was thought
that it is very helpful that introductory course
are provided by an OPERATIONS STAFF to peers
prior to attending those courses in order to
clear the groundetc. It is considered very
useful - to have an idea of what you want to know
for the sake of learning, what are relevant to
your task, particularly those you will encounter
in your present workplace. -
- Clearing the ground
- Look at this (extracted from Foxboro Process
Automatic Course) - Concept of process
- 1. Production viewpoint
- Process is generally thought of as a
place where materials and, - most often, energy come together to
produce a desired product. -
59Process Automation
- 2. Control viewpoint
- From a control viewpoint, the meaning is
more specific. A process is - identified as having one or more
variables associated with it that are - important enough for their values to be
known and for them to be - controlled.
- On the next slides, we will attempt to
reconcile both viewpoints to be - able to and/or cope i
60Process Automation
Signal to control room
Signal from control room
TT
Steam
Hot water
Heat Exchanger
Cold water
Condensate
1.A. Process
Manipulated variable
Process
Controlled variable
Load variable
1.B. Variable
Heat exchanger represent a simple process
61Process Automation
- Referring to Fig. 1A, we have only one variable
to maintain the temperature of the hot water in
this process. In this example, the control system
manipulates the position of a steam valve. - However the temperature of the water depends not
only on the position of the steam valve but also
on the flowrate of the water, its inlet
temperature, the enthalpy of the steam, the
degree of fouling in the exchanger, and the
ambient temperature. - Above illustrates controlled, manipulated and
load variables - Those are the three categories associated with
every process under control (Fig. 1B)
62Process Automation
- What they want us (operations) to be aware of
is that the whole process is not simply
manipulating the position of the steam valve to
heat the water. It is more than that. - To support above, let us look at how Honeywell
define process. Honeywell define as the
collective functions performed in and by the
equipment in which a variable is controlled.
Thus the term process - includes everything that affects the
controlled variable, other than the automatic
controller. -
63Process Automation
- 1. Controlled variables
- These are the parameters that indicate
product quality or the operating condition of the
process. Example are - - pressure
- - level
- - temperature
- - pH
- - specific gravity
- - density
- - composition
- - moisture content
- - weight
- - speed
- - other variables depending on the
process
64Process Automation
- 2. Manipulated variables
- Manipulated variables include
- - valve position
- - damper position
- - motor speed
- - blade pitch pH
- - a control loop manipulated for
controlling another variable. - example, a flow variable is
manipulated to control level or - temperature
65Process Automation
- 3. Load variables
- All variables affecting a controlled
variable, other than the one being manipulated
are defined as loads.
66Process Variables
- Process variable
- The 4 main process variables are
- Temperature
- Level
- Pressure
- Flow
- Note Quality control is now generally
considered a process variable.
67Process Variables
- Process variable
- There are numerous process variables detecting
element available. - Listing of most are shown in the next few slides.
Those we have here - shall be discussed during your instrumentation
courses. - For the others in the list, it would be helpful
to be aware of them and - better yet, know something about them.
68Process Variables
- Process variable detecting elements
- Temperature
- The 3 dominant measurement devices are
- 1. Thermocouples
- 2. Thermometers
- - Resistance thermometers
- - Thermistors
- - Filled-system Thermometer
- - Bimetal Thermometers
- 3. Pyrometers
- - Total radiation pyrometers
- - Photoelectric pyrometers
- - Disappearing filament pyrometers
- - Ratio pyrometers
69Process Variables
- Process variables detecting elements (cont)
- 2. Flow
- 1. Orifice meter
- 2. Venture meter
- 3. Rotameter
- 4. Turbine meter
- 5. Vortex shedding flowmeters
- 6. Ultrasonic flowmeters
- 7. Magnetic flowmeters
- 8. Coriolis flowmeters
70Process Variables
- Process variable detecting elements (cont)
- 3. Level
- 1.- Float actuated characterized by a
buoyant member that floats - at the interface between 2 fluid
- 2. Chain or tape float gauge
- - Lever and shaft mechanism
- - magnetically coupled devices
- 3. Head devices utilize hydrostatic
head as a measure of level - 4. Bubble tube system
- - Those that mainly depends on fluid
characteristics - 5. Electrical methods
- - Thermal methods
- - Sonic methods
71Process Variables
- Process variable detecting elements (cont)
- 4. Pressure
- Process pressure measuring devices may be divided
as follows - 1. Liquid-column method
- 2. Those that are based on the measurement
of the distortion of an - elastic pressure chamber (elastic
element method) - - Bourdon tube element
- - Bellows element
- - Diaphragm element
- 3. Electrical sensing devices
- 4. Strain gauges
- - Piezoresistive transducers
- - Piezoelectric transducers
72Process Variables
- Process variable detecting elements (cont)
- 5. Quality control
- 1. Process stream analyzer
- Controlled condition may be a
chemical/physical property or - composition of a process stream or
product, such as viscosity, - ph, density, oxygen content, purity,
or content of a specified - hydrocarbon.