What are the responsibilities of the instrumentator in the early stages of a project?

So you are the client? It depends on the part of the work related to instruments that you are responsible for – are you more concerned with instrument selection or with the control processes?

:) For instruments like ours, the main considerations are whether an instrument is needed and what type to choose – for example, whether a control valve is required, whether measurement points are necessary, and whether the instrument should be installed on-site or remotely, etc

Check whether your process PID drawings are ready, discuss the control scheme with the process engineers, and then you can count how many instruments there are – though this isn’t required, as the design institute will provide a list in the end. Next is to approach the manufacturers of these instruments for technical discussions; this involves the preliminary steps of selecting a suitable model and signing a contract. It’s important to know what level you are targeting, so as to determine which manufacturer’s products are appropriate. If I have time again, I’ll prepare materials for the basic instrumentation training.

It depends on what you want to do – getting familiar with the purpose of the process, understanding the workflow, inquiring about the process requirements, and so much more

Familiarize oneself with the manufacturing process and determine the overall approach for selecting instruments: for example, whether to prioritize imported or domestic products, to facilitate future communication with the design institute.

It depends on what kind of project it is. For projects with relatively mature manufacturing processes, design institutes usually copy the drawings from other similar projects. In that case, you should find drawings of similar projects to take a look at, so as to understand what materials are used and what the pressure and temperature levels are. Once the design institute submits its drawings, you need to check them against the data sheets to identify any errors in the earlier versions of those drawings. After all the data has been confirmed, you can proceed with the bidding process for the DCS system and the procurement of instruments, assess the advantages and disadvantages of each instrument, and then carry out installation and commissioning. Once everything is in order, your factory can start production. It sounds simple, but these tasks are likely to take two to three years

If you’re a beginner, remember to study the PID diagrams carefully and keep in mind those important interlocks. The installation and commissioning phase is the best time to learn; you must put in effort. If you have enough time and energy, go to the site as often as possible to get a feel for it, as this will greatly help you become familiar with the site. Most DCS manufacturers offer training, so study hard. Build a good relationship with the person who is training you – they can teach you a lot. It’s necessary to treat them to a few meals. Keep working hard

If it is a process you are not familiar with, it is better to first look at the PID diagram to get acquainted with the process, and check the number of I/O points as well as the selection of instruments； Familiar processes are much easier; once the instrument selection is decided, it’s done