What preparations are required for instrument automation before a project starts?
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I’ve just started working on this project. The flowchart is ready, along with a table of equipment details; however, the process flowchart hasn’t been prepared yet. What preparations are needed for the instrumentation and control team at this stage? (Just like in the electrical engineering field, it’s possible to calculate the load on existing equipment first.) What data and information does the instrumentation and control team need to prepare? It’s urgent! ! ! ! !
Count the I/O points, study the control algorithms, the layout of the DCS control cabinet, and the assignment of operation stations.
You are probably just in the design phase; here’s my personal opinion: 1. Count the instrument points and work together with the process engineering team to check for any missing elements in the design. 2. Count the various types and quantities of instrument signals, and in collaboration with the automation control team, determine the types and numbers of templates. 3. Generally, there is a general idea: as for the detection methods to be used for various instruments, their quality levels, and the approximate budget, it is necessary first to consider who will be responsible for purchasing the equipment, materials, cables, etc. 4. In combination with other specialties, there should generally be an engineering schedule for the design, procurement, ordering, installation, construction, and commissioning aspects related to the instrumentation specialty. 5. Since table design is constrained by the process design, you need to keep a close eye on the progress of the process design drawings, and urge your client to provide the design specifications as soon as possible so that the table design materials can be prepared for ordering.
The process PID diagrams and such haven’t been released yet; how can we count the number of I/O points?
Let me start by saying that I handled all the instrumentation and automatic control work myself; therefore, there is no specialized field in instrumentation and automatic control – only a specialization in instrument control. 1. What you mentioned about discussing the instrument locations in conjunction with the process design is feasible; however, at present, the three drawings and one document are not available, nor is the process PID, only a rough flow diagram exists. What preparations are needed? 2. Count the types and quantities of meters; can you determine what the number of template types is? 3. The instrument detection method is okay, what’s the quality level? Budget? It seems like I really don’t understand it that well? 4. Is the project schedule not available yet either? How to coordinate with other majors? 5. Keep a close eye on the manufacturing process – this is essential! Are there any other suggestions?