Process Control Training: What is Level & Flow Process Control? (Amatrol)

Two of the most common industrial applications of process control are the level and flow of gases and liquids. In this video, Amatrol explains why these two process control applications are so vitally important to related industrial tasks in areas such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and oil & gas.
Transcript:
What is Level & Flow Process Control?
One of the most common process variables measured in complex process control systems is level.
Level sensors detect the level of fluids, such as liquids or gases, as well as fluid-like solids, such as powders and slurries.
Level process control is an important part of process control systems in applications like chemical reaction tanks, cooling towers, and boilers.
In these applications, gravity causes flowing substances to become horizontal when contained.
Level process control allows the height of a column of a substance, such as a liquid, to be controlled with the help of valves that restrict the flow of liquid entering or leaving a tank.
Level measurements can be taken continuously or at intervals as point values in order to maintain the level of a substance within a specified range.
A common process variable that’s usually closely related to level is flow.
Flow process control involves the precise measurement and control of the flow of a fluid, such as a liquid or gas, through a pipe in a given direction within a system.
Control is usually accomplished via valves used to restrict a fluid stream.
Flow process control is important in a variety of applications.
For example, flow process control is vital to mixing processes that require the flow of materials to be controlled at specific ratios.
Likewise, flow process control is a key component of gas furnaces, where the flow of a gas into the furnace is critical in controlling temperature.
Flow process control relies upon careful measurement by flow meters, which are instruments designed to detect the mass, volumetric, linear, or nonlinear flow rate of a fluid.
Common types of flow meters include positive displacement, differential, and inferential flow meters.
A simple flow process control system might consist of a pump, a variable frequency drive (VFD), a flow meter, and one or more valves.
While flow is often considered the least difficult process variable to control, it also usually requires the most control loops since continuous processes require material flow from the beginning of the process to the end.
Amatrol’s Level/Flow Process Control Troubleshooting Learning System (T5552F) teaches learners hands-on level and flow process control skills.
Learners will gain valuable experience with a variety of real industrial components, including centrifugal pumps, electric motors, regulators, gauges, and three types of controllers: relay, PID, and PLC.
Visit Amatrol.com to learn more about our process control training systems.