Instrumentation is the term used to describe all the different devices (or instruments) that are indicating, measuring, and recording physical quantities within your plant to ensure that your production processes are operating effectively.

Some types of measures commonly monitored include:

 

Flow
Flow meters are used to measure the flow in a process pipe. This can be product, water or chemicals used to sanitize the plant. They are used to record trends in product movement; how much water a plant uses or chemical usage for Clean in Place (CIP).

EAS has recently installed flow meters for clients to measure site water usage to identify opportunities for water saving initiatives. We have also used vortex flow meters on demin water lines where there is low conductivity.

 

 

Temperature
Temperature is one of the most important measures in production processes. Temperature monitoring can be used for anything from room temperature for controlling air supply to monitoring fluids in process pipes and many more. There is a diverse range of temperature measurement devices depending on the process or part of the plant being monitored.

Just some of the ways we have assisted clients with temperature gauges include:

• monitoring chiller rooms to control the temperature in the room and of the product
• measuring flue temperatures on gas boilers
• tracking the temperature of hot glue lines on packaging machines
• monitoring chilled water supply and return lines to process plants and for measuring the load on chillers.
• In motor control centres to control ventilation

pH
pH measures how acidic or basic a solution is. In food manufacturing changes in pH levels can affect the taste, freshness and shelf life of products. pH is one of the most common chemical measures as it is used in waterworks, sewage treatment plants and the production of food/beverages and health products.

EAS has recently installed pH sensors to provide pH protection on irrigation lines to prevent pasture loss and in stormwater lines to identify any spills before they get into our waterways.

 

 

There are many more types of instrumentation that EAS can provide to assist with your plant monitoring including pressure, conductivity, chlorine and turbidity.

It is also essential that any instrumentation is regularly calibrated to ensure you are getting accurate measures.  Calibration compares the measures provided by the device being tested and the standard. Regular calibration of your instruments allows you to be confident they are accurately measuring inputs and outputs to ensure your facility is operating at peak performance.

The EAS team have a wealth of experience in installing and calibrating equipment for your plant or process. We have also recently employed Blair Pussell, a qualified industrial and control technician who has a wealth or knowledge and experience to assist you with your plant instrumentation.

If you would like advice or assistance on ensuring you have the equipment in place to monitor the performance and productivity of your plan, get in touch with the EAS team today on 07 834 0505.

The third room is the safest because the lions would have died of starvation.

He was cleaning the windows on the inside of the building!

Circuit breakers can go long periods of time without activation. If they fail when activated, this can have catastrophic consequences for your staff and plant if an arc flash were to occur; and will certainly cause extensive damage to your electrical systems. Primary & Secondary injection testing should be included as part of your Preventative Maintenance plan to ensure the reliability and safety of your power circuit breakers.

Primary Injection Testing
Primary current injection is usually the preferred test method because it includes the current sensors, wiring and the current conduction path in the circuit breaker as part of the test. However, it will not always detect sensor wiring and polarity problems.

Primary injection tests work by injecting a calculated amount of low voltage (Typically 5 to 10 Volts) with high current through the breaker and measuring how long it takes for the breaker to trip. The calculated amount of current is different for each type of function you want to test. Based on the time-current curve for the breaker, each testing current value will have a required time response for determining acceptability.

Common primary injection tests include:

• Power Transformers (Through Faults)
• Relay Testing
• Bus-work, Switchgear and HV Breakers
• Low voltage breakers
• Switchgear Testing
• Heat runs
• Stability tests
• Loose Connections
• Core Identification

Secondary Injection Testing:
Secondary Injection Tests are always completed before the Primary Injection Tests. It is done to minimize the risks during the initial testing to the Low Voltage side of equipment under test. This check verifies the correct operation of the protection controls that are downstream from the inputs to the protection relays.

Some trip units allow for just testing of the electronic trip functions of the breakers, this form of testing is much more readily accessible and easier to complete. Secondary trip testing differs from Primary in that the high currents are not applied through the line and load contacts of the breaker. This generally involves disconnecting the trip from its standard operating circuitry and connecting it to a specialist test that can inject, measure and record the actual operation characteristics of the breaker under test.

If you need help incorporating primary and secondary injection testing as part of your preventative maintenance programme get in touch with EAS, your specialist industrial electrical team today on 07 834 0505.

• 50% of sickness comes from poor indoor air quality
  (USA figures from US Environmental Protection Agency)
• Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) increases productivity by 20%
  (Green Building Council)
• UVC solutions can save up to 15% in energy costs.

Air Conditioning provides us with a comfortable working environment, where we believe we are breathing good clean air. However, there are many invisible pollutants in the air that we are often not aware of and the damage they are doing.

With the spread of Covid-19 around the globe, we have all become much more aware of the ease with which viruses transmit. The diagram below shows all the ways that viruses and bacteria can get into HVAC systems.

Image source:  Steril-Aire

The biggest cause of poor indoor air quality is Biofilm.

Biofilm forms when mould and bacteria adhere to surfaces in moist environments by excreting a slimy glue-like substance which dust sticks to. The biofilm grows in the cooling coil and releases spores into the air stream. As Biofilm grows it forms a protective shell which traditional cleaners are unable to fully penetrate, making it difficult to remove. Biofilm is also a poor conductor of heat and therefore inhibits the cooling efficiency of the coil. In addition to Biofilm, indoor air quality is also reduced by the circulation of virus and bacteria contaminants brought into the building by people and from the outside air.

How can you improve indoor air quality?
Ultraviolet-C (UVC) light is a powerful tool for arresting the spread of unhealthy contaminants.

UVC inactivates the microbes, bacteria, viruses and mould by altering their DNA, destroying their ability to reproduce.

Source: Steril-Aire

With the correct number of emitters and UVC dose selected according to your cooling coil size and airflow up to 99% of the airborne biological pollutants can be destroyed. UVC will also eliminate the mould that keeps the biofilm attached to the fins of the cooling coil. The dead mould detaches from the metal fins and is washed into the drain pan by the condensate leaving the cooling coils clean.

Benefits of using UVC light sterilisers:

• Improved energy efficiency. When coils are covered in biofilm the HVAC system needs to work harder, shortening their lifespan and increasing energy costs.  As Air Conditioning typically contributes a significant portion of energy costs there are excellent savings to be made. Some systems claiming payback within 24 months of installation or less.
• Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) causes 50% of illness in the US according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With good IAQ decreasing employee absenteeism by 20 – 50%.
• In food processing plants the use of UVC can enhance food safety through mould, bacteria and virus control extending product shelf life and improving quality and production yields.

If you would like to find out more about installing UVC light sterilisers in your HVAC systems, get in touch with EAS today on 07 834 0505.