Any modern enterprise engaged in production activities necessarily uses certain devices and sensors. Ordinary citizens also need them, because they can be used to control the consumption of water, heat and electricity. At the same time, there are specialists who are involved in ensuring the normal operation of all these devices.

Definition of instrumentation and variety

The main purpose of instrumentation, which includes special measuring devices and automation, is to determine the exact physical quantities. With the help of these devices, you can get an idea of ​​the current water consumption, determine how effectively this equipment is functioning, etc.

What is instrumentation and control?

The decoding of this term is quite simple and consists in the following: instrumentation and automation are nothing more than instrumentation and automation. In turn the instrumentation department should be understood as a special service, whose responsibilities include ensuring the operability of the system of various sensors and instruments throughout the enterprise. The specialists of this department monitor the condition of a large variety of instruments, which include automatic valves, flow meters, etc.

Types of instrumentation

The instrumentation is based on a wide variety of instruments and devices that are often used in various fields. it there can be both household devices and mechanisms that have become widespread in the construction industry, heavy industry. Moreover, within the framework of each direction, separate subgroups of control and measuring devices are distinguished.

Electricity meters, ammeters and voltmeters are widely used to control power consumption. These devices are of different types, which affects what kind of facilities they are used on: in the residential, industrial sector or in the utilities. Most often, the installation of these devices is carried out by specialists. For this reason, these instrumentation must have exceptional performance in terms of quality, accuracy of measurements.

A special group of instrumentation consists of instruments used to measure pressure. These should be considered a variety of models of pressure gauges, vacuum gauges, pressure gauges, etc. These devices have become widespread in different areas, which include industry, boiler systems, oil refining.

Also, mention should be made of the control and measuring devices with which the volume of bulk solids and liquids is measured. In addition to them, there are other subgroups of instrumentation, which should include devices used to determine switching costs, protection devices, etc.

Although there are a lot of these devices, thermostats, automatic drives, and also frequency converters are most often used.

As already mentioned, the main the purpose of instrumentation is to measure certain quantities... This data is obtained by focusing on the scale and pointer. They can be classified into two types: one-sided and two-sided. On single-sided instruments, the scale is positioned so that its values ​​start from the left side, and the received data is limited to one direction. As for the double-sided devices, here for the zero mark there is a place strictly in the center. Measurement values ​​can be located on the right or left side relative to the central axis.

What does an instrumentation locksmith do?

The main duties of a kip specialist are related to the repair of various electronic metering and control devices. These employees must also be electricians, since in the process of work they have to apply the laws of physics in practice. After all, often only an instrumentation and control engineer is able to help start production.

Where do the instrument connoisseurs come from?

The staff of the instrumentation department is formed only from those specialists who not only have specialized education, but also have experience. Such an employee can easily read the data of control and measuring devices of any enterprise and get an idea of ​​the nature of the use of electricity. But when one device fails, it leads to serious problems, including the temporary suspension of the entire enterprise.

If a young man chose a direction related to instrumentation when entering college, then after graduation he has the opportunity to find a job in any of the industries. Today, automated systems can be found in railway facilities, refineries, heavy engineering, and those that manufacture food.

The professionalism of the specialists of the instrumentation department often decides how long will it take to restore the enterprise after emergencies... These workers monitor the condition of pumps, conveyors, electric motors, ensuring their smooth operation.

What can the instrumentation department

The employees of the instrumentation and control department are called upon to introduce modern technologies at the enterprise. They can easily understand various complex circuits, troubleshoot any system. Their work is based on the execution of operations that relate to the following areas:

• Automation of electric drives;
• Creation of ACS software for employees working with systems;
• Technology automation.

The instrumentation service is obliged to carry out maintenance and monitor the operation of control devices and systems. These specialists know all the nuances of the functioning of the devices under their control. Besides it is not difficult for them to restore the operation of any sensor and a meter.

Who is the main specialist in the department

It is very important for any enterprise that a department that responsible for debugging, configuring and launching monitoring and control systems, was represented by a specialist with extensive experience. To effectively cope with the duties of an instrumentation and control engineer, a specialist is required to know the main principles of cybernetics and computer technology, be able to apply methods and controls, and have a clear idea of ​​the functional and production departments.

This specialist is required to perform the following functions:

• Development and use of ACS for computer technology, carried out using high-tech means of communication and communications.
• Collecting the necessary information, on the basis of which working and technical projects will be created.
• Defining tasks for employees of the instrumentation service, an explanation of all the nuances specified in the job descriptions;
• Creation of technological schemes determining the operation of the automated control system, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational and technical support of all subsystems.
• Development of technical documentation, instructions and manuals, which set out the points related to working with information management systems.

It is very important for any enterprise to have automatic measuring devices that take over some of the work. And the instrumentation and control services do an excellent job with their functions, since their staff is made up of qualified specialists who are able to maintain the uninterrupted operation of the key systems of the enterprise for a long time.

One of the main characteristics of measuring instruments is the accuracy class (an indicator describing the permissible error). This value is not static, it changes during operation. As a result, over time, the error may go beyond the permissible limits.

This threatens with many troubles, ranging from disruption of the technological process and ending with the threat of an emergency. Therefore, instruments, sensors, measuring mechanisms and other specialized equipment must be regularly verified in the instrumentation department. Let's talk about the organization of this service and its main tasks.

What is instrumentation and control?

This definition includes all control equipment and automation used in almost various production areas and in everyday life. Examples include electricity and water meters, pressure regulators in the oil and gas industry, automation for boiler rooms, etc.

Explanation of the abbreviation

The abbreviation of this term stands for quite simply - instrumentation and automation. The service of the same name performs the following tasks and functions:

• implementation of metrological supervision;
• maintenance, adjustment and repair of measuring equipment;
• introduction of new automation systems at the enterprise, for example, automated control systems.

In some cases, the foremen and adjusters of the "Instrumentation and A" department can be involved in the commissioning of electrical equipment, if there is a production need for it.

Types of instrumentation

The classification of measuring equipment is carried out depending on the physical and technical characteristics of the devices, as well as their qualitative and quantitative indicators. By the name of the group, it is easy to determine the purpose of the measuring devices included in it:

• devices for measuring temperature - thermometers (A in Fig. 2);
• devices for determining pressure - manometers (B);
• flow meters for the working medium or other substances - flow meters (C);
• determinants of the composition of gas mixtures - gas analyzers (D);
• tank fill level sensors - level gauges (E), etc.

Figure 2. Different types of measuring instruments

Each of the groups, in turn, is divided into several subgroups, according to design and principle of operation. For example, manometers, among them there are devices for measuring excess pressure, its differential, or displaying absolute value. The design of these devices can be electrical or mechanical.

Instrumentation department structure

The structure of instrumentation and control units is formed taking into account many factors, of which two key ones can be distinguished:

• the number of measuring devices used by the enterprise;
• complexity of service.

Based on these factors, a centralized service structure or decentralized one is formed. Briefly about each of them.

Features of the centralized structure

This method of forming a subdivision is suitable for enterprises in which many measuring instruments, sensors, etc. are not involved in technological schemes. This allows you to combine the operational and maintenance departments into one service, which is managed by the head of the instrumentation department. In small enterprises, this manager may combine the position of chief metrologist.

One of the groups of service specialists is assigned to certain production areas for regular maintenance of instrumentation (including metering of devices and their repair) located in the territory specified in the job description. If necessary, by order of the head of the shop, this group of specialists can be strengthened by other employees of the service, for example, for carrying out large-scale repair or installation work.

This structure allows the creation of teams of narrow specialization (for example, assemblers, electricians, electricians, electricians, electricians, electronics engineers, etc.). They are engaged in the repair, adjustment and installation of complex equipment, as well as the commissioning of new systems. After the completion of commissioning, the equipment is serviced by a team in charge of the workshop where the installation was made.

Features of a decentralized structure

This method of organization is practiced in large enterprises. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the repair (methodological) department is a separate service, while the maintenance tasks are assigned to the technological department. Each of these divisions has its own leadership. The specialists of the methodological department are headed by the chief metrologist, and the employees of the operation department are subordinate to the head of the shop.

The responsibilities of the methodological service include all types of planned, over-planned and scheduled preventive maintenance work. Payment for the services rendered is transferred to a separate current account, it is deducted from the funds allocated to the technological department of instrumentation and automation.

Depending on the specifics of production, the work of the maintenance service is organized taking into account the specialization of work, or according to technological characteristics.

In the first option, groups of specialists are created who are responsible for the operation of certain types of instrumentation (signaling, automation, controls, etc.). In the second, there are teams of foremen who are responsible for the operation of equipment in certain technological streams.

In a decentralized structure, the methodological service financially depends entirely on the technological department, since payments for the work done come from its budget.

If there is a production need, the operational service can be strengthened by employees of the repair department or teams responsible for the installation of automation and control systems. This order must be issued by the chief instrument engineer of the enterprise (metrologist). Most of the regular commissioning works must be handled by the operations department on their own.

Main goals

Regardless of the structure of the instrumentation service, the scope of its main tasks includes:

• creation of conditions under which the uninterrupted operation of all systems for which the unit is responsible will be ensured;
• ensuring the availability of spare parts, backup equipment for measuring technology and automation;
• verification of the correct operation of devices that are in the area of ​​responsibility of the service;
• regular instructions and training of personnel in the norms and rules for the operation of automation and control equipment;
• commissioning of new specialized projects.

Duties of instrumentation locksmith

In accordance with the requirements of the professional standard, an instrumentation locksmith must know the principle of operation of the equipment he controls, be able to repair and maintain it. For example, for maintenance of electrical equipment, it is necessary to obtain an appropriate specialized education, general knowledge of the basics of electrical engineering will not be enough.

Depending on the specifics of the serviced equipment, the following devices and sets of tools may be at the locksmith's workplace: instrumentation cabinet, shields, equipment installed on consoles, measuring devices, sockets for connecting electrical appliances, etc.

This specialty requires that the employee understands both the equipment entrusted to him and the general process technology.

What does an instrumentation engineer do?

This profession entails the following responsibilities:

• organizational work related to ensuring the smooth operation of equipment;
• responsibility for the implementation of automated equipment;
• management of instrumentation and automation services, in particular, coordination of teams of specialists;
• metrological support;
• preparation of technical documentation (flow chart, maintenance schedules, verification, calibration);

• long-term planning (action plan for a month, quarter, year);
• acceptance of the work performed;
• preparation of prescriptions in accordance with the identified shortcomings and comments;
• organization of control over the implementation of the assigned tasks.

An example of deciphering a verification stamp

After the instrument has been verified by the instrumentation service, a corresponding designation (stamp) is put on the device, as a rule, it carries a certain information component. Let's give an example of decryption.

Legend:

• Verification date (quarter).
• Image of the Gosstandart sign.
• The year is encrypted with two digits, in our case 09 is 2009.
• A code that identifies the service that tested the device;
• A sign assigned to an instrumentation and control officer.

It is impossible to imagine without instruments and sensors. And in the residential sector one cannot do without meters for water, heat and electricity. Who sets up these useful gadgets, if the need arises? Who makes sure they work properly?

What is instrumentation and control?

"Casket" opens simply: instrumentation and automation - instrumentation and automation. The instrumentation department (transcript above), more precisely, the service with this name is responsible for the operability of the entire instrument system at the enterprise. Instruments for metering electricity and gasoline, automatic valves, flow meters, and other controls - all of this is under the jurisdiction of the "Kipovites".

What does an instrumentation locksmith do?

Locksmith-kipovets is a specialist in repairing simple and complex, conventional and electronic and control. Who can apply Ohm's Law in practice other than an electrician? Samples of knowledge of the laws of physics are employees of the automation service and setting up various devices. Only an engineer or instrumentation mechanic is able to cope with the launch of production. the word is known to everyone involved with automation.

Where do the instrument connoisseurs come from?

Only specialists with professional education and experience are employed in the instrumentation department. Deciphering the readings of control and measuring devices of a large enterprise can tell a knowledgeable person about the scale of trade, for example, oil or electric current. If one of the devices is denied, losses are inevitable, up to and including stopping the enterprise.

After graduating from college in a specialty with the appropriate name, a graduate can be useful in any of the Automation systems are used in oil refineries and in the railway sector, in heavy engineering and in factories that produce food.

The prompt elimination of unforeseen and emergency situations depends on the employees of the instrumentation department. The repair and maintenance of pumps, conveyors, electric motors and pneumatic valves is the responsibility of the instrumentation service.

What can the instrumentation department

The main responsibility of employees is the automation of technologies in production. This applies to both new enterprises and those that have undergone modernization and reconstruction. Everything can be done by the instrumentation and control departments: they are capable of decoding any complex schemes, restoring and setting up any system. With an integrated approach to work, the service is based on three areas:

• on the automation of electric drives;
• on the development of ACS software for system users;
• on technology automation.

The specialists of the department provide full technical service and supervision over the operation of control devices and systems. Craftsmen-kipovtsy not only know how the devices under their jurisdiction work, but also professionally can deal with any problem with sensors and meters.

Who is the main specialist in the department

Without a doubt, there should be a chief experienced and knowledgeable specialist in the department related to debugging, tuning and launching monitoring and control systems. Only a person who knows the basics of cybernetics and computer technology, methods and means of management, who is familiar with functional and production departments, can cope with such a position as an instrumentation and control engineer. The decoding of his duties in this rank is as follows:

• Design and implementation of automated control systems for computer technology using modern means of communication and communications.
• Preparation of relevant data for the design and development of working and technical projects.
• Setting tasks for the instrumentation department employees, decoding the details of all job descriptions.
• Development of technological schemes for the tasks of the automated control system, taking into account the organizational and technical support of all subsystems.
• Preparation of technical documentation, instructions and manuals related to the use of information management systems.
• Supervision and periodic control over documentation.
• Investigation of the causes of violations and failures in the operation of the system and making decisions on the prevention and elimination of these shortcomings.
• Participation in the training of employees of the company's departments to work with data from automatic control systems.
• Establishing the process of preparing the relevant documentation.
• Responsibility for the timely decryption of data processed by computers.

No modern production facility is able to cope with the volume of work without automatic measuring devices that control the process. In accordance with the requirements of the time, in order to obtain the best results, the instrumentation and control departments are staffed with qualified personnel capable of ensuring the smooth functioning of the most important systems of the enterprise.

They were related because they are stored close to each other in the warehouse, and the treatment is similar. These are all such sturdy boxes standing on warehouse shelves, and in them, in excellent packaging, in a preservative grease, spare parts from equipment that work for the company every day, hourly, every minute, every second are stored. But spare parts are not used every day, but only when they are needed. Tools and accessories are also all necessary things specific for a given production, and some of them are already in operation on machine tools or at machine tools. And new ones are taken from the warehouse only when the old ones wear out or break.

What is instrumentation

Instrumentation, control and measuring devices are associated with specific activities in production, which consists in measuring various parameters of a product, or a technological process, or some conditions.

What is instrumentation

With the automation of production, many new things began to come to the instrumentation. This is especially true of production automatic, not automated. These two words differ from each other only in that in the automated, the participation of a person is assumed, and in the automatic, everything is done by automata. In car factories, there are entire conveyor lines where everything is assembled by robots. Whole automatic sections, lines, workshops began to appear at different factories ... And this does not surprise us for a long time. It is no longer possible to produce entire groups of goods without such automation. For example, integrated circuits are made completely automatically, simply because a person is already there and cannot help with anything: what is produced can only be seen under a microscope.

The role of a person is reduced to the periodic measurement of some parameters. Therefore, we added one letter. The abbreviation for instrumentation began to look like instrumentation. The second "i" is the union. Explanation of the abbreviation: "Instrumentation and automation".

It is clear that now the walls of those former warehouses of spare parts and instrumentation have long been "moved apart", figuratively speaking. To store all the spare parts for robots and boxes with devices, how diverse, just as fancy, there is no longer a rack or two, and Aunt Masha the storekeeper, who gives them out for weekly or monthly prophylaxis. Now, at the factories of firms producing high-tech equipment, there is a service "KIP Automation" everywhere, which is supposed to ensure the smooth operation of all devices and all automation. Actually, this is the basis for ensuring the operation of the production itself. Because it is necessary to sneak a malfunction into the work of the service - and everything will stop. There is no tiny detail from a small device, they forgot to order and buy - that's all. The firm could face huge losses.

The work of the "Kipovtsev" service

The nature of the work of the service is for the most part different from the nature of the rest of the continuous production. The economy of modern enterprises is diversified and multifaceted, and measuring instruments are available everywhere. Therefore, the instrumentation and control service consists of subdivisions. Some Kipovites (Kipiavtsy? - such an abbreviation did not take root, because it does not sound) are engaged in electrical measuring instruments, others are engaged in chemical analysis and devices associated with them, and still others are gas analyzers, pressure gauges (manometers), temperature.

By the nature of their duties, the specifics are also different: some are engaged in the verification of instruments in metrological services, others carry out periodic measurements for preventive purposes, and others are on duty around the clock at the control panels of the automation, monitoring the standard of all parameters of the equipment. If these are stoves in a boiler room, then it is necessary that the devices correctly indicate the temperature, pressure, quality of fuel combustion, and the automation normally responds to all deviations. Similarly in other cases. The task of such a kipovtsa is to react in time to equipment failure and take action. Usually, the automation itself turns on the device instead of the failed one, then the Kipovets must ensure the replacement of this disconnected unit with a usable one and return the damaged one for repair. The instrumentation service may also have a repair department. It receives such damaged blocks and can repair it on its own. Change what is easy, having your own spare parts base - microcircuit, resistance, capacitor. Or send it for repair to other organizations.

Kipovtsy differ "by ranks". The lowest rank of a labor kipovtsa is an instrumentation locksmith. A locksmith can work in instrumentation of any direction and on any basis. If he is engaged in pipes, then this is a pipe fitter, if an electrician, then an electrician, if a mechanic, then a mechanic. And it can work in any of the divisions of this service. Beginners in Kipov usually immediately become locksmiths. But even a born electronic engineer can proudly carry this title all his life.

For repair and adjustment, they usually start a staff unit - an instrumentation adjuster. The decryption here is simple, this is exactly the repair service inside the instrumentation itself. Specialists of a broader profile, since they can deal with everything that is found in modern complex devices: there are sensors on different physical bases, and electronic circuits that require diagnostics and re-soldering, and microcontrollers that need to be reprogrammed or reflash. Beginners, of course, are not put here, but in order to gain experience, the instrumentation locksmith may well help the adjuster.

Instrumentation master. It is clear that the foreman usually organizes the work of a group of Kipovites. But this is usually an experienced specialist, and teaching his wards and transferring his rich experience to them is part of his duties.

Instrumentation and control engineer. This is the ultimate authority in the service. Parsing circuits, knowing the latest successful circuit solutions, following the progress in his field. Of course, helping the installer in difficult cases. It is his responsibility to select data that can help solve problems using the entire arsenal of modern information technology.

Equipment

The equipment includes both the actual measuring devices and all the equipment that ensures the measurement process. And also all the necessary material part: consoles, tables, observation windows. The measurement process is provided with electricity, which means that this includes power supplies, wiring, shields, automatic shutdowns. Most often, the equipment is much more complex and clever than the measuring instruments themselves. In addition, recording or fixing equipment is used to record readings, as well as communication and storage facilities.

Devices

Devices are made to measure certain physical properties, according to physical principles, they differ:

1. Measuring instruments of physical properties: temperature (thermometers, thermocouples, temperature sensors); flame (flame control).
2. Gauges for liquid or gaseous media: pressure (manometers, pressure gauges); liquid level (level gauges); flow rate of liquid or gas (flow meters).
3. Electrical meters: voltmeters, ammeters, meters, transformer voltmeters, bridges, shops, ohmmeters, high-frequency meters.
4. Chemical meters: analyzers, gas analyzers, pH meters.
5. Radiation devices: Geiger counters, dosimeters, detectors.
6. Executive automation devices: electric igniters, manipulators, servomotors.

Service examples

The control in gas pumping stations is simple, but the physical parameters of the pumped gas must be controlled: pressure, temperature. It depends on many factors, and therefore there are appropriate instrumentation for the operation of the compressor unit, the operability and safety of the line in a given section (between stations). This task is aimed at automatic control and diagnostic equipment, which also needs to be serviced.

The nature of the physical environment with which one has to deal (electric currents and voltages) suggests that here the Kipovites must be entirely electricians. Yes, electricians, and even qualified to work in conditions of high, ultra-high and ultra-high voltages, lethal to humans. Only the scale of the structures still obliges you to be high-rise installers. And in transformers, the circulating oil of the cooling system adds to the specifics of working with high-temperature liquids and oil products.

Conclusion

We are now completely surrounded by instruments. In everyday life, automation works in washing machines, washing machines, stoves, irons, and so on. Moreover, the further, the more and more intelligent automation. There is already the concept of "smart apartment", "smart home", "smart site protection", "smart vacuum cleaner".

Not only does it all work before our eyes, it can already receive commands from the Internet and act on them. Willy-nilly, every owner, and maybe his even more advanced children, become a little Kipovites. That can sometimes push them to choose a profession.

Unified qualification reference book of positions of managers, specialists and other employees (CEN), 2019
Section "Qualification characteristics of positions of employees of nuclear energy organizations"
The section was approved by Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of December 10, 2009 N 977

Instrumentation and Automation Technician

Job responsibilities. Provides the operation, maintenance and repair of instrumentation and automation equipment (instrumentation and automation), the unity, reliability and required accuracy of measurements when controlling the parameters of technological processes and the quality of products. Carries out control over the technical condition and safe operation of equipment, metrological supervision over the condition and use of measuring instruments, compliance with metrological rules and norms, regulatory documents to ensure the uniformity of measurements. Organizes the development and control of the implementation of schedules for the repair and maintenance of measuring instruments, automation and computer technology. Participates in the development of contracts for the repair and maintenance of measuring instruments, automation and computer technology, controls their implementation. Develops plans for the manufacture of measuring instruments, automation and spare parts for them. Provides organizational and methodological assistance on the modernization of measuring instruments. Supervises the implementation of scheduled preventive maintenance schedules, the production program for the repair of measuring instruments, automation and computer technology, the quality of equipment repair, the receipt of measuring and automation equipment at the request of the organization's divisions, the manufacture of devices, products and spare parts at the request of the organization's divisions. Participates in the work of the commissions for metrological audit of the organization's divisions. Participates in determining the structure of repair cycles, the frequency of repairs and verification of newly introduced measuring instruments, automation and computer technology. Draws up applications for spare parts, materials, tools, measuring instruments, automation.

Must know: laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, methodological and regulatory documents for the operation, maintenance and repair of instrumentation and automation equipment; prospects for the development of circuits and instrumentation systems; fundamentals of metrology; goals and objectives of metrological support; organization of equipment repair and maintenance; preventive maintenance system; technical characteristics, design features, purpose and principles of equipment operation; basics of production technology; methods and techniques for measuring parameters of controlled and measured quantities; the procedure for drawing up applications for equipment, materials, spare parts, tools; fundamentals of economics and labor organization; fundamentals of labor legislation; labor protection and fire safety rules; internal labor regulations.

Qualification requirements.

Technician for instrumentation and automation of the 1st category: secondary vocational (technical) education and work experience as a technician for instrumentation and automation of the II category for at least 2 years.

Technician in instrumentation and automation of the II category: secondary vocational (technical) education and work experience as a technician in instrumentation and automation for at least 2 years.

Instrumentation and automation technician: secondary vocational (technical) education without any requirement for work experience.