COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL & PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

B.ENG CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
2015/2016 SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION
CHE 312: PROCESS INSTRUMENTATION

Time: 2 hours Date: June 20, 2016

Instructions: Answer a total of Four questions in all. Answer Question 1 and Any other question
from this section.

SECTION A

Question 1 40 marks
(a) In process chemical industry, what is instrumentation?
(b) State the basic elements of measuring systems.
(c) Why do we measure process variables?
(d) Explain clearly
(i) Measurand
(ii) Transducer in a measuring physical or chemical process.
(e) Define each of the under listed static characteristics of measurement systems:
(i) Accuracy
(ii) Sensitivity
(iii) Resolution
(iv) Threshold
(v) Range
(f) What is the role of Time constant in the selection of a thermometer?
(g) A mercury in bulb thermometer is initially at room temperature 26 o C and is suddenly placed
in a liquid which is maintained at 97 o C. The thermometer indicates 53 o C after a time interval
of 4 seconds. Estimate the time constant of the thermometer.

Question 2 20 marks
(a) Explain clearly the principle of operation of:
(i) Bimetallic strip thermometer.
(ii) The resistance thermometer.
(iii) The thermocouple.
Give two possible causes of errors associated with each of these thermometers and what
range of temperatures could we use each of these thermometers?
(b) Describe with a simple sketch the operating principle of gas filled system thermometer.
(c) State the advantages of the gas filled system thermometer and its limitations.

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Question 3 20 marks
(a) Describe how the density of a solid material can be measured using Archimedes principle.
(b) Draw a simple labelled sketch to show and explain how the density of a processing liquid in
a vessel in the process plant can be measured on a continuous basis.
(c) The relative density of 98 % sulphuric acid is 1.84. Calculate the mass of 25 m3 of the acid.
(d) Discuss briefly the G C (Gas Chromatograph) as a measuring instrument.

Instruction: Answer Any Two from this section.

SECTION B
Question 4 15 marks
(a) List four mechanical pressure transducers. [2 marks]
(b) What will be the change in resistance of an electrical strain gauge with a gauge factor of 2.5
and resistance 50 , if it is subject to a strain of 0.002? [2 marks]
(c) Suggest a sensor to be used for a furnace to monitor the rate at which the heating oil flows
along a pipe. The output from the measurement system will be an electrical signal which can
be used to adjust the speed of the oil pump. [2 marks]
(d) Show the symbol for the following description:
(i) a control valve.
(ii) an air-to-close valve.
(iii) panel mounted display element.
(iv) an air-to-open valve. [4 marks]
(e) A horizontal Venturi tube having a throat diameter of 20 mm is set in a 75mmID pipeline.
Water at 15 o C is flowing through the line. A manometer containing mercury under water
measures the pressure differential over the instrument. When the manometer reading is
500 mm, what is the flow rate in m3 /h? [5 marks]
Question 5 15 marks
(a) What is the major difference between a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram and a Process
Flow Sheet? [3 marks]
(b) A simple U-tube manometer is installed across an orifice meter. The manometer is filled with
mercury (specific gravity = 13.6), and the liquid above the mercury is carbon tetrachloride
(specific gravity = 1.6). The manometer reads 200 mm. What is the pressure difference over
the manometer in kP a. [3 marks]
(c) The estimation of flow rate using the Venturi tube of area, A1 and throat area, A2 for
incompressible fluid is based on: the continuity equation,
q =VA
and the Bernoulli equation,
P V2
+ + z = constant
g 2g
where q = flow rate, V = velocity of flow, A = Area, P = pressure, = fluid density, z =
elevation (height) and g = acceleration due to gravity.
Show that: s
C v A2 2(P1 P2 )
q=p
(1 4 )

given that: = D2 /D1 and Cv = 1 [9 marks]

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Question 6 15 marks
(a) State four main objectives of specifying instrumentation and control scheme. [2 marks]
(b) Suggest a sensor that will be used to determine the difference in levels between liquids in two
containers. The output provides an electrical signal for the measurement system. [3 marks]
(c) Select a suitable valve type for the following applications:
(i) Isolating a heat exchanger.
(ii) Manual control of the water flow into a tank used for making up batches of potassium
hydroxide solution.
(iii) Valves in a line where cleanliness and hygiene are an essential requirement.
(iv) Isolating valves in the line from a vacuum column to the steam ejectors producing the
vacuum.
(v) The valves needed to isolate a pump and provide emergency manual control on a by-pass
loop.
[10 marks]
State the criterion used in the selection for each application.

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