In-situ calibration of field instrumentation saves time and money for industrial organizations that utilize high volume tanks for fluids, slurries and gases. In the past, correctly calibrating a level transmitter, which is usually bolted to the side of a process tank, involved draining the tank, then cleaning the instrument before finally doing the calibration work. This caused expensive interruptions and the costs went even higher because this work was often completed back in the instrument shop. Now, however, companies can use an isolation valve to complete in-situ (on-site) calibration of their systems.
Saving Time on Complex Calibration Operations
One of the leading challenges for any firm completing off-site calibration work is that it often takes many hours to clean and demount the pressure or level transmitter from hard-to-reach places within the plant. They must then send the level transmitter to the instrument shop for the calibration to be completed by a trained technician. This process can often take days to complete, which is very costly in terms of stoppages and lost production time. In many cases a complete plant shutdown is required if the instrument cannot be isolated safely and practically from the process stream.
Using an isolation valve enables in-situ calibration and can save thousands of dollars. It ensures that all processes are closed off so the level transmitter can be cleaned and calibrated without unmounting it. Technicians can complete their work quickly on-site and minimize disruption to supply and system productivity.
Reducing the Cost of Regular Calibration
Calibration work completed off-site at a service provider’s facility is rightly completed by specialists with years of experience, but it becomes very expensive for an organization if the level transmitter must be calibrated several times a year. Costs can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. In today’s economy and with sometimes razor-thin profit margins, this type of cost is simply not sustainable. In-situ calibration gets the work completed without removing the transmitter. The use of the isolation valve during in-situ calibration applications empowers team members to simplify the calibration work.
Benefits of the Indu-Tech Isolation Valve for In-Situ Calibration
The Indu-Tech transmitter isolation valve utilizes a compact design that allows it to be mounted in areas that are often difficult to access. Because the valve features a ball-type design with a close-captured seated ball, the process media does not build up within the system during calibration. It’s the ideal valve for ensuring efficient in-situ calibration that provides reliable measurements and accurate operation. Furthermore, it can be used in hazardous areas in a variety of industries, including water, wastewater, petro-chemicals, pharmaceutical production and also pulp and paper operations. The Indu-Tech valve has a bubble–tight closure with zero leakage, which translates to improved safety when the instrument is being serviced.
The advantages of being able to complete calibration work on-site are numerous. Not only do the Indu-Tech valves eliminate downtime, they also provide an added measure of safety due to the fact that every time you remove a transmitter from a tank nozzle, you increase the risk of an unsafe and hazardous incident occurring. Speak with a product specialist directly to find out more about how in-situ calibration can save your company big bucks.