Re: Pneumatics vs. Electronics

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Posted by Don Snowden on July 05, 2001 at 11:41:00:

In Reply to: Pneumatics vs. Electronics posted by Victor Alvarado on June 21, 2001 at 09:50:54:

Victor,
Unfortunately, I personally don't remember seeing in "published" articles on the subject of the benefits of upgrading pneumatic instrumentation. I would try two approaches: 1) try searching the university libraries for "instrumentation upgrade", etc. -Or- There are some web sites that offer the scanning of technical literature (for a small fee).

If this doesn't work then ask one of the instrumentation players (e.g. Honeywell) what they have on the subject. I'm sure they will be more than happy to assist you!?! You will just have to take their "numbers" with a grain of salt. On the other hand, they may have some references for technical papers issued by clients.

In any case, when I was working with Shell back in the 1980s we would have to get real creative in justifying the benefits of upgrading from pneumatics to electronics. To be honest, I have never really seen substantiated data that points to how the direct benefits justify the upgrade. We were successful with multivariable control on pneumatics just like electronic instrumentation.

The real issue is getting parts for the pneumatic instrumentation and the ability to have regulatory controllers to be put in computer mode. I remember having to wait 6-12 months for "cabinets" that held the single-loop controllers to be sent by the manufacturer. Of course, most of the DCS vendors don't want to support the old single-loop controllers. It is most likely not cost efficient for them and, of course, it doesn't benefit them.

In any case, even in 1987, I felt that going to electronic instrumentation is just one of the cost of doing business. Certainly that message is more prevalent now. Good luck.

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: Victor,
: Unfortunately, I personally don't remember seeing in "published" articles on the subject of the benefits of upgrading pneumatic instrumentation. I would try two approaches: 1) try searching the university libraries for "instrumentation upgrade", etc. -Or- There are some web sites that offer the scanning of technical literature (for a small fee).
: If this doesn't work then ask one of the instrumentation players (e.g. Honeywell) what they have on the subject. I'm sure they will be more than happy to assist you!?! You will just have to take their "numbers" with a grain of salt. On the other hand, they may have some references for technical papers issued by clients.
: In any case, when I was working with Shell back in the 1980s we would have to get real creative in justifying the benefits of upgrading from pneumatics to electronics. To be honest, I have never really seen substantiated data that points to how the direct benefits justify the upgrade. We were successful with multivariable control on pneumatics just like electronic instrumentation.
: The real issue is getting parts for the pneumatic instrumentation and the ability to have regulatory controllers to be put in computer mode. I remember having to wait 6-12 months for "cabinets" that held the single-loop controllers to be sent by the manufacturer. Of course, most of the DCS vendors don't want to support the old single-loop controllers. It is most likely not cost efficient for them and, of course, it doesn't benefit them.
: In any case, even in 1987, I felt that going to electronic instrumentation is just one of the cost of doing business. Certainly that message is more prevalent now. Good luck.

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