Pneumatic Process

Instrumentation
A basic understanding of pneumatic
process control instrumentation

1
Flapper Nozzle Mechanism
Air flow Pipe Nozzle

Air flow Restriction

Pressure
after
restriction
Air flow Flapper

Air flow out of nozzle slows allow pressure after restriction to build
up. Final pressure depends gap between flapper and nozzle.
2
Pressure/Gap Relationship
Pressure
Gap
Air Flapper
Supply Nozzle
15 psi
or 1.0
bar

P G
Air
P
Supply

3 psi or
20psi 0.2 bar
or
1.4bar
Feedback About G
0.13in or
bellows 1.5mm

3
Pneumatic Instruments using FN
0.2 to Gap
1.0 bar Flapper
Air
Supply

20psi
or
1.4bar
Feedback
bellows

Most pneumatic instruments

(detectors, transmitter, controllers Pressure
to
and positioners) make use of measure
devices that can move the flapper
or nozzle or both.
4
Examples of devices for detecting
pressure, temperature, flow and level

Bourdon Bellows Diaphragm Float with

tube with target torsion bar
disc
Bourdon tube and bellows to
Target disc Float with
detect pressure. Temperature
detects flow. torsion bar
can be detected too if bulb
detects level
filled with mercury is attached
to bulb or bellows.
5
 Pneumatic Temperature Transmitter
Local
temperature
indicator
Air
Supply

20psi
or
1.4bar

Mercury
0.2 to 1.0 bulb
bar signal
to
controller

Created: June 2012, 6

Updated: June 2012
 Pneumatic PID Controller
Nozzle position sets
Local output gain of P action
signal
indicator
Air
Supply
Flexible
20psi tube
or
1.4bar Valve and
0.2 to 1.0 bellows sets
bar signal timing of I action
to controller

0.2 to 1.0
“Gain” is also called “Proportional bar signal
from
Band”, Derivative action is also Valve sets detector or
called “Rate” and Integral action rate of D transmitter
is also called “Reset”. action
Created: June 2012, 7
Updated: June 2012
 Linear Variable Differential Transformer
AC current Core
through slides AC
Primary Coil within output
coils

S P S Core
Core position
Voltage
induced into S P S
Secondary
Coils
through
Core Linear range
Output

The LVDT output after rectification and filtering gives a 4-20mA output
proportional to the core movement. This device used in electronic
measuring and conversion of pneumatic to electronic signals.
8
An Example of Process Control
Air Supply
1.4bar
TC
Air Supply
1.4bar Main engine
TIT jacket cooling
water out

TE

Cooling
Cooling
Heat water in
water out
Exchanger

Main engine
jacket cooling 9
water in