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Loop Diagram - 1

The document discusses loop diagrams, which provide detailed wiring information for instrumentation systems. A loop diagram for a compressor surge control system is analyzed. It shows two transmitters, a controller, valve, and two signal transducers. Each instrument is represented and wiring details like terminals and wire colors are documented. Loop diagrams follow standards to optimize readability and locate instruments in consistent areas. They provide important troubleshooting information by documenting input/output calibrations and ranges to test instrument function.

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manansudi
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327 views6 pages

Loop Diagram - 1

The document discusses loop diagrams, which provide detailed wiring information for instrumentation systems. A loop diagram for a compressor surge control system is analyzed. It shows two transmitters, a controller, valve, and two signal transducers. Each instrument is represented and wiring details like terminals and wire colors are documented. Loop diagrams follow standards to optimize readability and locate instruments in consistent areas. They provide important troubleshooting information by documenting input/output calibrations and ranges to test instrument function.

Uploaded by

manansudi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Loop diagram sometimes called a loop sheet.

Here we are discussing for the compressor surge control system (loop


number 42):

Here we see that the P&ID didn’t show us all the instruments in this control
“loop.” Not only do we have two transmitters, a controller, and a valve; we also
have two signal transducers. Transducer 42a modifies the flow transmitter’s
signal before it goes into the controller, and transducer 42b converts the
electronic 4 to 20 mA signal into a pneumatic 3 to 15 PSI air pressure signal.
Each instrument “bubble” in a loop diagram represents an individual device,
with its own terminals for connecting wires.
Note that dashed lines now represent individual copper wires instead of whole
cables. Electrical terminals where these wires connect to are represented by
squares with numbers in them. Fluid ports on instruments are also
represented by labeled squares. Cable numbers, wire colors, junction block
numbers, panel identification, and even grounding points are all shown in loop
diagrams.
The only type of diagram for this system more detailed than a loop diagram
would be an electronic schematic diagram for an individual instrument, which
of course would only show details pertaining to that one instrument. Thus, the
loop diagram is the most detailed form of diagram for a control system as a
whole, and as such it must contain all details omitted by PFDs and P&IDs
alike.

To the novice it may seem excessive to include such trivia as wire colors in a
loop diagram. To the experienced instrument technician who has had to work
on systems lacking such documented detail, this information is highly valued.

The more detail you put into a loop diagram, the easier it makes the inevitable
job of maintaining that system at some later date. When a loop diagram
shows you exactly what wire color to expect at exactly what point in an
instrumentation system, and exactly what terminal that wire should connect to,
it becomes much easier to proceed with any troubleshooting, calibration, or
upgrade task.

Loop diagrams are fairly constrained in their layout as per the ISA 5.1
standard. Field instruments are always placed on the left-hand side, while
control-panel or control-room instruments must be located on the right-hand
side. Text describing instrument tags, ranges, and notes are always placed on
the bottom.

Unlike PFDs and P&IDs where component layout is largely left to the whim of
the designer drawing the diagram, loop sheets offer little room for creativity.
This is intentional, as creativity and readability are mutually exclusive in cases
where there is an immense amount of technical detail embedded in a
diagram. It is simply easier to find details you’re looking for when you know
exactly where they ought to be.

An interesting detail seen on this loop diagram is an entry specifying “input


calibration” and “output calibration” for each and every instrument in the
system. This is actually a very important concept to keep in mind when
troubleshooting a complex instrumentation system: every instrument has at
least one input and at least one output, with some sort of mathematical
relationship between the two.

Diagnosing where a problem lies within a measurement or control system


often means testing various instruments to see if their output responses
appropriately match their input conditions, so it is important to document these
input and output ranges.
For example, one way to test the flow transmitter in this system would be to
subject it to a number of different pressures within its range (specified in the
diagram as 0 to 100 inches of water column differential) and seeing whether
or not the current signal output by the transmitter was consistently
proportional to the applied pressure (e.g. 4 mA at 0 inches pressure, 20 mA at
100 inches pressure, 12 mA at 50 inches pressure, etc.).
Given the fact that a calibration error or malfunction in any one of these
instruments can cause a problem for the control system as a whole, it is nice
to know there is a way to determine which instrument is to blame and which
instruments are not. This general principle holds true regardless of the
instrument’s type or technology.

You can use the same input-versus-output test procedure to verify the proper
operation of a pneumatic (3 to 15 PSI) level transmitter or an analog
electronic (4 to 20 mA) flow transmitter or a digital (fieldbus) temperature
transmitter alike. Each and every instrument has an input and an output, and
there is always a predictable (and testable) correlation from one to the other.
Another interesting detail seen on this loop diagram is the direction of action
of each instrument. You will notice a box and arrow (pointing either up or
down) next to each instrument bubble. An “up” arrow (↑) represents a direct-
acting instrument: one whose output signal increases as the input stimulus
increases. A “down” arrow (↓) represents a reverse-acting instrument: one
whose output signal decreases as the input stimulus increases. All the
instruments in this loop are direct-acting with the exception of the pressure
differential transmitter PDT-42:
Here, the “down” arrow tells us the transmitter will output a full-range signal
(20 mA) when it senses zero differential pressure, and a 0% signal (4 mA)
when sensing a full 200 PSI differential. While this calibration may seem
confusing and unwarranted, it serves a definite purpose in this particular
control system.

Since the transmitter’s current signal decreases as pressure increases, and


the controller must be correspondingly configured, a decreasing current signal
will be interpreted by the controller as a high differential pressure. If any wire
connection fails in the 4-20 mA current loop for that transmitter, the resulting 0
mA signal will be naturally “seen” by the controller as a pressure over-range
condition.
Excessive pressure drop across a compressor is considered dangerous
because it may lead to the compressor surging. Thus, the controller will
naturally take action to prevent surge by commanding the anti-surge control
valve to open, because it “thinks” the compressor is about to surge. In other
words, the transmitter is intentionally calibrated to be reverse-acting such that
any break in the signal wiring will naturally bring the system to its safest
condition.
How-to Create Instrument Loop Diagram

It is used in checking for a correct installation and connection when tested


during pre-commissioning and commissioning stages, useful while trouble
shooting during operation.

 Instrument loop diagram (ILD) represents a connection from field


instrument to Control Room.(vice versa)
 Instrument loop diagram is divided in to two basic sections. One is field
side and other is Control Room side.(vice versa)
 Field side is again divided in to field area and Junction box.
 Control Room side is divided in to marshalling cabinet rear,
Marshalling Cabinet Front.
 Following data is required before starting drawing on paper for loop diagram

 Tag No of the instrument, JB Number, Terminal block and its


termination number, Marshalling cabinet and Termination details. System
card and I/O details.
Sample Instrumentation Loop Drawing (ILD)
1. Pressure transmitter PIT-01 mounted field side it is connected by a
single pair cable with red and black cable with red as (+) as 1 black (-) as
2.
2. The cable connecting to junction box Tagged (JBA-01) is a single pair.
Terminating in JB terminal block (at TB15, TB-16). The termination is
square shaped cable connects at IN and OUT.
3. Cable from JB is terminating in Marshalling cabinet (MXA-01) number
and Terminal Block number (terminal number TB15, TB16).
4. Instrument sleeve is grounded at marshalling cabinet only, need not at
instrument or at junction box.
5. Cable from Marshalling cabinet is connected to System I/O card.
6. On the bottom right below, the details of organization name, drawn by,
verified by, approved by can be seen.

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