FOREWORD: This recommended practice is based on the accumulated knowledge and experience of engineers in the petroleum industry. Its purpose is to aid in the installation of the more generally used measuring@ control@ and analytical instruments; transmission systems; and related accessories to achieve safe@ continuous@ accurate@ and efficient operation with minimum maintenance. Although the information has been prepared primarily for petroleum refineries@ much of it is applicable without change in chemical plants@ gasoline plants@ and similar installations. Successful instrumentation depends upon a workable arrangement that incorporates the simplest systems and devices that will satisfy specified requirements. Sufficient schedules@ drawings@ sketches@ and other data should be provided to enable the constructor to install the equipment in the desired manner. The various industry codes and standards as well as laws and rules of regulating bodies should be followed where applicable. For maximum plant personnel safety@ transmission systems are employed to eliminate the piping of hydrocarbons@ acids@ and other hazardous or noxious materials to instruments in control rooms. Proper installation is essential in order to use fully the capabilities that are built into the instrument or transmission system. In the installation of an instrument@ the various components must be accessible for efficient maintenance@ and certain of these elements must be readable for good operation. Orifices@ control valves@ transmitters@ thermocouples@ level gages@ and local controllers@ as well as analyzer sample points@ generally should be readily accessible from grade or from permanent platforms or fixed ladders. In this manual@ special consideration is given to the location@ accessibility@ and readability of the elements. Part IV covers recommended practices that specifically apply to instrument and control system installations for steam generation facilities in petroleum refinery and other hydrocarbon processing plants. The installation of primary measuring instruments@ control systems@ alarm and shutdown systems@ and automatic startup and shutdown systems is discussed for steam generators@ carbon monoxide or waste gas steam generators@ gas turbine exhaust fired steam generators@ and unfired waste heat steam generators. There are enough unique instrumentation and control problems in these systems to require treatment separate from process control on refinery units. In the past@ combustion control has developed along a path that has been considerably divergent from the development of process control. Consequently@ process operators and instrument mechanics have required special training to handle the steam generator instrumentation that has been integrated with the process unit control centers. Control system design engineers familiar with one kind of plant have usually not felt proficient with the other. Actually@ many of the differences are more apparent than real. For this reason@ the specific problems@ differences@ and similarities in the installation of these instruments and control systems are discussed. Background information is presented to show the reasons for customary installations. This has necessitated discussion of the processes@ instrument application@ and instrument design. For that reason@ this part of the manual is organized with the various processes as the major headings and the types of measurement or control function as subheadings under these processes. Users of this manual are reminded that in the rapidly advancing field of instrumentation no publication of this type can be complete nor can any written document be substituted for qualified engineering analysis. This part has been written as a general guide to be used as a complement to Parts I and II of the manual. As such@ it should be useful to design engineers@ instrument construction and maintenance personnel@ and process operators. It is no substitute for experience and proficiency in these fields@ although it will be a help in achieving such experience and proficiency. Because of the lack of uniformity in the design and requirements of these processes@ the complete instrumentation and control system must be studied to determine if it will enable the unit to be operated@ started up@ and shut down satisfactorily and safely. There are many specific features of these installations that require special attention in order to assure safe and efficient operation of the plant. Special effort has been made to point out pitfalls in these installations@ but only a general guide can be established. Those concerned with the general installation will find it necessary to think through the function of each installation for each probable operating condition. Steam generation facilities must be considered as an integral part of the refinery or process plant. Even from the safety shutdown standpoint they cannot be considered in isolation@ because an interruption of the steam supply to some processes may present a greater danger to personnel and equipment than would the continued operation of the steam generation facilities under certain upset conditions. The overall view should include an assessment of all risks due to direct process upsets@ to shutdown and startup of affected processes@ and to loss of essential utilities such as fire water@ as well as consideration of what might happen to the steam generation facilities. Certain systems are not covered in this part because of their highly specialized nature and limited use. When one of these systems gains general usage and installation reaches a fair degree of standardization@ this part will be revised to incorporate such additional information. Acknowledgment is made to all the engineers and operating and maintenance personnel who@ through years of study@ observation@ invention@ and sometimes trial and error@ have contributed to the technology of instrumentation. Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the director of the Refining Department@ American Petroleum Institute@ I220 L Street@ N.W@@ Washington@ D.C. 20005.
API RP 550 P4-1984 history
1984API RP 550 P4-1984 Manual on Installation of Refinery Instruments and Control Systems Part IV - Steam Generators
1975API RP 550 P4-1975 Manual on Installation of Refinery Instruments and Control Systems Part IV - Steam Generators (FIRST EDITION)