Brochure

The Cernay Laboratory
The Cernay Laboratory includes a flow
loop and a dynamic performance loop
both of which are powered by
PlantWeb digital plant architecture.
PlantWeb uses the digital communica-
tions ability of the process instrumen-
tation to control the process and man-
age the assets.
Both loops utilise the latest technolo-
gy products and software from
Emerson, including Fisher digital
valves and FIELDVUE digital valve con-
trollers, Rosemount pressure, temper-
ature flow and radar level transmit-
ters, Micro Motion Coriolis mass flow
transmitters, Rosemount Analytical
conductivity and PH transmitters,
DeltaV digital automation systems
and AMS predictive maintenance soft-
ware.
DeltaV work stations are located on
each test loop and in the conference
room to provide maximum flexibility
when testing and proving the capabil-
ities of the architecture and the prod-
ucts. The work stations are net-
worked with other Emerson laborato-
ries located in Asia and the USA to
share the extensive amount of data
being generated and to further extend
the test capabilities of each laborato-
ry. FOUNDATION fieldbus and HART digi-
tal communications protocol are used
to communicate with the field instru-
mentation.
To maintain it’s laboratory status all of
the equipment used to perform tests
are routinely calibrated and the results
documented. AMS is used to record
calibration information as well as auto-
matically keeping records of any con-
figuration changes. DeltaV stores
information on any modifications to
the control strategy or tuning parame-
ters, as they are made. This provides
traceability so that tests can be dupli-
cated as required.
The flow loop is used to experimentally
determine or confirm control valve siz-
ing coefficients as well as testing for
dynamic torque, stem force and sound
levels. Valve sizes from
1
/
2
” to 10” can
be tested, on water or air. Tests may be
performed to prove a new design, for
research, as part of a product audit, to
resolve field problems or to satisfy cus-
tomer requirements.
The PlantWeb dynamic performance
loop is used to perform open and
closed loop tests on control valves and
other instrumentation. Tests can be
performed on valve sizes from
1
/
2
” to
4”. Open loop step tests determine
actual changes in valve position and
flow rate following the introduction of
a step change in signal. Closed loop
tests introduce a standard distur-
bance to the control loop and deter-
mine the ability of the various compo-
nents to minimise any resultant vari-
ability.
Other tests that can be performed in
the laboratory include, hydrostatic
and stress tests on pressure retaining
parts to prove the design, fugitive
emissions testing on seals and pack-
ing, and accelerated aging tests in the
climatic chamber.