Instrumentation Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • Safety and Regulatory Frameworks

Surveys hazardous area classifications and instrument safety requirements. Prepares students to apply safety standards in industrial environments.

Lesson 2 • Measurement Science Fundamentals

Covers physical quantities, units, and measurement standards. Establishes the vocabulary and framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Instrumentation System Architecture

Introduces the functional blocks of a measurement system from sensor to output. Students map signal flow across real instrument configurations.

Lesson 4 • Static and Dynamic Instrument Characteristics

Defines static performance metrics and dynamic response behaviors. Connects these characteristics to instrument selection criteria.

Lesson 1 • Flow Measurement Devices

Surveys differential pressure, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and Coriolis flow meters. Students match meter type to fluid properties and process conditions.

Lesson 2 • Level and Proximity Sensing

Covers hydrostatic, radar, ultrasonic, and capacitive level technologies. Students evaluate sensor suitability for liquid and solid level applications.

Lesson 3 • Temperature Sensing Technologies

Covers thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, and infrared sensors. Students compare operating ranges, accuracy, and installation requirements.

Lesson 4 • Pressure and Force Sensing

Examines strain gauges, piezoelectric elements, and capacitive pressure cells. Connects sensing mechanisms to industrial pressure measurement needs.

Lesson 1 • Analog Signal Transmission Standards

Covers 4–20 mA current loops, voltage signals, and HART communication. Students wire and troubleshoot analog transmission circuits in process plants.

Lesson 2 • Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion

Explains ADC and DAC architectures, resolution, and sampling theory. Connects conversion quality to measurement system accuracy.

Lesson 3 • Amplification and Impedance Matching

Covers operational amplifier configurations and input/output impedance requirements. Students calculate gain and select op-amp topologies for sensor outputs.

Lesson 4 • Digital Signal Transmission Protocols

Surveys RS-232, RS-485, and industrial digital protocols for instrument communication. Students configure and test digital links between field devices and controllers.

Lesson 1 • Control Valve Sizing and Selection

Covers valve Cv calculation, trim types, and actuator selection. Connects valve characteristics to loop performance and rangeability requirements.

Lesson 2 • Control Loop Concepts and Terminology

Defines process variable, setpoint, error, and manipulated variable. Provides the conceptual framework for all subsequent control analysis.

Lesson 3 • Advanced Control Strategies

Introduces cascade, ratio, feedforward, and split-range control configurations. Students design multi-loop schemes for complex process interactions.

Lesson 4 • PID Controller Theory

Derives proportional, integral, and derivative control actions mathematically. Students predict controller output for given error profiles.

Lesson 1 • Instrument Loop Diagrams

Defines loop diagram elements including terminal numbers, cable IDs, and junction boxes. Students draft and verify loop diagrams against field wiring.

Lesson 2 • Engineering Change Management

Explains management of change procedures for instrumentation modifications. Students process a change request through documentation, review, and approval steps.

Lesson 3 • Instrument Datasheets and Specifications

Explains how to complete instrument datasheets for procurement and engineering. Students specify sensors, transmitters, and control valves using process data.

Lesson 4 • Instrument Index and Database Management

Covers instrument index structure, tag attributes, and database software tools. Students build and maintain an instrument index for a sample project.

Lesson 1 • PLC Hardware Architecture

Examines CPU, I/O modules, power supplies, and communication backplanes. Students identify module types and configure I/O addressing schemes.

Lesson 2 • System Testing and Commissioning

Defines factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and loop checking. Students execute commissioning procedures and document results.

Lesson 3 • PLC Programming Languages

Covers ladder diagram, function block, structured text, and sequential function chart. Students write and test programs using IEC 61131-3 standard languages.

Lesson 4 • Field Device Integration and Wiring

Covers marshalling cabinets, junction boxes, and field wiring practices. Students trace instrument loops from field device to controller I/O card.

Lesson 1 • Fieldbus Technology Overview

Compares PROFIBUS, Foundation Fieldbus, and DeviceNet architectures. Students select appropriate fieldbus technology based on process requirements.

Lesson 2 • Cybersecurity in Industrial Networks

Introduces defense-in-depth, network segmentation, and patch management for OT systems. Students apply security principles to protect instrumentation networks.

Lesson 3 • Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

Covers network analyzers, segment checkers, and diagnostic software tools. Students isolate communication faults using systematic diagnostic procedures.

Lesson 4 • Industrial Ethernet Protocols

Covers EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus TCP for plant-level communication. Students configure network switches and IP addressing for industrial systems.

Lesson 1 • Reliability Engineering for Instruments

Introduces MTBF, MTTR, availability calculations, and failure mode analysis. Students apply reliability metrics to instrument selection and maintenance planning.

Lesson 2 • Safety Instrumented System Testing

Covers proof test procedures, PFD calculations, and SIL verification for SIS loops. Students plan and document proof tests for safety-critical instruments.

Lesson 3 • Control Valve Maintenance and Testing

Examines partial stroke testing, valve signature analysis, and packing maintenance. Students assess valve health using diagnostic test results.

Lesson 4 • Preventive and Predictive Maintenance Strategies

Compares time-based, condition-based, and predictive maintenance approaches. Students develop maintenance schedules aligned with instrument criticality.