controlled hardware device used to implement change in a process
adapter
device used to make electrical or mechanical connections between items not originally intended for use together
amplifier
device that enables an input signal to control power from a source independent of the signal and thus be capable of delivering an output that bears some relationship to, and is generally greater than, the input signal
analogue signal
any variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude rather than of a pulsed or discrete nature
bellows
elastic element that is a convoluted unit that expands and contracts axially with changes in pressure
benchset
preload or the amount of pressure forcing valves closed with no process affecting it
calibrate
to determine and adjust, by measurement or comparison with a standard, the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other device
cascade control
type of controller set-up in which the output of one controller acts as the set point or controlling signal of another controller
commission
process of testing and ensuring that installed equipment is operating as per engineered design
configure
to set up a program or computer system for a particular application
control variable
measured variables that can be controlled by the control system, such as flow, level, pressure and temperature
diagnose
activities to determine the cause and source of faults and defects
distributed control system (DCS)
system of dividing plant or process control into several areas of responsibility, each managed by its own controller (processor), with the whole system interconnected to form a single entity usually by communication buses of various kinds
fibre optic
transmission system utilizing very thin glass fibres through which light is transmitted; information is transferred by modulating the transmitted light
Fieldbus
digital, two-way, multi-drop communication link among intelligent measurement and control devices; it serves as a Local Area Network (LAN) for advanced process control and remote input/output for factory automation applications
firmware
software or data that has been written onto read-only memory chips; firmware is a combination of software and hardware
fluid
any substance that flows, such as liquid, gas or magma
flume
open channel device used to measure flow
frequency
number of cycles completed by a periodic quantity in a unit of time
Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART)
provides digital communication to microprocessor-based (smart) analogue process control instruments
Human Machine Interface (HMI)
graphical display and control interface between a process and a human operator
input/output (I/O)
all equipment and activity that transfers information into or out of a computer or device
install
activities performed which include mounting and connecting
instrumentation
collection of instruments or their application for the purpose of monitoring, measuring and/or controlling of processes
interface
place at which mediums meet and interact with each other
International Society of Automation (ISA)
governing body that develops and maintains defined standards for both scientific and technical areas of process control and automation
maintain
routine preventative activities performed to ensure reliability and to detect potential faults
Modbus
serial communications protocol originally published by Modicon; allows for communication between many devices connected to the same network
module
assembly of interconnected components that constitutes an identifiable device, instrument or piece of equipment
network
interconnection of devices sharing communications protocols
optimize
series of activities performed to make the process and its control function closer to or better than specifications
port
signal input (access) or output (egress) point
power supply
device that produces one or more voltages for the operation of electronic and logic devices
probable root cause
non-mathematical, logical process to determine the cause of the potential fault/failure
process
physical or chemical change of matter or conversion of energy
Profibus
communication protocol
program
list of instructions that a computer will execute to perform a certain task
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
control device, normally used in industrial control applications that employs the hardware architecture of a computer and programming language
Proportional Integral Derivative (PID)
proportional gain, integral action time and derivative action time; adjustable parameters that are used in tuning a modulating controller to provide stable control for a process loop; these can be used individually or in conjunction with each other
range
region between the limits within which a quantity is measured, received or transmitted; expressed by stating the lower and upper range values
ratio
quotient of one quantity divided by another
remote
device allowing the set point to be altered by a signal from a physical location away from the controller
repair
activities performed to correct faults; include cleaning, replacing, rebuilding
Safety Instrumented Function (SIF)
built in operation of a machine (a safety loop) that takes the unit to a safe outcome if predetermined conditions are not complied with
Safety Instrumented System (SIS)
equipment and networks dedicated to safety monitoring and protection of processes and equipment
Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
relative level of risk reduction provided by a safety function, or to specify a target level (1-4) of risk reduction
signal
form of energy that quantitatively represents a variable
strain gauge
device that uses the change of electrical resistance of a wire under strain to measure applied force
Supervisory Control and Data Acquistion (SCADA)
data transmission and acquisition system for remote control and monitoring of equipment and facilities
temperature bath
volume of a substance held at constant temperature, so that an object placed in thermal contact with it is maintained at the same temperature
terminal
peripheral device used by the operator to communicate with the computer or a wire connection
thermocouple
element that consists of two contacting dissimilar metals converting thermal energy into electrical energy
transducer
device that receives energy in one form and converts to same or another form
transmitter
device equipped with a transducer which responds to a measured variable by means of a sensing element, and converts it to a standardized transmission signal that is proportional to the measured variable
tuning
adjustment of parameters to optimize a particular process
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
electrical system intended to maintain power to critical equipment in the event of a power failure
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and Variable Speed Drive (VSD)
electronic equipment that allows an electric motor to be run at varying speeds
weir
engineered obstruction placed in an open channel used to provide flow measurement
wireless
means to transmit and receive data using electromagnetic waves
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
comprehensive plan for providing information on the safe use of hazardous materials used in workplaces; also known as WHMIS 2015, which aligns with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)