Fluke Calibration Blog
Calibration Equipment & Standards and Calibration Software
Apr 11, 2019
HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol is an open standard used globally to send and receive digital information using analog wiring between smart devices and control systems. With over 30 million devices installed, it is the most popular protocol used in the field. HART was first available in the late 1980s and quickly gained in popularity mainly due to its ability to continue to support the older 4-20 mA analog protocol while adding the significant benefits of digital smart...
Apr 11, 2019
A traditional analog transmitter is fairly simple and straightforward. Typically, there are two types of possible adjustments: zero and span. Configuring, testing and calibration are all accomplished by changing these two adjustments to set the correct relationship between the input pressure and the 4-20 mA output.
HART transmitters are considerably more complex. Like the older analog transmitters, HART transmitters have the same pressure input and 4-20 mA output, but in addition to the...
Apr 11, 2019
Pressure transmitters are used in mission-critical applications such as determining the flow of fluids through a pipeline or ensuring process integrity in a process plant. Process professionals must test and calibrate these pressure transmitters regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly and within specification.
In this example, we use the Fluke Calibration 2271A Industrial Pressure Calibrator to automate testing and calibration of pressure transmitters from 10 in of water to...
Apr 11, 2019
As part of custody transfer, technicians routinely calibrate all the pressure and temperature transmitters involved in the flow of oil and gas as well as the pressure in the pipelines and related equipment.
Too often in search of accuracy, attention is focused entirely on the flow meter's performance under ideal conditions. But there are many other controllable factors that affect system accuracy. Here are some actions to consider:
Properly align the pipes leading to and away from the flow...
Apr 10, 2019
Calibrate Your Gas Custody Transfer Flow Computers with A Single Device Made for the Job -
Gas custody transfer flow computers that calculate flow in pipelines by measuring the differential pressure across a flow restriction, such as an orifice plate or other differential pressure flow device, require special calibration to perform at optimum accuracy. Gas flow computers make three primary measurements to calculate flow: volumetric flow (difference in pressure across the orifice plate),...
Apr 10, 2019
A Modern Way to More Easily Test Pressure Switches -
Classic methods for pressure switch testing have been superseded with the introduction of new pressure test tools. Today most pressure switches are tested with a pressure gauge mounted to a pump to supply and measure pressure, and a DMM set to continuity to verify the opening and closing of the switch. The technician or electrician making the test is required to interpret the pressure applied to the switch when the continuity beeper...
Apr 09, 2019
Pressure transmitter manufacturers have improved the accuracy and technology designed into these smart pressure measurement devices. Many conventional calibration tools have become inadequate or simply unable to test and calibrate these high accuracy pressure transmitters. Better test solutions are required.
Verifying and documenting the performance and adjusting a HART smart pressure transmitter can require a bucket full of tools. In the past, it was common to use a HART communicator...
Mar 15, 2019
Accurate calibration of pressure switches is a critical step in ensuring process quality and the safe operation of equipment. The setup is similar to pressure gauge calibration except now a voltage or continuity across a set of switch contacts needs to be read either by a (Digital Multimeter) DMM or the calibrator. The purpose of the calibration is to detect and correct errors in the set point and deadband of the pressure switch. Calibrators can save you time by reducing steps and reducing the...
Dec 06, 2018
Using ice and boiling water to calibrate temperature is easy and fast. However, the water method can be inaccurate because of variations in altitude, atmospheric pressure and water purity -- and the inaccuracies are unknown. When you're calibrating you want to avoid as many unknowns and inaccuracies as possible.
Using a dry-block calibrator is a far better way to calibrate temperature. A dry-block provides a better measurement because it has a known accuracy.
In this brief video I will...
Nov 19, 2018
The theme for World Metrology Day 2018 is "Constant evolution of the International System of Units." In this brief, 2 1/2-minute video, Fluke Chief Corporate Metrologist Jeff Gust, explains why this year is so special to the science of measurements as it is anticipated that the definition of the kilogram will change from a metal artifact to Planck's Constant.
Video Transcript:
I'm Jeff Gust, chief corporate metrologist for Fluke Corporation. I'm here to talk about the redefinition...
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