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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 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...
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...
Oct 30, 2018
Thermocouples are common in industry because they are inexpensive and cover a wide temperature range. They should be tested during commissioning and again when removed from a process to verify that the tolerances were met. You’ll also want to test thermocouples at regular calibration intervals and if you suspect them of failing to meet performance specifications.
Because of their unique characteristics, it’s best to calibrate thermocouples in situ (in place) by comparison to a temperature...
Oct 22, 2018
To establish pressures using a deadweight tester (DWT) or piston gauge, you need to account for the acceleration of gravity where the instrument is operated. Gravity varies around the world. With a range of approximately 0.5 %, the local gravity correction is typically the largest environmental influence acting on the deadweight tester.
The most accurate method to determine the acceleration of gravity at the site where the deadweight tester will be used is to perform a site survey. Various...
Sep 05, 2018
From a high level view, all pressure calibration systems perform these actions:
Generate and control a pressure.
Measure the pressure.
Observe and record the output of the device under test (DUT).
In a traditional pressure calibration system, one device performs more than one of these functions. In a modular system, each function is performed by a separate module.
Why might you prefer a modular solution?
You have a wide workload to calibrate. Pressure calibrators come in a variety of...
Sep 05, 2018
For nearly 30 years, Fluke MET/CAL® Calibration Management Software has played a significant role in automating the calibration process. Our asset management databases, MET/TRACK® (now discontinued) and the newer MET/TEAM® software help customers maintain, manage and report calibration and repair history and other asset data. All of that puts us in a unique position to propose the creation of a standard format for recording and sharing calibration data and building calibration software...