Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)

Course Description

Course Objectives

Participant will be able to:

  • Cite principles and theory that explain measurement and control instrument functions
  • Describe procedures required to properly maintain the function of measurement and control instrumentation
  • Understand the procedures and safety requirements for loop checking and its purpose
  • Perform calculations and other analysis of information related to the calibration and troubleshooting of measurement and control instruments and systems
  • Describe procedures required to safely start-up and shut-down a new or existing process
  • Understand the education, experience, and examination requirements for becoming a CCST
  • Identify important knowledge and skill requirements of a practicing CCST
  • Describe the procedures involved in taking the CCST Level exam
  • Identify any need for further study or training in specific knowledge areas

Course Outlines

Concepts of Process Control

  • Definition of a Process
  • Types of Process
  • Typical Industries
  • Continuous vs. Batch Processing
  • Typical Continuous Processes
  • Continuous Process Example
  • Typical Batch Processes
  • Batch Process Example
  • Process Control
  • The Process Control System (Loop)
  • Industrial Process Example
  • Control Loop on P & I Drawings
  • Process Dynamics (Response to Change)
  • First Order Lag plus Dead Time

Basic Measurement Units

  • Pressure and Level Measurement Units
  • Relationship between Pressure Terms
  • Density
  • Specific Gravity
  • Viscosity
  • Pressure of Fluids
  • Liquid Head Measurement
  • Effect of S.G. on Liquid Head Measurement
  • Unit Systems – Flow Measurement
  • Flow Measurement of Fluids
  • Flow Terms

Test & Calibration Equipment

  • Temperature Scales
  • Hydraulic Dead Weight Tester
  • U-Tube Manometers
  • Well Manometer
  • Schematic of Low Pressure Pneumatic Calibrator
  • Typical Digital Multimeter
  • Voltage Measurement
  • Current Measurement
  • Resistance Measurement
  • Electro-Pneumatic Calibrator

Instrument Performance

  • Range and Span
  • Suppressed and Elevated Zero Range
  • Range and Span Terminology
  • Span and Range Calculation Practice
  • Accuracy
  • Repeatability
  • Importance of Accuracy
  • Linearity
  • Hysteresis and Dead Band

Calibration Principles & Procedures

  • Calibration
  • Verification: Without Adjustment
  • Calibration Block Diagram
  • Shop Calibration – DP Transmitter
  • RTD Calibration Arrangement
  • Thermocouple Calibration Arrangement
  • Hierarchy of Standards
  • Five-Point Calibration Check
  • Calibration Chart
  • In-Shop or Field Calibration

Advancing Technology

  • Standard Practice
  • Industry’s changing Needs
  • Smart Devices
  • Smart Transmitters
  • Digitizing a Measurement
  • The Microprocessor
  • Smart Instrument Characterization
  • Smart Transmitter Functions
  • Smart Transmitter Operation
  • Configuration vs. Calibration
  • Reranging
  • Characterization and Digital Trim

Controller Actions and Modes

  • Control Hierarchy
  • Controllers and Control Strategies
  • Direct Acting Controller
  • Reverse Acting Controller
  • Direct or Reverse Acting?
  • Direct or Reverse Acting?
  • On-Off Control of Heating
  • Proportional Control
  • Proportional Action
  • Proportional Control of a Continuous Process
  • Proportional Action
  • Offset with Proportional Control
  • Level Control Offset Example
  • Integral Action
  • Proportional + Integral Control
  • Integral Control
  • Derivative Action
  • Derivative (Rate) Control Action
  • Proportional + Integral + Derivative Control
  • Characteristics of Controller Modes

Tuning Methods

  • Objectives of Tuning
  • Trial & Error Tuning
  • Tuning Map – Gain and Reset
  • The Effect of Adding Derivative 
  • Tuning by Open Loop Testing
  • Ziegler-Nichols (Z-N)
  • Open Loop Method Open Loop Considerations
  • Tuning by Closed Loop Testing
  • Z-N Closed Loop Method
  • Closed Loop Considerations

Advanced Control Strategies

  • Ratio Control – Wild Stream
  • Ratio Control – Both Streams Controlled
  • Automatic Ratio Set: Example
  • Cascade Control: Diagram
  • Application: Without Cascade
  • Application: With Cascade
  • Inner and Outer Loops
  • Cascade Control Considerations
  • Feedforward Control
  • Feedforward Control Concepts
  • Feedforward Control Loop
  • Feedforward Control of Heat Exchanger

Loop Checking Concepts

  • Loop Check Considerations
  • Loop Check Process
  • Loop Check Procedure

Instrument Installation

  • Instrument Installation
  • Installation Detail
  • Installation Details
  • Instrument Location Plan
  • Installation Practices
  • Manufacturer’s Requirements
  • Instrument Air Quality Considerations
  • Instrument Air Supply System

Troubleshooting Considerations

  • Purpose of Troubleshooting
  • Why Troubleshoot?
  • Bottom Line
  • What Are You Expected to Troubleshoot?
  • Troubleshooting Skills
  • Troubleshooting Productivity
  • Approaches to Troubleshooting
  • Equipment History Approach
  • Input/Output (Serial) Approach
  • Input/Output Approach
  • Halving Approach
  • Shotgun Approach
  • Logical Analysis Troubleshooting
  • Verify something is wrong
  • Identify and Locate the Cause of the Problem
  • Fix the Problem
  • Verify the Problem is corrected
  • Follow up to Minimize Future Problems

Final Control Elements

  • Control Valves
  • A Typical Control Valve with Actuator
  • Globe Valves
  • Other Linear Motion Valves
  • Rotary Motion Valves
  • Valve Characteristics (Trim)
  • Inherent Flow Characteristics
  • Cavitation
  • Cv – Valve Coefficient of Flow
  • Actuators
  • Direct (Air-to-Extend)
  • Reverse (Air-to-Retract)
  • Positioners
  • Typical Motion-Balance Positioner
  • I/P Transducer
  • Other Final Control Elements

Common Problems

  • Pressure
  • Level
  • Flow
  • Temperature
  • Valves
  • Actuators
  • Positioners
  • Dampers
  • Variable Speed Drives

Troubleshooting with DCS

  • Distributed Control System
  • Elements of a Distributed Control System
  • DCS Graphic Display
  • DCS Trend Display
  • DCS Alarm Summary

Instrument Maintenance

  • What is Instrument Maintenance?
  • Importance
  • Types

Programmable Electronic Systems

  • Basic PLC System
  • Numbering Systems
  • Decimal Number
  • Binary Number
  • Octal Number
  • Hexadecimal Number
  • Conversion Practice
  • Ladder Logic Programming
  • Typical Ladder Logic Format
  • Relay Type Instructions
  • Start/Stop Ladder Logic
  • Input Wiring Diagram
  • Output Wiring Diagram

Fieldbus

  • Fieldbus Definition
  • What is a Fieldbus?
  • Bus Hierarchy
  • Why Use a Fieldbus?
  • Foundation Fieldbus H1 Bus Segment
  • Device Descriptions
  • Fieldbus Summary Slide

Start-Up Concerns

  • Start-Up Safety Concerns
  • Start-Up Documentation

Course Duration 60hrs/7weeks

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