Inline On-line At-line Off-line...
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What are the differences between In-line, On-line, At-line and Off-line Analysers. When it comes to performing routine testing of process samples there are 4 basic options of instrumentation, In- line, On-line, At-line and Off-line(laboratory). Please find following a brief description of each of these and a table summarizing these differences. Process Laboratory Off-line Analysis results > 60 mins On-line Analysis results 5- 10mins Sample Results In-line At-line Analysis results 30mins Factory Process Area Process Laboratory Off-line Analysis results > 60 mins On-line Analysis results 5- 10mins Sample Results In-line At-line Analysis results 30mins Factory Process Area Process Laboratory Off-line Analysis results > 60 mins On-line Analysis results 5- 10mins Sample Results In-line At-line Analysis results 30mins Factory Process Area Process Laboratory Off-line Analysis results > 60 mins On-line Analysis results 5- 10mins Sample Results In-line At-line Analysis results 30mins Process Laboratory Off-line Analysis results > 60 mins On-line Analysis results 5- 10mins Sample Results Sample Results In-line In-line At-line Analysis results 30mins Factory Process Area In-Line In-line analysers are simple probes or measuring devices that are placed directly into a process stream. They are used to measure such things as pH, temperature, pressure, density and flow. Off-Line Off-line Analysers are laboratory instruments designed to be in an environmentally controlled location and used by technically trained personal. They offer the greatest versatility of analysis methods but require the most man hours to perform an analysis and input the results ie they have the longest results turn around time. Laboratory instruments are used when there is a large variety of test methods required and the result turn around time is not critical. At-line An At-line Analyser, such as ProcessLab, sits in the production area and is used by an Operator. It is configured to perform a series of tests on a variety of samples. For instance an Operator could collect 4 different samples and load them into the instrument then press 1 external button and the At-line Analyser would perform a different test or a different combination of tests on each sample and export the results automatically. Additionally ProcessLab can be connected to a switch box with several buttons so that the operator could choose from a variety of testing combination options by pressing a couple of buttons. The instrument can generate Alarms (DO) if any of the results are out of specification or operate other external devices eg turn on/off a pump or valve for a
Transcript of Inline On-line At-line Off-line...
What are the differences between In-line, On-line, At-line and Off-line Analysers. When it comes to performing routine testing of process samples there are 4 basic options of instrumentation, In-line, On-line, At-line and Off-line(laboratory). Please find following a brief description of each of these and a table summarizing these differences.
Process
Laboratory
Off-lineAnalysis results
> 60 mins
On-lineAnalysis results
5- 10mins
Sample
Results
In-line
At-lineAnalysis
results
30mins
Factory Process Area
Process
Laboratory
Off-lineAnalysis results
> 60 mins
On-lineAnalysis results
5- 10mins
Sample
Results
In-line
At-lineAnalysis
results
30mins
Factory Process Area
Process
Laboratory
Off-lineAnalysis results
> 60 mins
On-lineAnalysis results
5- 10mins
Sample
Results
In-line
At-lineAnalysis
results
30mins
Factory Process Area
Process
Laboratory
Off-lineAnalysis results
> 60 mins
On-lineAnalysis results
5- 10mins
Sample
Results
In-line
At-lineAnalysis
results
30mins
Process
Laboratory
Off-lineAnalysis results
> 60 mins
On-lineAnalysis results
5- 10mins
Sample
Results
Sample
Results
In-lineIn-line
At-lineAnalysis
results
30mins
Factory Process Area
In-Line In-line analysers are simple probes or measuring devices that are placed directly into a process stream. They are used to measure such things as pH, temperature, pressure, density and flow. Off-Line Off-line Analysers are laboratory instruments designed to be in an environmentally controlled location and used by technically trained personal. They offer the greatest versatility of analysis methods but require the most man hours to perform an analysis and input the results ie they have the longest results turn around time. Laboratory instruments are used when there is a large variety of test methods required and the result turn around time is not critical. At-line An At-line Analyser, such as ProcessLab, sits in the production area and is used by an Operator. It is configured to perform a series of tests on a variety of samples. For instance an Operator could collect 4 different samples and load them into the instrument then press 1 external button and the At-line Analyser would perform a different test or a different combination of tests on each sample and export the results automatically. Additionally ProcessLab can be connected to a switch box with several buttons so that the operator could choose from a variety of testing combination options by pressing a couple of buttons. The instrument can generate Alarms (DO) if any of the results are out of specification or operate other external devices eg turn on/off a pump or valve for a
set period of time if a result is too low or high. At-line Analysers are generally placed in a central location in a production facility so that the Operator can bring their collection of samples to the analyser press a couple of buttons and walk away. The analyser housing is IP 56 and the combined touch screen, keyboard and mouse pad are IP65. ProcessLab has both an analog (4-20mA) and a digital interface. ProcessLab can be integrated into a local network, down load data into a LIMS or be connected to the internet so that the instrument can be operated remotely, which is particularly useful for remote locations. The advantage of an at-line analysers is that no sample plumbing is required and that it can analyse multiple samples from a variety of locations within the plant. At-line analysers are ideal for situations where 4-10 samples, collected from separate locations, need to be tested routinely during a shift with the results entered automatically into a DCS, SCADA and/or central computer. By using an At-line analyser the work load on the laboratory can be significantly reduced and the result turn around time is significantly increased. On-line On-line analysers are fully automated systems used to closely monitor (1-12 results per hour) the concentrations of analytes that are critical to the production process. On-line analysers are able to control external devices such as pump or valves as part of their analysis sequence and as the results are exported automatically the analyser can also control external devices based on their analysis results eg turning on/off dosing pumps. The Analysers can be operated remotely via a modem. The Analyser is plumbed directly into the sample streams with one instrument able to monitor multiple samples (1-10, It is possible to monitor more that 10 streams but this is not recommended because of the length of time taken between testing a particular stream). Our on-line analysers are IP 66 and can be Certified for use in Hazardous Areas Zone 1 or 2. They can perform a variety of pre-treatments on the sample before analysis such as;
� Filtration. � Cooling � Pressure reduction � Heat tracing. � Digestion with acid, heat and/or UV. � Dilution
� Precipitation � Degassing � Homogenising � Flow metering � Phase separation
Other benefits on-line analysers provide include;
� They generat results with a higher level of consistence and certainty as the human factor is removed from the analysis procedure.
� They increase the safety for Operators as they don’t have to collect samples or work with potentially toxic reagents.
� They save man-hours by removing the burden of routine testing from laboratories and operators. For more information on our range of Instrumentation please contact, James Whyte, 02 98 78 6900 or [email protected].
Summary, differences in Off-line, At-line & On-line Off-line At-line On-line
Installation site Laboratory Plant Process Analyser Protection IP 23 IP 54/65 IP 66, Hazardous Area Cert. Sampling Manually Manually Automatically Sampling points Many Many 1-10 Analysis frequency Low Low-mid High Turn around time >60 mins ~30 mins 5 -10 mins Parameters Many 1-4 1-4 Meas.-Range Flexible Fixed Fixed Analysis type All Routine Routine Sample preparation Manually Manually Automatically Analysis- Procedure Manually Automatically Automatically Operation Lab assistant Plant operator Automatically Maintenance Lab assistant Lab assistant Process technician Control No Simple control closed loop control Exchange of data LIMS LIMS/Process-signal LIMS/Process signals
