Instrumentation, Measurement and Control Technology, Natural Gas Concentration, AAS

Program Description

Instrumentation, Measurement & Control Technology program will develop skills for the installation, maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting of systems used to measure and control the flow, level, temperature and pressure in automated industrial processes in the chemical, oil and gas industry. Courses combine technical theory, use of state of the art equipment, and hands-on experience necessary to work in industrial instrumentation fields across the state, and throughout the country, including chemical operations, upstream and downstream oil and gas, natural gas compressor stations, petrochemical, power generation, and waste water treatment plants.

Program Goals and Objectives

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

Upon completion of the Process Instrumentation concentration of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Describe the flow of natural gas from the production wellhead to the consumer burner tip and the associated industry terminology.
• Work safely in the natural gas industry within the guidelines of industrial safety and OSHA regulations, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Demonstrate understanding of the natural gas regulations given in the DOT Code of Federal Regulations Parts 191 & 192.
• Explain fundamental principles and methods of measuring level, pressure and temperature.
• Read and understand Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, associated drawings and documentation.
• Install, repair and replace tubing in a process environment.
• Describe the fundamentals of flow measurement and explain the measurement equipment used in the natural gas industry.
• Explain the operating theory and considerations for maintenance for orifice, turbine, cone, ultrasonic rotary and coriolis meters.
• Perform inspection of orifice and ultrasonic meters and meter runs.
• Discuss the operating theory, installation and maintenance procedures for regulators relief valves, and control valves.
• Gain hands-on experience performing inspection, maintenance and troubleshooting of regulators, relief valves, and control valves.
• Demonstrate understanding of gas quality concepts including gas sampling systems and gas chromatography.
• Explain the operating theory and considerations for maintenance of gas quality monitoring equipment including water vapor dewpoint, oxygen and hydrogen sulfide analyzers.
• Describe the components behind SCADA Systems and identify SCADA system components.
• Calibrate electronic flow measurement devices including the process variables from primary and secondary devices.
• Gain hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting instrumentation devices using industrial communications such as HART, EtherNet/IP and wireless communication
• Identify, maintain and troubleshoot electrical and mechanical systems used in a process control loop, such as valves, pumps, sensors, variable frequency drives, motor circuits, and controllers
• Gain hands-on experience installing, configuring, programming and troubleshooting programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
• Understand the components and function of a Distributed Control System (DCS)
• Troubleshoot and tune PID control loops

Program Assessment

Students in the Process Instrumentation concentration will complete the International Society of Automation (ISA) Control System Technician (CST) Associate Recognition Program; the ISA CST Associate examination measures a fundamental understanding of knowledge in automation and control. This will be required in the Capstone course.

Careers

This program prepares completers for entry-level positions as instrumentation techs, Electrical & Instrument Techs, Process Techs, electronics/instrumentation techs, instrument and control techs, and maintenance techs. Instrumentation technicians find employment in most industries and earn a large starting salary. Technicians may be employed locally, regionally or nationally in chemical, power generation, waste water plants, and the oil and gas industry. Typical salary range for an entry-level position can be up to $30 per hour.