FIRST STEP JOINING THE INSTRUMENTATION WORLD 1

[Ulon]

Hi all,

I've start my journey as an Instrumentation Engineer after graduating. My background is actually in Electronic Engineering.

I humbly wanted to seek advise about:

1. What kind of book or reference that is very good to built the foundation in Instrumentation?

2. Is there any type of books that an Instrumentation Engineer must have?

3. I've I'm able to go for a training, what kind of training should i seek for?

4. Lastly, any forcast for the future of Instrument Feild? Where will it be heading?


Thanks in Advance,

 

[JLSeagull]

My recommendations assume that you plan to familiarize the field instrumentation aspects of instrumentation as well as the control systems stuff.

I keep a copy of the "Engineer-In-Training Reference Manual by Michael Lindburg in my office.

Search the web for the "Fisher Control Valve Handbook".

Obtain a copy of the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70. A new edition was just released. The NEC Handbook with explanations should be available in about January. At least your first copy of the NEC should be the handbook, nearly essential to translate the NEC into some version of understandable language.

Obtain copies of ASME B16.5, B16.34, B36.10, B36.19 - and especially access to ASME Section VIII. Obtain access or copies of all ISA standards. Download some NIST documents on SI units. such as sp330 and sp811. Obtain a copy of "Convert" and "Uconeer". The Process Industry Practice standards may be useful.

Consider joining ISA and subscribing to "Transactions". Technical papers will be valuable as you learn the business.

Obtain a copy of the "Swagelok Tube Fitters Manual" by Callahan.

Look for a copy of the "Crane Publication 410".

Check a wide selection within this forum. Pay close attention to posts by Jim Casey, Ashereng, BigInch, dcasto, Montemayor (Perhaps retiring as I don’t see his posts much lately).

Books?
Liptak
Consodine
Miller
Shinksky

 

[Ashereng]

Depending on the industry, some "bibles" may vary.

For the oil and gas industry, these 3 are a good start on the "bibles":

- GPSA (Gas Processors Suppliers Association) Engineering Data Book
- Fisher control valve handbook
- a complete set of pipe size/schedule/ANSI rating chart (available from any good pipe supplier)

The GPSA data book is one I often refer to. If you can get an electronic copy, that is best. Unfortunately, my copy was printed before they invented computers (or laser printers for that matter).

Where is instrumentation going? I think it will only get more sophisticated, and standardised. The future I&C people will need to be more "book smart" than today's, due to the increasing networking of instruments/control system/SAP/MRP/corporate systems/etc. The days of the "instrument monkey" will end with my generation. The future generation of I&C will have computer smarts, instrumentation smarts, software smarts, in addition to all the traditional skills (tube bending anyone?).

Congratulations Ulon. Welcome to the trade.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Ashereng]

JL,

Thank you for the vote of confidence.

I'm not sure I'm in the same class, yet, with Jim Casey, BigInch, dcasto, and Montemayor. I am certainly trying to get there.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[danw2]

A great book on instrumentation digital communications:

"Practical Data Communications for Instrumentation and Control" by John Park, Steve Mackay, Edwin Wright.
Published by Elsevier, 2003, ISBN 9780750657976, about 400 pages with chapters on basic principles, serial comm, error detection, cabling basics, noise & interference, modems & muxes, intro to protocols, the OSI model, industrial protocols (DH+, Modbus, ASCII), HART, industrial fieldbuses (ASI, CAN, Profibus, FIP, FF, DeviceNet), LANs,

Best overview I've found so far.
It retails for about $50 USD, I get a $60 commission.

Dan

 

[Ulon]

Thanks guys...

You all help a lot...

Hope to join you all in the pool of knowledge & experience soon

 

[xnuke]

Lipták's Instrument Engineers Handbook (three volumes) is excellent.

Definitely join ISA. Members get free access to almost all ISA standards to download in pdf form, and those that aren't free are inexpensive. Oh, and attend section meetings to network and learn if you have a local section.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
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