Refinery & Chemical Plant Instrumentation Solutions
Instrumentation for hazardous and corrosive environments—pressure, level, and protection devices selected for reliability, safety, and serviceability.
Suggested email subject: REFINERY | Pressure / Level / Switch
Why Reliability Matters Here
Refineries and chemical plants operate under harsh media, temperature, vibration, and hazardous-area constraints. Selection is driven by safety, compliance, and long-term reliability—not just measurement range.
Common failures are usually due to wrong wetted materials, poor isolation practices, and unsuitable hook-up/installation. This page outlines the logic engineers use to prevent repeat failures.
Critical Measurement Requirements
Pressure & Differential Pressure
- Process pressure (lines, vessels, skids)
- Filter differential pressure (condition monitoring)
- Pump / compressor protection points
Level
- Storage tanks and day tanks
- Process vessels and separators
- Sumps and drain pots
Protection / Interlocks
- Pressure / temperature trips
- Alarms and interlocks
Selection Logic (What Makes or Breaks Performance)
Electromagnetic flow meters:
Use diaphragm seals or flush diaphragms where viscous, corrosive, or crystallizing media can clog standard ports or attack sensing elements.
Materials thinking:
Diaphragm and wetted materials must match media compatibility. Material mismatch is a common root cause of failure.
Level under vapour/pressure:
Radar is often preferred where vapour, foam, or pressure variations make other technologies unreliable.
Switching for protection:
Switches are used for trips/interlocks. Setpoint stability and repeatability matter more than “measurement resolution”.
Tip: Share media name, concentration (if applicable), temperature, and pressure. This avoids wrong materials selection and repeat shutdowns.
Recommended Instrument Stack (Application-Oriented)
Pressure & DP
- WIKA pressure instruments and diaphragm seal systems (selected by media and temperature)
- Supporting guide: Diaphragm Seal Selection Guide
Protection: Pressure & Temperature Switching
- Switzer pressure and temperature switches (application-oriented configurations)
- Options via WIKA group (WIKA / INDFOS) based on duty and area classification
Level
- NIVELCO radar and level solutions (selected by vessel conditions)
Installation Discipline (Leak Prevention + Serviceability)
- ZAKS manifolds and hook-up assemblies for isolation, venting, and safer maintenance
- Supporting guide: Manifold & Hook-up Selection Guide
Tip: If you share where the instrument will be installed (photos or a P&ID), we can recommend a configuration that is stable and service-ready.
Common Failures We Help Prevent
- Media attacking diaphragm/wetted parts → drift, leakage, premature failure
- Impulse line issues / clogging → wrong DP/pressure readings and unstable control
- Unsafe isolation and venting → maintenance risk and longer shutdowns
- Poor hook-up selection → leak paths, repeat rework, unreliable calibration
Spec Checklist (Send With Your Email)
- Media name, concentration (if relevant), operating temperature, operating pressure
- Hazardous area requirement (zone/class) if applicable
- Connection and mounting details; maintenance access constraints
- For seals: viscosity, crystallization risk, diaphragm material preference (if known)
- For level: vessel height, nozzle size, foam/vapour/turbulence presence
Why choose Machine Tools Centre
- Strong WIKA group alignment with application-backed recommendations
- Hazardous-duty selection mindset (materials + installation discipline)
- Long-term service support approach for critical plant instruments
