Definitions

BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER Glossary of Processing Terms Edited by Timothy A.
Brown Rev: 1 January 2004
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ABSOLUTE PRESSURE Pressure gauges give readings, which represent the difference between the pressure being measured, and the pressure of the atmosphere. These readings are known as gauge pressure and can be converted to total of absolute pressure by adding the barometric of atmospheric pressure. ABSOLUTE ZERO (Temperature) A hypothetical temperature characterized by the complete absence of heat and equivalent to 273.16C or 459.69F. ABSORBER A piece of equipment in which a gas or liquid is taken in by contact with another material. Example: A sponge soaks up water or absorbs water. ABSORPTION The taking up of a gas or vapor by a liquid, the taking up of a liquid by a solid, or the taking up of energy (heat, light, x-ray) by another material. A.C. (Alternating Current) Electric current that reverses direction periodically, usually sixty times per second (60 CYCLE). This is the primary type of electrical current used in most North American facilities. Outside of North America the most common A.C. used is 50 cycle, reversing direction 50 times per second. ACCEPTANCE A formal approval that has passed a process of review and as such is supported by documentation, stamps and/or signatures of authority. Examples of Acceptance: Drawings that are stamped with AFC (Approved for Construction) An executed Contract or Subcontract ACCUMULATOR A tank or vessel serving as surge capacity for fluids from which streams are drawn or pumped to other points. Example: reflux accumulator or, liquid refrigerant accumulator. ACETIC ACID An organic acid. The name is derived from the Latin word, acetum, meaning vinegar. CH3-COH ACETYLENE A colorless, highly flammable gas that is explosive when compressed; the simplest compound containing a triple bond; used in organic synthesis and as a welding fuel.
Please send your recommended corrections or additions to: BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER 10811 FAIRMONT PARKWAY La Porte, Tx. 77571 Phone: (281) 471-1229 Fax: (281) 471-0001 www.bayporttechnical.com
A DIVISION OF T.A. BROWN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER Glossary of Processing Terms Edited by Timothy A. Brown Rev: 1 January 2004
ACETYLIDE A compound formed from acetylene with the H atoms replaced by metals, as in copper acetylide (Cu2C2). Very dangerous when dry as they tend to be pyrphoric. ACID A chemical substance that has the ability to react with a base to form a salt. Typical acids are acetic (HOAC), hydro-chloric (HC1), Phosphoric (H3PO4), and sulfuric (H2SO4). ACID SUIT A protective suit worn by a person when working on equipment to keep acid or any other toxic liquid from getting in his body. ACIDIC A material having the characteristic of an acid. The material has a pH between 1 and 7. These materials react with basic materials such as sodium hydroxide (caustic). ACIDITY - Having a pH below 7. The ability to turn litmus paper red. ACIDIZE A maintenance procedure used to clean equipment or piping with an acid solution. Consists of circulating an acid solution through a piece of equipment with a pump. ACID WASH A procedure where a piece of equipment is washed with acid for cleaning purposes or for the purpose of neutralizing any possible caustic contaminants (see acidize). ACTUATOR A device which accepts the output from a control system and moves a final control element (usually a valve) to change a process condition. See also Final Control Element. A/D Analog to-digital. ADAPTIVE CONTROL Method of control whereby tuning (response) of the control system is varied with the process conditions, unlike other control systems where response times are set manually and remain constant. ADDITIVE A compound added to a semi-finished product in very small quantities to improve some characteristic of the product, or to prevent certain undesirable reactions from occurring in its use. ADSORPTION The concentration of a gas, liquid, or solid on the surface of a solid. Example: The adsorption of poison gases by the activated charcoal in gas masks.
Please send your recommended corrections or additions to: BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER 10811 FAIRMONT PARKWAY La Porte, Tx. 77571 Phone: (281) 471-1229 Fax: (281) 471-0001 www.bayporttechnical.com A DIVISION OF T.A. BROWN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
AERATE To bubble air or gas into a solution. This saturates the solution with the air or gas. AEROBIC Referring to an organism or process requiring the presence of free oxygen. AFTERCOOLER Process vessel used for final cooling of a process fluid after compression. AGITATE To shake or to mix as in the preparation of a solid-liquid mixture. AGITATOR A device for keeping liquids and solids in motion by mixing, stirring, or shaking. A.H.P. (AIR HORSEPOWER) The power output developed by a fan in moving a given air rate against a given resistance. Example: The sizing requirement of a fan in a cooling tower. AIR DRYER A system used to remove moisture from compressed air. AIR HANDLER -- The part of a ventilation system that moves the air through the building AIR HORN A device, which uses compressed air and the venturi principle to move air through a vessel. Air horns exhaust air from a vessel when operated properly. AIR INLET Opening through which air enters. Example: Opening in a cooling tower through which enters (sometimes referred to as the louvered face on induced draft towers). AIR MOTOR VALVE A valve that uses an air powered motor to position the valve. AIR MOVER A driven fan or blower used to force air into a vessel. May also be an air horn. AIR RATE, G [lb/(sq ft hr)] In a cooling tower, mass flow of dry air per square foot of cross sectional area in the towers heat transfer region per hour.
AIR VELOCITY Velocity of the air through a specific region. In the case of Vapor, the velocity of a vapor through a specific region. ALARM A device (either horn (audio) or light (visual) or both), which indicates that some function in a unit has exceeded predetermined limits. For instance, high temperature, high pressure, low or high liquid level, a release, etc. ALARM PANEL That portion of a control panel used for indicating alarm statuses. ALCOHOL A compound, which may be regarded as being derived from a hydrocarbon in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by hydroxyl (OH) radicals. Often used to indicate grain alcohol (ethanol). ALGAE Seaweeds, pond scum, and a variety of microscopic facilities inhabiting fresh and salt waters. ALGORITHM Mathematical representation of the action performed by a controller such as proportional, integral, derivative, or combinations of those modes. ALIGNMENT The positioning of two or more pieces of equipment to form a line. Example: Motor and Pump, Turbine and Compressor, Column sections. ALKALI A chemical compound capable of neutralizing an acid. ALKALINE Refers to a material, which is caustic in nature, such as lye (sodium hydroxide). Any material, which has a pH between 7.1 and 14, is considered to be alkaline. ALKANE A member of the saturated series of hydrocarbons with the general formula CN H2N + 2. Example: Ethane C2H6. ALKENE A member of the unsaturated, olefin series of hydrocarbons. General formula is CNH2N. Example: Ethylene C2H4. ALLOY Any of a large number of substances having metallic properties and consisting of two or more elements combined to create a material with properties different than the individual elements; with few exceptions, the components are usually metallic elements.
ALPHANUMERIC A character set that contains both letters and numeric digits and perhaps other characters such as punctuation marks. ALUMINA A desiccant, aluminum oxide (A1203) used in traps for drying gases and liquids. ALUMINA TRAP A small tank filled with alumina desiccant used for drying gases, such as instrument air. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE The temperature in the outside environment. AMINE One of a class of organic compounds, which can be considered to be derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogens by organic radicals. Example: Ethylene + Ammonia = Ethylene amine. AMMETER An instrument for measuring the quantity of electric current flow, measured in amperes, or amps. AMPERES (AMPS) A unit of measure of the electrical current flow in a wire. Similar to gallons of water flow in a pipe. ANAEROBIC An organism or process that is independent of free oxygen. ANALOG COMPUTER A computing device comprised of functional modules such as amplifiers, multipliers, dividers, etc., interconnected in such a way as to facilitate the solution of a strategy. The input to and the output from an analog computer are continuous signals as contrasted with a digital computer which can deal only with discrete signals. ANALOG INPUT A continuous signal from the external device such as a transmitter to a computer. ANALOG OUTPUT A continuous signal from a computer to an external device. ANALYSIS Laboratory procedures to determine the composition of a substance. ANALYZER An instrument used to measure the quality of one, several, or all components of a process stream. ANHYDROUS Without water. Usually applied to the products obtained by the dehydration of hydrates. Example: Anhydrous copper sulfate.
ANNEALING The process of heating and slowly cooling in various ways to modify the physical properties of metals, plastics, and glass. ANODE The positive terminal of an electrolytic cell. An anode can be made of carbon, zinc, or magnesium. Used to slow corrosion or electroplate. ANTI-SURGE CONTROLS Since compressor surge can only occur when certain pressure and flow conditions are met, an anti-surge device generally consists of automatic instrumentation designed to prevent these conditions. Flow or pressure conditions, or both may actuate it, and it may control flow, pressure or both. APPROACH In a cooling tower the difference between the cold water temperature and the entering wet bulb temperature. AQUEOUS SOLUTION A solution that uses water as the solvent. AROMATICS A generic term applied to hydrocarbons having as part of their basic structure the benzene ring. A.S.D.s Automatic Shutdown devices shut down processes and equipment automatically when critical operating parameters are exceeded. Also referred to as E.S.D.s. They are comprised of devices or groups of pneumatic, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, optical, computer hardware/software or combination of these or other devices which protect or safely shutdown equipment, systems or processes. AS BUILTS Design drawings that accurately represent equipment and piping as it was actually fabricated and/or constructed. These drawings differ from Fabrication and/or construction drawings as they represent what was actually done rather than what was originally designed and SHOULD include all field and/or fabrication changes. ATMOSPHERIC Referring to the air that surrounds the earth. Also used to define terms such as atmospheric pressure, which is related to the pressure of the air upon earth. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE The pressure at any point in an atmosphere due solely to the weight of the atmospheric gases above the point concerned. 14.7 psia at sea level. 6
ATOM The smallest particle of an element that can combine with other elements. ATTENUATION A decrease in signal magnitude between two points or between two frequencies. AUTO (Automatic) This refers to the operation of a control loop, mechanical device, or process train without the assistance of operating personnel. The opposite of automatic operation would be manual. AUTOCLAVE An airtight vessel for heating and sometimes agitating its contents under pressure; used for industrial processing, sterilizing, and cooking with moist or dry heat at high temperatures. AUTO-IGNITION The process of a vapor-air mixture igniting without an external ignition source. AUTOMATIC CONTROL The ability to sense or measure the value of a variable and act to hold it at a desired value. AZEOTROPIC MIXTURE A solution of two or more liquids, the composition of which does not change upon distillation. AZEOTROPIC DISTILLATION A distillation conducted where one or two or more compounds form mixtures of constant boiling points.
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BACK-FLUSH Wash by reversing the normal flow. BACK OFF To decrease the setting on an instrument, or to reduce the tension on a spring, or to reverse the direction of adjustment of an instrument or valve. BACK SEAT The seat of a hand valve that the plug closes against when the valve is full open. This takes the pressure off the packing therefore, prolonging its life. BACK WASH Reverse the normal flow of fluid through a screen or condenser to remove all the trapped particles. BACK WELD To place a weld overlay over a non-welded joint. Also to weld inside of a pipe connection which has been welded on the outside.
BAFFLE (Heat Exchanger) Plates on a tube bundle used to control the internal fluid flow path on the shell side of a heat exchanger. Metal plates that are spaced on the tube bundle of heat exchangers to control the path of fluids in the shell side. BASE (Multiple usage) The bottom of something considered as its support. OR, The lower part of a wall, pier or column considered as a separate architectural feature. OR, A side or face of a geometrical figure from which an altitude can be constructed. OR, The point or line from where a start is made in an action or undertaking. OR, A line in a survey that serves as the origin for computations. OR, Any of various typically water-soluble and acrid or brackish compounds capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt that are molecules or ions that are able to take a proton from an acid or substances that are able to give up an unshared pair of electrons to an acid. See the word Alkaline and the definition of pH. BASIC Refer to the word Alkaline and pH. BACK UP A duplicate instrument or piece of equipment such as a pump used as a reserve or BACK UP should the primary instrument or piece of equipment fail, the duplicate is still available or will take over. BALANCE A counter-balancing weight force or influence. An instrument for weighing. Rotating machinery to bring to a state of smooth running. BALL VALVE A type of positive shut-off valve, which utilizes a ball with a hole through it, which when properly aligned, will permit flow through the valve. BARGE A large, unpowered flat bottom boat, usually with tanks built on or in it, used to haul material over inland waterways. There are also ocean-going barges. BAROMETER An instrument for determining atmosphere pressure. BAROMETRIC Referring to atmospheric pressure or an instrument (barometer) which measures changes in atmospheric pressure. In a distillation column, the column is vented and equalized to atmospheric pressure using a barometric leg. BAROMETRIC LEG A liquid filled leg (usually water) used to seal a vacuum system and allow for gravity drainage drainage. Athe length of a water filled barometric leg at near perfect vacuum is 34 feet above grade.
BARREL A unit of measurement utilized in the petroleum industry equating to 42 gallons BASE TEMPERATURE The operating temperature at the base or bottom of a distillation column, reactor, etc. BATTERY LIMIT An imaginary boundary separating two areas within a facility such as New-Plant/Old-Plant, operating plant/non-operating plant, or operating unit boundaries such as walk ways or road ways around a unit or in the case of pipe racks or cable trays an imaginary line distinguishing unit ownership break points coming from or going to other units. BAUD RATE The number of bits or discrete pierces of information transmitted per second. BEAKER A piece of glass or laboratory apparatus, used to transfer and mix various solutions and chemicals. BEARING A machine part that supports a moving part and minimizes the friction between the stationary and moving parts. The motion can be rotational or linear . BELLOWS Any of several types of enclosures, which have accordion-like walls, allowing one to vary the volume and length. BENZENE RING The structure of Benzene know to consist of six C-H groups connected by valence bonds between the carbon atoms into the form of a hexagon. B.F.P. (Boiler Feed Water Pumps) High pressure, multi-stage pumps that furnish feed water to a boiler. BINARY A number system in base two (2), where all information is represented by phrases of 1 & 0 BIAS An offset applied to an instrument signal. The amount of offset remains constant even though the instrument signal may change. BIG JOE - A gas regulator manufactured by Fisher Controls Company, Model 630, used widely by specific owner operators for instrument air pressure reduction and methane pressure reduction.
BIT Abbreviation for binary digit. A single character in a binary number, represented by zero (0) or one (1). BLACK LIGHT Ultra-violet light used in inspection of equipment to be used in oxygen service. Oils fluoresce under black light. BLANK To stop access to or seal. See Blind. BLANKETING The process of putting inert or chemically inactive gas into the vapor space above the liquid in a tank, to prevent any air leakage into the tank. BLEEDING Withdrawing from a line or vessel a small portion of the contained material, usually accomplished by slightly cracking a valve in the line or on the vessel. BLEND The controlled mixing of two or more fluids, liquids, or granular materials. BLIND A shaped piece of metal plate, which is inserted between flanges to provide a positive means of stopping the flow from either direction, isolating the pipe on each side of the flange. BLIND FLANGE A circular plate with boltholes used to cap the flange on the end of a pipe. BLOCK IN To isolate a piece of equipment by closing the valves in all the lines to and from that piece of equipment. To close a valve. BLOCK VALVE A manual positive shutoff valve, which will isolate or interrupt the flow through a pipe or from a vessel. BLOWBACK (also known as B.B.) Either a gas or liquid used to purge the leads of an instrument. Common B.B. for this facilities is methane, nitrogen or water. BLOW DOWN A stream, usually liquid, that is removed continuously or periodically from a process , generally to keep concentrations of insoluable materials down.
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BLOW OFF To vent a gas to the atmosphere, a flare, or another device through a passage provided for the purpose. In the reaction units, blow off gas consists of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, organics, etc. BLOWER A fan or compressor, which at low pressures and relatively high volumes. BLOWING The process of adding a compressed gas, (nitrogen or air) into a line in order to clear the line of an unwanted material. BLOWOUT A sudden and violent escape of gas, vapor or liquid. B.O.D. This term refers to Biological Oxygen Demand. Chemicals, which may pollute a body of water, affect the biological oxygen demand and in some cases, may cause the killing of game fish and other marine life. BOILER A vessel in which water is boiled and converted into steam under controlled conditions. BOILER SCALE A chemical deposit or residue left in the boiler when water is vaporized. BOILING POINT The temperature at a specific pressure which a substance boils. BOIL UP When heat is applied to vaporize a liquid, as in distillation, the vapor evolved is termed boil up. The boil up rate is directly proportional to the head added. BOMB (Sample) A metal (or in some cases glass) cylindrical object used to take gas or liquid samples. Some bombs are designed for high pressures and others for low pressures. BONDED FLANGE A flange that has a ground wire attached to both sides of the flange to prevent static electricity from setting off explosive gas mixtures. BONNET The portion of a valve body through which the stem leaves the body. The bonnet contains the stem packing. The bonnet may be extra long for cold service or finned for hot service. BOOSTER PUMP A pump used to raise the pressure level or any fluid stream, which has been previously subjected to a pumping operation. 11
BOURDON PRESSURE GAUGE A mechanical pressure-measuring instrument employing as its sensing element, a curved C Tube or twisted Spiral Tube also Known as a bourdon tube, flattened in cross section and closed on one end. Increasing or decreasing the pressure within the tube causes the tube to bend or flex in predetermined amounts. The tube, hooked to a mechanical linkage and gears then rotates the dial indicator needle from which the pressure is read. BOURDON TEMPERATURE GAUGE Operates exactly as does the Bourdon Pressure gauge with the exception that it also has a capillary tube and thermo bulb. The Bourdon Tube, Capillary Tube and Thermo bulb are sealed as one unit and filled with a fluid. Pressure is increased on the Bourdon Tube by applying heat to the Thermo bulb thereby expanding the fluid. Pressure is decreased on the Bourdon Tube by cooling (or removing heat) from the Thermo bulb thereby allowing the fluid to contract. BOSS FITTING A male-female joint, which insures an accurate fit between two mating pieces. BOTTOM LAYER The heaviest of two or more immiscible liquids. Usually occurs in tanks when heterogeneous mixtures are involved. BRAKE To brake is to stop. Either electric drive, overhead cranes, etc., where positive stop is necessary. Also used to refer to a metal forming operation in which a flat piece of metal is bent in a tight, strait, angel. BREAKER (BKR) - Electrical device to open or close electrical circuits to equipment. Can be either manual or remotely controlled. Breakers are automated to open to protect electrical equipment from over current, high temperature, etc. BREAK POINT - A specific point such as a valve where a scope of work begins or ends. OR, A specific point such as a valve where a market segment (upstream, midstream and downstream) begins or ends. BREAK THROUGH Exceeding the allowable concentration of reactants in the reactor outlet or blow off. BRIDGE CRANE Refer to overhead crane.
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BRINE A liquid used in a refrigeration system, usually an aqueous solution of calcium chloride or sodium chloride, which is cooled by contact with the evaporator surface and then goes to the space which is to be refrigerated. BRUSHES (Elec.) Usually made of carbon and ride on the commutator or slip rings of motors and generators to supply current to the rotating element (rotor or armature). BS&B (Black, Sivalls & Bryson) A manufacturer of vent units and flame arrestors. Vent units of this manufacturer are referred to as a BS&B vent. BTU (British Thermal Unit) A measure of energy in the English system referring to the heat required to raise one pound of water from 39F to 40F, hence, the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water at its temperature of maximum density by 1F. BUBBLE-CAP Metallic caps covering holes in a column tray. Vapor passes up through the liquid on the tray through slots in the cap to the next tray. BUBBLE-CAP TRAY A term applied to the element of a distillation column consisting of a casting perforated with a multitude of chimney-like risers, which, in practice, are capped with bubble-caps. BUBBLE-CAP COLUMN A distillation column so constructed that the vapors generated in it pass upward through layers of condensate contained on a series of trays. The vapor passes from a given tray to the next above by bubbling under a cap and out through the liquid layer. The less volatile components of the vapor condense and the excess liquid overflows to the tray next below and so on back to the still base. BUBBLE POINT The temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the absolute pressure of the liquid-vapor interface. BUCKET (Turbine) Slang for the bladeing on turbine wheels BUFFER SOLUTIONS A solution, which is a combination of chemicals, which when added to another solution, resists any change in hydrogen ion concentration on the addition of an acid or a base. BUNDLE (Heat Exchanger) A term given to the cluster of tubes and the attached tube sheet(s) of a heat exchanger. A term used to describe the tubes of a heat exchanger. See Tubes and Tube Sheet definitions for more information.
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BURETTE This is a graduated glass tube with a stopcock or valve at the bottom used for delivering measured quantities of a liquid and accurately measuring the volume delivered. BURNER A device used to introduce, distribute, mix and burn a fuel. Usually associated with a boiler, incinerator, heater, furnace, flare, etc. BURNER RING A doughnut-shaped piece of pipe with several rows of evenly spaced holes generally around the interior diameter of the ring. BUS BAR A copper, aluminum, silver, etc., bar of various sizes used to carry current in electrical switchgear. BUS Common term to describe the network of energized sections of switchgear. BUTTERFLY VALVE A pan-cake type valve with a wafer type gate pinned at top and bottom allowing the gate to turn across or in line with flow. BUTTON UP To close a vessel or pipe with its associated piping, man-way covers and/or flanges BUTYLES Refers to a number of C4 organic compounds. Example: Butane, Butaldehyde, or Butadiene. B.V. (Block Valve) Valve that is used to stop flow. BYPASS An alternate route around a piece of equipment. Example: Control valve bypass BY-PRODUCT A product from a chemical process that is not considered the principle material. BYTE The number of adjacent binary digits operated upon as a unit.
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C - Generally, referred to degrees centigrade. See Centigrade. CABLE (Electrical) Electrical conductors of copper, aluminum, etc. Can be either insulated or bare and of many sizes.
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CABLE PIT A concrete pit in the ground in which underground conduit and cable systems are installed for pulling cables, splicing cables, or terminations. CABLE TRAY A ladder type tray of aluminum, installed in electrical systems, to support wires and cables. Insulated cables or wires lay fastened in the tray without conduit. CAGED LADDER A fixed, immovable ladder that has a metal cage around the ladder. Usually found on the sides of distillation columns and large tanks. CALANDRIA A heat exchanger used to boil up the process material in the base of a distillation column. CALIBRATION Determination of the accuracy of an instrument by finding its variation from true measurement. CALL OUT A term used whenever an employee is called back to work after he has left the premises. The proper term, when found in writing, is Call-In. CAN (INST) A metal container used to enclose the components of an instrument, or electrical relays. Usually have plug-in connections. May be specifically used to hold components for range determination and therefore be referred to as a range change can. CANAL A large deep ditch filled with water. CAPACITOR Electrical device to store electrical charge. Made up of conducting plates or foils and wound and separated by insulating material. CAPACITY Relating to a tank: Maximum volume. OR, Relating to a specific piece of operating equipment, a unit or to a facilities: Maximum production or output. OR, Capacity (refrigerating system) The cooling effect produced by the total enthalpy change between the refrigerant entering the evaporator and the refrigerant leaving the evaporator CAPACITY TANK (Surge Tank) A tank used to reduce the surges in vapor flow systems, especially where there can be large sudden changes in flow. CAPELLA OIL A trade name for one of Texacos oils. Used in refrigeration service.
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CAPILLARY TUBING Small inside diameter tubing used to restrict flow or to create pressure drop. CAPITAL PROJECT A large or significant project of new construction and new equipment that requires a substantial monetary investment (Capital Outlay). CARBOY A large cylindrical container for liquids, which is generally made of glass or plastic. Chemicals are commonly shipped in this type of container, i.e., Carboys of hydrochloric acid holding about 15 gallons of liquid. CARD (INST) A printed circuit board used to mount and connect components in an electronic instrument. Usually has a plug-in feature for easy changing. CARSEAL A wire loop used on the hand wheels of certain critical valves. The wire loop is not to be broken unless proper safety considerations have been made. CASCADE Cascade refers to a control system involving two or more controllers. One instrument measures a process variable (i.e., temperature) and resets a second process condition (i.e., flow controller). CASCADE CONTROL Controllers arranged such that the output of one controller manipulates the setpoint input of a second controller instead of manipulating a process variable directly. CATALYST Any substance that, by virtue of its presence, affects the rate of a chemical reaction and which, in general, remains unchanged at the end of the reaction. CATALYST, IMPREGNANTED A catalytic medium consisting of a solid porous particle serving as a carrier for the activating salt with which it has been impregnated. CATALYST, LUMP A term applied to solid catalytic media of irregular shape. CATASTROPHIC EVENT An event causing substantial negative consequences within facilities involving loss of production, major spill or release with environmental consequences, damaged or ruined equipment, injury or death to personnel or a combination of all of the above. CATEXER An industrial sized water softener. 16
CATHODIC PROTECTION System by which a D.C. charge is induced across underground pipes to retard corrosion. CAT WALK Name given to walking areas on top of structures or tanks. CAUSTIC - Sodium Hydroxide of Caustic Soda most generally used to neutralize acids. Caustic has a sharp pungent odor, is a heavy musky liquid, and is extremely hazardous to the skin and eyes. CAUSTIC NEUTRALIZATION The chemical reaction in which acidic materials are rendered neutral by the addition of caustic. CAUSTIC WASH A term applied to a washing operation with a dilute solution of caustic. CAUTION TAG A warning tag used to warn the operator that some unusual condition exists. CAVITATION If a centrifugal pump suction head is too low, the suction is plugged, the piping configuration is wrong, or the impeller sized improperly, then cavitations can exist. If the pump sounds as if it is pumping gravel, then it is probably cavitating. An inadequate suction supply can cause a machine to cavitate. Cavitations will cause vibration and noise in the machine. In cavitation, the liquid in the suction eye of the impeller boils, the vapor bubbles collapse in the higher pressure regions of the impeller. CBM A constant boiling mixture, hence a mixture in which the liquid and vapor equilibrium are constant at a given temperature and pressure. CELL (COOLING TOWER) Smallest tower subdivision which can function as an independent unit with regard to air and water flow; it is bounded by either exterior walls or partition walls. Each Cell may have one or more fans and one or more distribution systems. CENTRIFUGAL Proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis. CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR A piece of equipment used to create pressure or COMPRESS substances normally of a gaseous nature utilizing Centrifugal mechanisms (see definition of Centrifugal) as opposed to the utilization of pistons (see definition of Reciprocating Compressor) or other means. Normally applied to applications requiring high RPM (revolutions per minute) and high volumes with a beginning range of 3,000 RPM up to and in
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excess of 40,000 RPM. Multi-wheeled (multistage) Centrifugal Compressors are applied to areas requiring high rates of flow volumes from 500 to 200,000 inlet acfm. Single-wheeled (single stage) Centrifugal Compressors would typically be applied to inlet flow rates of 100 to 150,000 acfm. See Compressor CENTRIFUGAL PUMP A pump that imparts velocity to liquid by centrifugal force and then converts the velocity to pressure. CENTRIFUGE A machine for separation of substances by centrifugal force. Centrifugal force tends to move one material heavier than the other away from the center. This is a common technique used to remove solids from liquids. CENTIGRADE A thermometer scale based on the freezing point 0 and boiling point (100) of water. It was originated by Celsius and is sometimes referred to in his name. To convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9; to convert Centigrade to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and add 32. CFR See Code of Federal Regulations CHAIN REACTION A series of reactions in which each reaction is initiated by the energy produced in the preceding reaction. CHAIN WHEEL An operator attached to the wheel of a valve with a chain so the valve may be operated from a more accessible location. CHANGE MANAGEMENT The act and process of controlling changes (increased cost) to a scope of work being performed. Typically these scope of work changes are being attempted by a third party (Contractor and/or Subcontractors). Change management is implemented and utilized to prevent substantial scope growth and increased cost. CHANNEL HEAD A compartment at each end of a shell and tube heat exchanger, which distribute the tube side fluid to the tubes on the inlet end or collects the fluid from the tubes on the outlet end. CHANNEL LOCKS The name given to a pair of pliers that has adjustable jaws, thereby making it an adaptable tool for various types of jobs that might be encountered by an operator or craftsman. 18
CHARGE (To Fill) To fill with the prescribed amount. A term used to describe the act of filling. CHARGE NUMBER Numbers assigned to types of labor and equipment to account for expenditures. CHART A sheet of paper ruled and suitably graduated for use in a recording instrument so that process changes can be recorded. CHEATER Extension used on wrenches, etc. to give more leverage. CHECK GAS A gas used to check the calibration of an analyzer. CHECK VALVE A valve, with an internal flapper, that will allow liquid or gas to flow in one direction only. CHEMICAL CHANGE A change in the composition of substances with accompanying changes in properties. CHEMICAL REACTION A change in which a substance is changed into one or more new substances. CHERRY PICKER A type of crane or lifting device powered by a gasoline or diesel engine with a short boom and capacity of up to 12 tons. CHICAGO COUPLING A type of coupling with tow prongs and sealing gasket used primarily to connect air or water supplies to a hose. Example: (Crows Foot). CHILLER A refrigeration unit utilized to cool gasses and/or liquids CHLORIDES This term refers to the compounds of chlorine. Chlorides may be contaminants in refined chemicals and affect their purity. CHLORINE A chemical used to treat water to stop the growth of aquatic life. CHOCK A metal wedge used to block the movement of a wheel of a railroad car or a tank truck. Also, the act of placing such wedges. CHOKER A given length of wire cable, nulon strap, chain, or mesh with spliced loops on each end, which is looped around equipment in order to lift it. 19
CHROMATE A solution that is added to the cooling tower water to prevent algae formation. CHROMATOGRAPHY An analytical technique used by the laboratory and in the unit for determining the individual impurities in a sample of chemical or gas. Unit chromatographs are used on the process streams to detect impurities in the refined product. CIRCUIT Term, which describes a system of one of many electrical components, to accomplish a specified purpose. CIRCULAR CHART Twenty-four hour record in circular form of production or material used. CIRCULATE To mix or stir up material, usually with a pump. CIRCULATION RATE Actual flow rate through a given, such as, through a given cooling tower (GPM). CLARIFIER A vessel used to make a liquid clear or pure visually, by freeing it from suspended matter. CLEAN FUELS Fuels in which impurities such as sulfur have been removed to mandated levels CLOUD - A concentration of gaseous product. OR, A wavy circle made around an area of question or comment on design drawings or ISOs C1 (Chlorides) See definition for Chlorides. C12 (Chlorine) A highly reactive chemical used in water purification and also in various chemical processes. CO This symbol refers to the chemical compound carbon monoxide. This is a poisonous gas composed of carbon and oxygen. It is rapidly absorbed in the blood stream and may cause death if inhaled in large quantities. Sometimes referred to as syngas CO2 The chemical symbol referring to carbon dioxide. This gas is found in numerous process streams and is a combination of carbon and oxygen.
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CO2 (Extinguisher) A fire extinguisher using liquid carbon dioxide stored under pressure for use as an extinguishing agent. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) The federal documents which contain the laws, including PSM & RMP. COLD END A term used to refer to the piping and equipment in the oxygen facilities, which operates below a temperature of -160C. COLD TAP The act of cutting or drilling into an evacuated and safe line or piece of equipment. COLLECTION BASIN Chamber below and/or integral with equipment or process where products are transitionally collected and directed to a sump or suction pump line, such as, the Collection Basin of a cooling tower. COLLECTION HEADER A header, which has several lines draining into it. COLLECTOR RINGS Rings installed on the rotating element of certain types of motors and generators where brushes ride to send or take current from the rotating element. COLOR Generally refers to the color of a chemical. The clarity and hue of yellow represents a poor quality. A high quality is water-white or clear. COLOR COMPARISON A comparison of the various hues of yellow and green of the platinum cobalt color standard series with the color of the refined chemical. COLOR STANDARD Refer to platinum cobalt color. COLOR TEST Refer to platinum cobalt color and to the definition of the word of color. COLUMN A distillation vessel in which liquid materials are separated from one another by utilizing the fact that there is a difference in boiling point between the materials. COLUMN FLANGE A bolted joint in a distillation column that allows one section of the column to be joined to the next section.
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COVERED PROCESS A process which is covered by a regulatory body of law, such as PSM or RMP. COMBUSTION Any chemical action producing noticeable light and heat. COME ALONG A hand operated lever type chain hoist used to raise small equipment. COMPATIBLE Capable of coexisting in harmony. COMPOUND A substance, which may be decomposed into two or more elements by chemical change. COMPRESS To press or squeeze together. COMPRESSION The act, process or result of compressing. COMPRESSION RATIO Ratio of outlet to inlet absolute pressure when compressing. COMPRESSOR The machine used to raise a gas pressure. COMPUTER An automatic electronic machine for performing calculations and storing data. COMPUTER CONTROL The use of the computer to control process conditions either by adjusting a controller set point or output directly to a control element such as a DMV. CONCENTRATE To increase the amount of dissolved substance by evaporation. CONDENSATION The transforming from a gas to a liquid. CONDENSATION REACTION One of a class of chemical reactions involving a combination between molecules or between parts of the same molecule. CONDENSATE Water formed by condensing steam. CONDENSE To transform from the gaseous state to the liquid state. For instance, steam is cooled and condensed to water to form condensate. CONDENSER A heat exchanger that is used to condense vapor to a liquid.
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CONDENSER (Electrical) Same as Capacitor. (See Capacitor). CONDUCTION The flow of heat through a solid. CONDUCTIVITY A measurement of resistance of a substance. CONDUIT Metallic or plastic pipe, either rigid or flexible, used to hold electrical wiring. CONDULET One of many types of fittings used when installing an electrical conduit system. Tees, ells, etc. CONSULTANT An expert at a specific technology or field who is being paid to advise a second party. CONTAINED The amount of one component of a mixture. Example: The amount (lbs.) of acid in 30 lbs. of 30% weak acid would be 9 lbs. of acid or 9 lbs. contained acid. CONTRACTOR A specialized second party hired to perform a scope of work. CONTROL ACTION, DERIVATIVE (RATE) Control action in which the controller output is proportional to the rate of change of the input. CONTROL ACTION, INTEGRAL (RESET) Control action in which the controller output is proportional to the time integral of the error signal. CONTROL ACTION, PROPORTIONAL Control action in which the controller output has a linear relationship to the error signal. CONTROL CIRCUIT The wiring used to transmit control signals in an instrument system. CONTROLLER An instrument device which maintains a process variable at a specific quantity rate. Indicating Controller An instrument that indicates a variable reading and actuates a secondary device to affect the process.
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Recording Controller - An instrument that provides a printed chart of variable readings and actuates a secondary device to affect the process. CONTROLLER ACTION The relationship of the controller output to the input error. CONTROL POINT The point at which the controller usually regulates the process. CONNECTION The flow of heat through liquids or gases by actual mixing of the liquids or gases. CONVERTER A vessel in which a reaction takes place; sometimes referred to as reactor. COOLER A heat exchanger that is used to cool a process material down to a lower temperature. COOLING MEDIUM Any substance whose temperature is such that it is used, with or without change of state, to lower the temperature of other liquids or gasses during condensing or sub-cooling. COOLING TOWER A piece of equipment designed to lower the temperature of a water stream by evaporating part of the stream. The towers are usually made of wood, with various types of packing, designed to promote maximum contact of the water with the air. COPOLYMER A mixed polymer, the product of polymerization of two or more substances at the same time. COPPER - A metallic element, which is highly resistant to attack from most chemicals. It is used for wires, coins and many alloys; for instance, brass, bronze, and various copper-nickel alloys. Copper is used extensively throughout distillation systems due to its high corrosion resistance. COPPER ACETYLIDES A highly explosive chemical compound, which is formed by the combination of copper metal and acetylene gas. Copper acetylides are sometimes found in process systems and are removed by treatment with a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid, which renders them nonexplosive. This type of compound is the same type of compound used in the 24
manufacture of dynamite priming caps and primer for shotgun and rifle shells. CORROSION Wear on metals caused by nature or a process material. CORROSION RACK A rack used to hold coupons of various metals to measure the corrosion rate of these metals in a process stream. COUNTERFLOW Flow direction that is counter-current to that of others. Example: Air flow direction through the fill is counter-current to that of falling water in a cooling tower. COUPLING (Machinery) The connection device between two pieces of rotating equipment such as between an electric motor and a pump. COUPLING (Pipe) A short pipe sleeve with internal threads used to join two sections of pipe. COVERALL (Goggles) A protective goggle worn over safety glasses (spectacles) to further guard eyesight while working in a hazardous area. CRACKING A process used to reduce the molecular weight of hydrocarbons by breaking molecular bonds by thermal, catalytic, or hydro cracking methods. CRANE A gasoline or diesel powered lifting device with a long boom and capacity for lifting and moving loads. CRITICAL SPEED The R.P.M. at which the rotor of a rotating piece of equipment attains its natural frequency (resonance). Usually evident by amplified vibratio as it passes through different critical speeds. Usually occurs on startup. Example: 1st critical 720 R.P.M. nd 2 critical 1440 R.P.M. 3rd critical 2160 R.P.M. CROSSFLOW Flow direction that is essentially perpendicular to that of others. Example: Air flow direction through the fill is essentially perpendicular to that of falling water in a cooling tower. CROWS FOOT A quick connect type hose fitting used on facilities utility hoses. CRUDE Organic product that is not refined.
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CRUDE PRODUCT A partially processed material that is feed stock to another processing unit. CRYOGENICS Extremely cold gases and liquids which are at a temperature of 148F or colder. Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen, and methane are some of the most common cryogenics. CUBICLE The steel cabinet that encloses large electrical breakers or other electrical devices. CURRENT Rate of flow of electricity measured in amperes. CUT (Reduce) To reduce a flow. CUT TO PAD To change a flow from its normal path and direct the flow to the ground or to the sewer. CWP Cycle water pump. CWR (Cycle Water Return) A line through which cycle water is returned. CWS (Cycle Water Supply) A line supplying cycle water. C.W.T. (COLD WATER TEMPERATURE) Temperature of water leaving a collection point, exclusive of any temperature effects incurred by the addition of make-up and/or the removal of blowdown. Example: Temperature of water leaving the collection basin in a cooling tower. CYCLE An alternation or switching of something such as equipment or machinery. CYCLONE SEPARATOR A separator, which creates a vortex within a flow allowing, entrained matter to be separated from flow by use of centrifugal force. A cylinder type separator that separates solids from liquids or liquids from gas. Flow enters the separator tangentially creating a swirling motion. The centrifugal force created, keeps the heavier material against the walls and drops them out the bottom. The lighter material escapes through a center pipe out the top.
D
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DAILY MAINTENANCE The act of performing routine repairs and maintenance within a facility on a daily basis DAILY NOTES Operating instructions written by departmental supervisors. The purpose is to set conditions or to ask for changes on a day-to-day basis. DAMPER A valve or movable plate for regulating the flow of air or draft in a furnace or fireplace. DAMPNEY BLACK Paint used on stainless steel pipe to reduce the possibility of chloride stress cracking. DANGER TAG A tag which is used in conjunction with some type of log to identify, explain, and record the position and location of blinds, valves, switch gears and locks. DATA BASE A collection of values for process variables, setpoints; scaling factors, control parameters, limits, constants, identifiers, etc. for access by the application programs in a computer-based control system. DATA BOOKS A book or group of books containing critical information regarding design, specifications, operations and other vital information on equipment, processes, units and entire facilities. DATA HIGHWAY A high-speed serial or parallel data path which connects several units of a distributed control or data collection system. DASH POT A device used to dampen vibration or oscillation and is similar in operation to automobile shock absorbers. DAY RELIEF An operator that works days (Monday thru Friday) and relieves other operators on their regular scheduled day off during a given week. D.C. (Direct Current) A current that always travels in the same direction. D.C.S. (DISTRIBUTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM) A comprehensive computerized control system Sending data from transmitters, which are attached to each critical piece of equipment or process to be transmitted to a centralized control room allowing operators to monitor and control the units and facilities and recording the process history. 27
DDC - DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROL. A control technique in which a digital computer is used as the sole controller and its output is used to set the final control element. This is in contrast with supervisory control. DEACTIVATOR A substance that renders another substance inactive. A negative catalyst. DEAD BAND The range through which the measured quantity may vary without initiating response. In a mechanical instrument such as a meter movement or strip-chart recorder, the dead band is caused by friction and slack or play in the readout mechanism. In a controller, dead band is a zone around the setpoint in which the measurement may vary without initiating a compensating controller response. DEAD TIME The interval of time lag between the initiation of an input change or stimulus and the start of the resulting observable response. DEAERATOR (D.A.) A vessel used to remove gases from boiler feed water. DECANT To separate two or more insoluble liquids by allowing them to separate in a container and then drawing off the individual layers. DECANTATION See Decant. DECANTER A vessel used to decant. DECOMPOSITION Applied to a chemical change in which a substance breaks down to form two or more simple substances. DEDICATED CONTROL Using one controller to control one process variable. DEHYDRATION The process of removing water from a compound. DEHYDROGENATION The removal of hydrogen, usually by a catalytic process. DELTA P (P) The difference in pressure between two points in a process system. A common example is the P between the top and bottom of a distillation column. DELTA T (T) The difference in temperature between two points in a process system. 28
DELUGE SYSTEM A term used to describe a water spray system used in controlling fires or heat. DELUGE VALVE A control valve holding backwater on water spray systems, which can be actuated manually, or by a heat-responsive system. DEMAND LOG A term used in computer language to describe the readings selected by an operator. DEMISTER Equipment used in boilers and vaporizers to remove the mist from the evolving vapor. DEMULSIFIER A chemical, mechanical, or electrical system that either breaks liquid-liquid emulsions or prevents them from forming. DENATURE To mix a small amount of ethyl acetate with alcohol to make the alcohol unfit for drinking without impairing its usefulness for other purposes. DENSITY The weight of a material for a given volume. Example: Water = 62.4 pounds per cubic foot or 8.33 pounds per gallon. DEPARTMENTAL Meaning that the occurrence or responsibility is within the particular department in question. DEPARTMENT HEAD Individual charged with the responsibility and authority for the safe and continuous operation of a department. He reports directly to Facilities Management. DERIVATIVE CONTROL A mode of control using an algorithm which anticipates when a process variable will reach its desired control point by sensing its rate of change. This allows a control change to take place before the process variable overshoots the desired control point. See also Control Action, Derivative (Rate). DERIVATIVE TIME The time difference by which the output of a proportionalderivative (PD) controller leads the controller input when the input changes linearly with time. DESALTER A piece of equipment that separates salt water from fossil fuels by means of electrolysis. Normally found on offshore production facilities 29
DESICCANT A drying agent used to dry instrument air, process gas, etc. DESIGN CONDITIONS The conditions under which a piece of equipment is designed to operate. DESUPERHEAT To cool down such as desuperheating hot steam. See steam, desuperheated. DEVIATION An instrument term. Any instantaneous difference between set point and control point. DEWPOINT This is the temperature at which a vapor or gas begins to condense to a liquid. DIAPHRAGM A thin flexible sheet of material, which is, used as a transmission media in pumps, valves, switches, and meters. DIFFERETIAL PRESSURE The difference in pressure between two points in a process system. Same as a P. DIGITAL COMPUTER An electronic machine for performing calculations on discrete quantities of data. Usually includes bulk storage devices such as disks, tape units, etc., in addition to internal memory. Also includes devices for printing and/or displaying output data. DIKE A wall (earthen, shell or concrete) built around a piece of equipment to contain the material should the equipment rupture or leak badly. DIKE DRAIN A line through a dike that is used to drain the contents from within a dike. DILUTION The process of increasing the bulk of a substance by adding a second substance. By adding the second substance, the original substance is reduced in overall quality. DIMETCOTE A zink base protective coating for carbon steel. DIMPLE JACKET A jacket of metal welded around the exterior of a tank or vessel. The Jacket is spot welded to the parent vessel in a manner that creates channels of flow for the cooling fluid and has a Dimpled appearance when looked at. Typically used for applications not requiring substantial cooling or in applications where the internals of a tank or vessel could catch and grow
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bacterium should an internal device be utilized. Most commonly applied in applications such as ethanol production fermentation tanks where bacteria have considerable time to grow and attach to internal surfaces. DIP TUBE A tube that extends down into a vessel and usually used for level or interface measurement or for sampling a particular location in a vessel. DIRECT COST The cost of the raw materials used directly in the manufacturing of a product. DISCHARGE Outlet. DISTILLATE The products of distillation formed by condensing vapors. DISTILLATION Distillation is the separation of the constituents of a liquid mixture by partial vaporization of the mixture and separate recovery of vapor and residue. In general, distillation is the term applied to vaporization processes in which the vapor evolved is recovered, usually by condensation. DISTILLATION (Batch) Distillation where the entire batch of liquid feed is placed into a still at the beginning of the operation. Used primarily when materials are hard to separate or when small amounts of a product are needed. DISTILLATION (Continuous) - A distillation in which a material is continuously fed into a still, part of the material is distilled off and the remainder of the material is drawn out as tails. DISTILLATION RANGE The temperature range in degrees Centigrade or degrees Fahrenheit at which a given amount of chemicals will distill. This is a determination of the quality and purity of a chemical compound. DISTILLED WATER Water, which has been evaporated and condensed leaving behind all of its major impurities. Distilled water is used for boiler feed water (condensate) and in the laboratory for preparation of high purity solutions. DISTRIBUTED CONTROL SYSTEM Any control system in which the degradation or failure of any single element will affect only the control loop, or related loops, in which it operates.
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DISTRIBUTION Movement of products by a distributor or manufacturer (vendor) to the market area including all related functions such as order processing, loading and shipping prescribed containers, and invoicing of customers. DISTRIBUTION BASIN Shallow pan-type elevated basin used in cooling towers to distribute hot water over the tower fill by means of orifices in the basin floor. Application is normally limited to crossflow cooling towers. DMV (Diaphragm Motor Valve) A valve used for process control that uses an air operated diaphragm operator to set the valve plug position. DOCK A large platform extending above the water where barges, freighters and tankers are secured for loading or unloading. DOUBLE-FLOW A crossflow cooling tower where two opposed fill banks are served by a common plenum. DOUBLE VALVE AND VENT To close off two valves in the same line and vent between these valves. DOWN COMER A down comer, sometimes referred to as a downspout, is a conduit or pipe provided for passing liquid from one distillation tray to the tray below. DOWNSTREAM A point in the direction of flow away from the point in question. OR, The point at which petroleum products leave the upstream or midstream market segments of the petroleum business and enter a facility for the purpose of refining and ultimate marketing of finished products. D/P (Differential Pressure) See Differential Pressure. DRAFT The difference between atmospheric pressure and some lower pressure in a confined space that causes air to flow, such as exists in the furnace or gas passages of a stream-generating unit or in a chimney. DRIER A vessel filled with a chemical that air and gas can pass through and the moisture absorbed by the chemical. OR, A thinner for paint to make it dry faster. OR, A heater or blower used to dry. DRIFT In instrumentation, a deviation from a true reading or signal. OR, 32
In cooling towers circulating water loss from the tower as liquid droplets entrained in the exhaust air stream. Units per cent of circulating water rate or GPM. (For more precise work, an L/G parameter is used, and drift becomes pounds of water per million pounds of exhaust air (ppmw)). As a tool, a bar used with a hammer to impart force to a machine element. DRIFT ELIMINATORS An assembly of baffles or labyrinth passages in a cooling tower through which the air passes prior to its exit from the tower, for the purpose of removing entrained water droplets from the exhaust air. DRIOX A vacuum/perlite insulated vessel used for storage of liquid oxygen. The term Driox is a term copyrighted by the U.C.C. Linde Division. DRIPOLENE A liquid, heavy ends by product resulting from olefin cracked gas, principally consisting of aromatic type hydrocarbons. DRUM (Oil); (Computer); (Boiler) Oil Drum A container in which chemicals is often shipped, usually having a capacity of 55 gallons. Computer Drum A part of the computer memory system. Boiler Drum A vessel on top of a steam boiler that allows time for water droplets to disengage from the vapor. DRUM HEAD Is the door covering the entrance to boiler drums. DRY-BULB The temperature of or adjacent to areas or equipment measured with a Dry-Bulb thermometer in degrees F. DRY CELL A voltaic cell (battery) whose contents are not spillable. DRYER Is a device for removing moisture from solids, liquids or gases. Generally, however, drying refers to the removing of a liquid (water) from a solid by evaporation. DRY POINT A term used in laboratory analysis. The temperature at which the last drop of liquid evaporated from the bottom of the flask.
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DRY POWDER EXTINGUISHER - A fire extinguisher using a sodium bicarbonate base powder as an extinguishing agent and CO2 in a cartridge as the expellant gas. DUCLEAN An inhibited hydrochloric acid solution used to remove rust and scale from pipes and vessels. DUMP An operating condition where a stream is being sewered normally for a short period of time. DUTCHMAN A thick ring of metal, which is bolted between a set of flanges usually, used to correct problems of poor fit at the flange or provide access to a process line.
E
ECONOMIZER Is a heat exchanger associated with boilers for recovering lowlevel heat. EFFICIENCY Method of showing how well a unit is operating in converting and recovering materials. Example: Ratio of material IN to products OUT. EFFLUENT Is a term used to denote some type of discharged liquid. Example: The wastewater that leaves our facilities. ELECTRICAL SIGNAL When voltage and current are applied to a circuit, it is called a signal. ELECTROLYSIS The producing of chemical changes by passing an electric current through an electrolyte. ELECTROLYTE A chemical compound which when molten or dissolved in certain solvents, usually water, will conduct an electric current. Example: Sulfuric Acid solution. ELEMENT A substance, which cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means. Example: hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. EMERGENCY AIR Air provided in place of regular air during emergency conditions. 34
EMERGENCY TRIP A device (either electric push button or manual) installed to shutdown a machine or system in an emergency. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN A facilities written response plan to emergencies that could happen. EMERGENCY VENT A vent system, which is set to vent when the pressure of a vessel reaches the maximum safe pressure. EMULSION A fluid consisting of a microscopically homogeneous mixture of two phases, such as a mixture of oil and water, in which one liquid forms minute droplets suspended in the other liquid. Emulsions generally are difficult to separate into two separate phases. ENDOTHERMIC REACTION A chemical reaction, which absorbs or takes in heat. ENERGY The capacity of being active. ENERGY RECOVERY The act of harnessing lost or non-productive Energy resources such as gasses or steam and utilizing those resources in a cost effective and/or productive way. END POINT The point at which a titration ends. This is generally indicated by a color change of an indicator. ENGINEERING The act of performing the calculations, detailing changes, additions, deletions, and modifications. In some cases completing necessary cost estimates for various projects. ENGINEERING PACKAGE Accumulation of drawings and instructions completed by Engineering such that the engineered work could be completed by others. ENTRAINMENT Liquid droplets or solid particles carried along in a vapor stream, generally due to the velocity or turbulence of the vapor. ENTRAINMENT SEPARATOR A vessel in which the velocity of a vapor stream is slowed to a point that entrained liquids or solids drop out and can be separated from the vapor.
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ENTRY Defined as the introduction of the entire person into a vessel or equipment or insertion of any portion of the body into a vessel or equipment where there is possibility of injury. E.P.C. (ENGINEERING PROCUREMENT and CONSTRUCTION) A second party who provides full engineering, procurement and construction services to others. E&P (EXPORATION AND PRODUCTION) Owner operator firms involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) - A memory device with information placed into it during manufacture that cannot be altered by the computer. It can only be erased and reprogrammed with special equipment. EQUIPMENT Includes but is not limited to the following equipment which is critical to process safety: Pressure vessels and storage tanks, Piping systems including piping components such as valves, Relief and vent system devices, Emergency shutdown systems, Controls, Rotating equipment, and Mitigation systems and devices. ERP See Emergency Response Plan. ERLENMEYER FLASK Glass vessel that is conical in shape and is used in laboratory work. EROSION The wearing away of material, often metal, by fluid moving at relatively high velocity across the surface which is affected. ERROR SIGNAL The signal resulting from the difference between the setpoint reference signal and the process variable feedback signal in a controller. E.S.D.s Emergency Shut-Downs See A.S.Ds. ESTER The product, other than water, produced by the reaction between an alcohol and an acid. ETHER A compound obtained by the condensation of an alcohol with the elimination of water.
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EVACUATE Remove or cleanout a system or vessel. OR, to remove all persons from harms way under controlled policies in the event of a hazardous situation. EVACUATOR (Hog) A large (oversize) jet used for initial evacuating of equipment before the normal vacuum jets are put in service. EVAPORATE To pass off in vapor or to convert into a vapor leaving behind any solids or residues. EVAPORATOR (Evap.) A device used to vaporize part or all of the solvent from a solution; the valuable product is usually either a solid or concentrated solution of the solute. EVAPORATION LOSS Loss of liquids due to evaporation. Example: In a cooling tower water evaporated from the circulating water into the air steam in the cooling process (per cent of circulating water rate or GPM). EXCHANGER See Heat Exchanger. EXCITER A source of D.C. voltage (by generator or rectifier) to apply to the rotation field of A.C. generators or synchronous motors. EXEMPT A payroll term used to describe an employee who is paid monthly on the last working day of each month. EXOTHERMIC REACTION A chemical reaction in which heat is given off. EXPANSION Physical characteristic of materials, which makes them grow when their temperature increases. EXPANSION JOINT Mechanical device used to compensate for expansion forces. EXPANSION VALVE A valve for controlling the flow of a refrigerant to an evaporator or chiller. EXPLOSIMETER A portable instrument used to measure the concentration of combustible gas or vapors. EXPLOSION A chemical reaction or change of state, which is effected in an exceedingly short space of time with the generation of a high temperature and generally a large quantity of gas.
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EXPLOSION PROOF Used to describe housings containing electrical equipment, which are made capable of containing an explosion within them. EXPLOSIVE CHECK To check for explosive gases with an explosimeter. EXPLOSIVE LIMITS Refer to the term Flammable Limits. EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE Refer to the term Flammable Limits. EXTERNAL INSPECTION An inspection of the external surfaces and visual confirmation of operability using visual and NDE techniques. EXTRACTION The removal of a compound from a liquid mixture by contacting the mixture with another liquid called the solvent. EXTRACTION DISTILLATION When a separating agent or solvent that is much less volatile than the feed components is used to facilitate a separation, the process is often called extractive distillation. In an extractive distillation, the solvent always goes down the column and out the base. EXTRUDER A device that forces ductile or semi soft solids through die openings of appropriate shape to produce a continuous film, strip, or tubing. EYE BATH A piece of personnel safety equipment that is designed to allow the eyes to be flushed with water in case of exposure to harmful chemicals.
F
F (Fahrenheit) Referring to a thermometer scale invented by Gabriel D. Fahrenheit in the 1600s based on the lowest temperature, which he could attain by freezing mixtures. Water freezes at 32F and boils at 212F. F.A.B. (Fire Alarm Box) Device for reporting fires or emergencies. On actuation, it codes the zone, area, and box numbers (in that order) on the audible signals throughout the facilities. FACE SHIELD Is a plastic head or hat-mounted shield used to protect face in performing certain types of work. 38
FAIL SAFE A system designed and installed so that in case of trouble it will shut itself down before a hazardous condition arises or before damage can be caused to equipment. FALLING FILM HEAT EXCHANGER A heat exchanger in which the material on the tube side is allowed to flow down the walls of the tubing in a thin film, rather than filling the tube completely. FAN CYLINDER Cylindrical or venturi-shaped structure in which a propeller fan operates. Sometimes referred to as a fan stack on large cooling towers. FAN DECK Surface enclosing the top structure of an induced draft cooling tower, exclusive of the distribution basins on a cross-flow tower. FAN PITCH The angle which the blades of a propeller fan make with the plane of rotation, measured at a prescribed point on each blade. F.A.T. (FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TEST) The act and process of a purchaser inspecting equipment manufactured or packaged by others to assure the functionality, compliance with specifications and design drawings of that equipment. FAULT (Electrical) A short or ground in electrical cables or equipment. F.C.C.U. (FLUIDIZED BED CATALYTIC CRACKING UNIT) A process unit comprised of multiple pieces of equipment utilizing high temperature and catalyst to CRACK fuels into finer grade products. F.D. FAN (Forced Draft Fan) - A large centrifugal fan that forces atmospheric air into the boilers. See I.D. Fan. FEED Material, which is introduced into a vessel for processing. The act of Feeding. FEEDBACK CONTROL A type of control whereby the controller receives a feedback signal representing the condition of the controlled process variable, compares it to the setpoint, and adjusts the controller output accordingly. FEEDFORWARD CONTROL A type of control which takes corrective action based on input disturbances before the process is upset.
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FEEDER Term commonly referring to cables in conduit, duct, cable tray, etc., feeding power from one area to another. FEED GAS A vapor feed to a processing vessel. FEED STOCK The product (stock) being supplied (feed) to a process for further refinement. FERRULE A short bushing installed in the inlet end of tubes of heat exchangers for distribution or strength purposes. FIBRE OPTIC Communication cabling, which uses light, instead of electricity to transmit information FIELD An area or space in which a given physical effect (such as magnetism) exists. FIELDBUS A digital communication control system in which the devices within the loop bus have built-in artificial intelligence. These devices can perform automated local control without relying on the supervisory system. FIELD WINDINGS The outside (frame) winding on an induction motor. Could be rotating field windings on other motors. FILTERS Mechanical devices used to clean foreign materials from a fluid. FINAL CONTROL ELEMENT A device, which regulates the supply to the process in accordance with a signal from a controller. Usually a pneumatically or electrically operated valve. FIN FAN An air-cooled heat exchanger. FIREBOX The portion of a boiler that is used to mix and burn the fuel and air. OR, A box containing an apparatus for transmitting Fire Alarms. FIRE BRICK A fire resistant insulating brick used to line the inside of a furnace. FIRE EXTINGUISHER Any of various portable devices used to extinguish a fire by the ejection of a fire-inhibiting substance, such as water, carbon dioxide, or chemical foam.
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FIRE EYE A device used in boilers, gas turbines, and furnaces to detect the the presence of a fire or flame. FIRE POINT The minimum temperature at which an inflammable organic will burn continuously See Flash Point. FIRE PUMP Used for furnishing water to facilities fire lines in an emergency. FIREWALL A wall installed to limit the damage caused by a fire; also see Dike. FIRE WATCH An employee who continually observes the area where welding or other hazardous work is taking place in a restricted area. FIREWATER Water from facilities fire lines used for emergencies. FIRING LEVEL Denotes the level of water normally maintained when operating a boiler. FISHERS REAGENT Refer to the term Karl Fishers Reagent. FLAME ARRESTOR An in-line device, installed under equipment vents to prevent flame propagation through the line. Need for flame arrestor is dependent on flash point of material handled. FLAMMABLE LIMITS A flammable mixture of vapor and air may be diluted with either constituent until it is no longer flammable. The lower and upper limits represent respectively the percent by volume of the vapor and air below and above which combustion does not occur. All compositions between the upper and lower limits. FLAPPER The swing seat in a check valve. FLAPPER-NOZZLE Pneumatic device, which generates a signal proportional to any, detected error. FLARE An elevated, continuously burning facility, utilized to burn unreacted or vented reaction components. FLASH POINT The temperature to which flammable liquids must be heated before an ignition source will cause a flash above the surface of the material.
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FLASH TANK - A tank used to remove volatile components from a mixture by preheating the feed and operating the tank at a lower pressure than the feed. FLASK A glass vessel used in laboratory work. FLAT HEAD - Large blind flanges usually on end of heat exchangers. FLOATING HEAD Internal head (or bell head) on the return end of a multiple pass heat exchanger bundle FLOATING ROOF A type of roof (steel or plastic), which floats upon the surface of the stored liquid; used, to decrease the vapor space and reduce the potential for evaporation. FLOOD (Column) When liquid flowing down across the trays of a column is great enough to prevent vapor from flowing upward through the trays. FLOOD (N2-CO2) An inert material utilized to safely purge out a reactor or reaction components. FLOODING (Column) When the rate of liquid flowing down a column exceeds the capacity of a down comer, the result is an increase in liquid level on the tray. This increases the pressure differential across the tray, which in turn causes more liquid to backup through the down comer. Ultimately, the column will fill with liquid and cease to operate. The phenomenon is called slugging. FLOW SHEET A sketch that describes the flow of materials through a given unit or facilities. FLUE GAS The products of combustion that are discharged from a boiler or furnace. FLUID A substance tending to flow or conform to its container. FLUSHING The removal or reduction to a permissible level of dissolved or suspended contaminant in a line, tank, or vessel. FOAM A froth of bubbles on the surface of a liquid often caused by an organic contaminant, from a high pH or from over aeration of the liquid. FORCED DRAFT Refers to the movement of air under pressure through an prescribed area.
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FORCED DRAFT FAN Is a fan which forces fresh air into boilers or other combustion equipment or through equipment such as a cooling tower. FOREMAN A term used to describe the immediate supervisor of all hourly personnel in the facilities. FOULING (HX) The undesired effect of undesirable components plating out on the shell or tube side of HXs and reducing the HXs efficiency. FOUR WAY VALVE A valve having four ports usually used to reverse flows as in backwashing connection. F.P.S.O. (FLOATING PRODUCTION STORAGE AND OFFLOADING) A ship or ocean going vessel utilized in the offshore market place for fossil fuels production. FREE OXYGEN un reacted oxygen which can participate in a reaction. FREE UP Unstick, make turn or move as it is supposed to do. FREEZE POINT This is a technique for measuring the purity of various refined chemicals, in particular, acetic acid. The purest form of acetic acid freezes at a temperature of 16.7C. Various impurities cause this temperature to be reduced. FRESH AIR EQUIPMENT Breathing equipment providing a flow of breathable air from cylinders of compressed air to the individual. FROST PLUG Small diameter closed nozzle protruding from the side of a vessel which indicates liquid level in the vessel by accumulation of frost. FUEL GAS Natural gas used as fuel in boilers and other types of furnaces. FULL GAUGE GASKET A gasket that is the same inside and outside diameter as the flange with holes cutout to allow the stud bolts to go through the gasket. FUMES A vaporous or odorous smoke or cloud. FUMING SULFURIC ACID A strong solution of sulfuric acid (106%). Oleum.
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FURNACE An apparatus in which heat is liberated and transferred directly or indirectly to a fluid mass for the purpose of effecting a physical or chemical change. F.W. (Feed Water) Is the high quality water fed into boilers to make steam.
G
GAG A clamp used to prevent a safety valve from relieving during pressure testing. GAIN The ratio in change in controller output divided by the change in input, which caused it. GALVANIZING The process in which a thin coating of zinc is applied to iron or steel as a protective coating. GARDNER COLOR STANDARD A set of color standards having color intensities greater than the platinum cobalt scale. These colors range from a yellow to a green hue. See Platinum Cobalt. GAS A phase of matter in which molecules are widely separated. A gas does not have a definite volume or a definite shape. GATE VALVE A positive shutoff valve utilizing a gate or guillotine which when moved between two seats causes tight shutoff. GAUGE An instrument for measuring pressure, level, etc. GAUGE PRESSURE Pressure read on a gauge, which is calculated as the absolute pressure less normal atmospheric pressure. GEAR PUMP A pump with gears inside a housing. As the gears turn, cavities are created which allows the liquid to be moved from the suction of the pump to the discharge. A positive displacement pump. GEL Semi-solid substance rich in liquid. GEN. (Generator) A machine, which produces electrical power.
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GENERAL CONTRACTOR (G.C.) A contractor responsible for all activities within a scope of work including those activities performed by subcontractors. G.F.I. (Gross Fixed Investment) Total dollars invested in machinery, equipment, and property. OR ground fault interrupter (a device used to de-energize a circuit when a ground is detected) GLAND OIL Oil injected into the shaft packing at pumps to prevent the escape of material being pumped. (i.e., Seal Oil). GLOBE VALVE A valve with a moving seat, usually circular, which moves into a circular opening to shutoff. Usually used in throttling service. GOODIES A desired organic product. GOVERNOR A rotating, fly ball, or hydraulic speed control. Used to control the speed of turbines, engines at high end of speed range. Electronic Governors are also used. GPM Gallons per minute. GRADUATE This is a cylindrical glass vessel with graduated marks indicating the volume of a liquid. GRAMS This term is used in the metric system as a measure of weight. A gram is equivalent to .0353 ounces. One kilogram is equivalent to l,000 grams, or approximately 2.2 pounds. A microgram is equivalent to l,000,000th of a gram. GRASS ROOTS A facility Engineered, procured and constructed where none previously existed. GRATING Structural steel used to make walking areas and/or make platforms in building. GROSS Total: Undiminished by depreciated deductions. GROUND (Electrical) Cable installed from frame of electrical equipment to prevent possibility of shock. OR, A phase of circuit, which has shorted to ground. 45
GROUND BURNER A burner used to dispose of organic residues that cannot economically be burned for power. GUNK An insoluble heterogeneous precipitate or residue. OR, A caustic substance used as a cleaner or degreaser. GUINNITE (Gunite) A coating for solid surfaces consisting of a mixture of sand, cement, and water. The mixture is applied by blowing it through a hose and nozzle or forced into an area by hand using hand tools such as a trowel. OR, Also a trade name ofgraphitic steel produced by the Gunite Corporation and used for automobile brake drums and machine parts where resistance to sliding wear is required.
H
H2O The symbol used to refer to water. H2SO4 - Sulfuric Acid. HOAC Acetic Acid. HAD (Heat Actuated Device) A temperature rate-of-rise detector, used for automatic operation of water spray system deluge valves. HALOCARBONS A family of refrigerants consisting of fluorinated and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons. HAND CONTROL To control a flow by adjusting a valve by hand. HAND JACK A mechanical jack operated with a lever by hand and not hydraulic pressure. HANGER A device used to support pipes, conduit, or equipment from overhead structures. HAZARDOUS INCIDENT REPORT A written report used to inform management and employees of an incident which could have resulted in injuries, fires, or explosions.
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HAZARDOUS MATERIAL Any material that presents a physical or health hazard to employees from fire, explosion or short term exposure as defined in established safety standards. HAZMAT A body of law that defines & regulates the storage, handling and transport of hazardous materials HAZWOPPER - A body of law (29CFR1910.120) that deals with the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous waste. HEAD TEMPERATURE The temperature measured at the top or head of a vessel. HEADER (HDR.) A line, which has several lines, adding or removing flow. HEADS Amount of material boiled overhead on a column or still. HEADS CUT A portion of the material that is boiled overhead on a column or still. HEATER A vessel, usually shell and tube, whose purpose is to heat a process, Usually steam on one side and process on the other. However, may be electrically operated. HEAT EXCHANGER A vessel used to exchange the heat from one substance to another. HEAT TRANSFER AREA Area projected by a mechanical device to expose it to a temperature differential. HEAVY ENDS A term used in speaking of oils where the distillation range is of importance, meaning the highest boiling material present. HETEROGENOUS Lack of uniformity; unlike; dissimilar. HIERARCHY The ranking or scope of control of the elements in a supervisory system. For example, a lower ranking element such as a local controller affects only one variable while a higher ranking element such as a computer might affect many variables. HIGH LIMIT (Alarm) A term used in computer language to describe a predetermined upper alarm point of a process.
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HIGH SPEED TRIP A mechanical device actuated by centrifugal force, which in turn activates a switch or trip valve, to shut down a turbine, engine, should it overspend. HOMOGENOUS Uniform; of a like kind; similar. HOSE (Chemical, Utility) A flexible tube that carries fluids. Made of plastic, rubber, fiber, metal or usually a combination of materials to withstand the service to be used in. Chemical hose is usually made of flexible stainless steel. Utility hose is of fiber and rubber used for nitrogen, air or cool water. HOSE CABINET Cabinet for smaller sized (1-1/2) preconnected fire hose, strategically located. Easily put in service by one man pulling out hose and opening valve. HOSE HOUSE Larger (2-1/2) fire hose storage facility, usually located near facilities fire hydrants. Houses are equipped with hose, nozzle and hose holder. HOT ALIGNMENT Work necessary to shutdown rotating equipment, dismantle couplings, place dial indicators to check shaft and face positions. Only done when equipment has reached operating temperature. HOT CHECK When equipment has reached operating temperatures, turbine, compressor bearings, and seals may be checked for operating clearances. Usually predetermined and set by equipment manufacturer. HOT GAS BYPASS Warm discharge gas which is recycled. Such as in the case of a refrigeration unit where the discharge gas is recycled to a chiller for maintaining the systems operating integrity at minimum load conditions. HOT SPOT An area in a reaction catalyst bed where the reaction is taking place faster than the rest of the bed causing higher localized temperature. HOT TAP The act of cutting into or drilling a live HOT line or piece of equipment. HOTWELL A small tank-like vessel attached to a condenser that catches the liquid and gives a controllable liquid level (LL) to keep a liquid flow to a pump, or to prevent steam blowing through along with the condensate. 48
HOT WORK (Electrical) Work that must be done with equipment energized using all safety equipment to prevent damage or shock. HOURLY A payroll term used to describe employees who are paid by the hour and receive their paychecks on a weekly basis. HOUSEKEEPING The act of keeping work area and equipment in a safe, clean, useable condition. HURRICANE ALERT Where a hurricane path is known and the area where it will hit has been alerted to prepare for high winds. HURRICANE COMMITTEE A committee composed of facilities personnel whose function is to coordinate facilities activities before, during, and after a hurricane or storm. HURRICANE INSPECTION An inspection held for the purpose of aiding all departments in locating items that need to be corrected, or cleaned up, prior to the arrival of a hurricane. HWP (Hazardous Work Permit) A permit used facilities wide for all work involving a source of ignition in a hazardous area or when physical entry into equipment is to take place. HX (Heat Exchanger) A vessel (usually shell and tube) used to transfer heat from one substance to another. Examples are: Calandrias, condensers, vaporizers, heaters, and coolers. HYDRANT Fire hydrants on facilities fire water distribution system. HYDRATE A form of a solid compound that has water in the form of H2O molecules associated with it. HYDRO This is shortened from work hydro test, referring to a pressure test using a liquid as the testing medium. HYDROCARBON An organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal and bitumens. HYDROBLAST To clean an object, using water under very high pressures as the cleaning agent. 49
HYDROCUT To cut an object or material using water under very high pressure and being forced through a very small cutting tip. HYDROCARBONS A compound containing only hydrogen and carbon. Examples: Methane, Ethane, Acetylene, Propane, Butane, and Benzene. HYDROGENATION A catalytic reaction of hydrogen with other compounds. Example: Propionaldehyde is hydrogenated to form normal propanol. HYDROMETER A floating instrument for determining specific gravities of liquids. HYSTERESIS Difference between upscale and downscale results in instrument response when subjected to the same input approached from opposite directions.
I
IA (Instrument Air) Facilities air that has been filtered and/or dried for use by instruments. May be high pressure (90 psig) or low pressure (20 psig) or in between, depending on the operating area. I BEAM A structural member (usually steel) whose cross section resembles the alphabetical character I. Usually used as structural beam or trolley beam. I.B.P. (Initial Boiling Point) A term used with reference to a laboratory standard distillation whereby the boiling point of the first drops of material distilling overhead is determined. This is the criterion for determining the amount of low boiling impurities in a high purity chemical. I.D. FAN (Induced Draft Fan) Is the fan used to suck out the products of combustion from a boiler. IGNITION SOURCE Any spark or heated surface, which will cause the ignition of an explosive mixture of vapor and air. IMPELLER The part of a centrifugal pump or compressor that imparts velocity of liquid or air, then converts velocity to pressure. IMPINGEMENT BAFFLE A piece of plate used to divert or change the path of flow of fluids as they enter a heat exchanger or vessel.
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INCIDENT INVESTIGATION - A portion of PSM & RMP which requires the investigation and mitigation of every incident which happens outside of routine operations. INBOARD In conjunction with double seal, seal next to product. In conjunction with bearing next to coupling. A term used to describe the seal or bearing inside. For example, when referring to a double seal, the inboard seal would be the one next to the product. The inboard bearing would be the bearing next to the coupling. A term used to describe the location of a seal, bearing, shaft end, etc. For example, the part of a pump nearest the motor would be the inboard seal, bearing shaft end, etc. INDICATOR A chemical compound that changes color as the pH changes from acid to base, or from a base to an acid. INDUCED CURRENT A current picked up from one circuit to another by induction. INDUCED DRAFT A term used to describe the act of mechanically assisting a natural draft such as the movement of hot gases from a boiler to the (smoke) stack being assisted by a large fan between the boiler and the stack, or in the example of an Induced Draft cooling tower. INDUCTION The property of a circuit that causes a voltage to be induced in the circuit by a change of current in the circuit (measured in Henry Units). INDUCTION MOTOR Motor where there is no electrical connection from rotor to other source of power. Voltage and current in rotor produced by induction from stator winding. INERT Referring to something, which has no chemical reactivity, such as inert gas. INERT GAS A gas or mixture of gases, which contains only trace quantities of oxygen. The gas may or may not be a combustible gas, depending upon its source of production. INHIBITOR A compound, which slows or stops a chemical reaction. INITIAL COLOR The color of a liquid before any solution is added during analysis. 51
INITIAL ENTRY A term used to describe the first time a vessel or piece of equipment is entered. Initial entry requires special safety equipment such as safety harness and lifelines. INJECTION A fluid added to a stream or another fluid to produce the desired result of mixture. INLET The point where something enters the pipe, trench, etc. that carries the incoming stream. INORGANIC Pertaining to or composed of chemical compounds that do not contain carbon as the principal element. IN-SERVICE INSPECTION Inspection of equipment and devices during normal operation utilizing visual and NDE techniques. INSTRUMENT BLOWBACK See B.B. (Blowback). INSTRUMENT AIR See IA (Instrument Air). INSTRUMENT LEAD The electrical wire or pneumatic tubing that carries a signal to and/or from an instrument. INSULATION Material used in walls, ceiling, and around pipe and machinery to retard the passage of heat and sound. INSULATOR A device made from a material that will not conduct electricity. The device is normally used to give mechanical support to electrical wire or electronic components. INTEGRAL CONDENSER Normally, a small heat exchanger (HX) utilized on vacuum jets to partially condense the steam and evacuated gas from the proceeding jet. INTEGRAL (RESET) CONTROL A control algorithm which attempts to eliminate the offset (caused by proportional control) between the measurement and set-point of the controlled process variable. See also Controlled Action, Integral (Reset). INTEGRAL (RESET) TIME - The proportionally constant in the equation relating the controller output to the error for integral control CO = K (PV SP) dt. 52
Where: K = K/T. K is the proportional gain of the controller. T is the time required to produce a change in controller output equal to the change in error input. INTEGRAL WINDUP Also called Controller Windup or Reset Windup. Saturation of the controller output at its maximum positive or negative value due to an error signal existing for an excessive period of time. Usually caused by the controller being left on automatic when the measurement transmitter is out of service. The integral capacitor (or pneumatic bellows) must be discharged when this condition occurs before control may be resumed. INTERCOOLER Cooling device between heat causing motive forces. Example: Removes the heat of compression between the low-pressure stage and the high-pressure stage of a compressor. An after cooler cools after the highpressure stage. INTERFACE The point at which two dissimilar liquids are together (i.e., oil and water). INTERLOCK A device or system used to prevent a return to original condition after an interruption has occurred. Usually requires a manual reset to overcome the interlock. INTERNAL INSPECTION Inspection of internal surfaces, fixtures and functional systems of equipment utilizing visual and NDE techniques. INTERRUPT To stop. INTERSTAGE The point or points between discharge and suction of a stage or between stages of a compressor, pump, etc. INTRINSICALLY SAFE - Refers to equipment or wiring which is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under either abnormal or normal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most easily ignited concentration. INVENTORY A list of all finished goods, in stock, goods in process of manufacture, raw materials, and supplies on hand. The midnight operator takes an individual unit inventory each day. ION EXCHANGE A method used in water softeners to remove the active chemicals causing hardness. 53 Please send your recommended corrections or additions to:
BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER 10811 FAIRMONT PARKWAY La Porte, Tx. 77571 Phone: (281) 471-1229 Fax: (281) 471-0001 www.bayporttechnical.com A DIVISION OF T.A. BROWN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
I/O DEVICES Input/output devices used to enter data into and receive data fro a computer or control system. Examples are analog and digital input and output devices for handling process measurements and conditions as well as business type devices such as terminals, printers, plotters, etc. I/P TRANSDUCER (Current-to-pneumatic). A device which converts an electrical current signal to a proportional pneumatic signal for the purpose of interfacing electronic and pneumatic parts of a control system. A typical I/P transducer might convert a 4-20 milliamp signal from an electronic controller to a 3-15 psig signal to actuate a pneumatic valve. IRON Referring to one of the metallic elements having magnetic properties. Iron may be composed of many alloys resulting in materials such as stainless steel. Iron is also referred to as a common contaminant or impurity in refined chemical products. ISOLATE Prevent material from entering or leaving a piece of equipment. ISOMER One of two or more chemical substances having the same elementary percentage composition and molecular weight but differing in structure, and therefore in properties. Example: N-butane = CH3 (CH2)2 CH3 IS-butane = CH3 CH(CH3)2 ISOMERIC Equally divided; of, relating to, or exhibiting isomerism. ISOMERISM The relation of two or more compounds, radicals, or ions that contain the same numbers of atoms of the same elements but differ in structural arrangement and properties. ISOMETRIC DRAWSINGS (ISOs) The representation of an object in isometric projection but with lines parallel to the edges drawn in true length.
J
JET Simplified type of vacuum pump, which has no moving parts. It consists essentially of a steam nozzle that discharges a high velocity jet across a suction chamber.
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JOINT A length of bare pipe (one section) normally in twenty-foot lengths for processing plants and normally of forty-foot lengths for pipeline and oil drilling operations. JUMBO NOZZLE A firewater nozzle that can be adjusted while in use to obtain any type water stream from a fog to a straight stream. Its capacity is 600 GPM. JUMPER A pipe connection, which temporarily or permanently connects two existing pipelines. OR, Electrical connections, which bypasses or temporarily connects two items. JUNCTION BOX A box used for the termination of electrical wires or pneumatic instrument leads. JUSTIFY To prove something is worthwhile.
K
KARL FISCHER REAGENT A chemical solution used to determine the quantity of water in refined chemicals. The solution is made from iodine, sulfur dioxide and pyridine and should be treated as a poisonous material. KETTLE Vessel used for boiling liquid. KILOVOLT AMPERE (KVA) A unit of measure of the total electrical power in a circuit. This includes the power that is converted into mechanical work (KW) and the electrical losses in the circuit. KILOWATTS (KW) A measure of electrical power. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts or 1 kilowatt = horsepower. KNOCKER WHEELS A patented wheel that is attached to the normal wheel of a valve that has a knocking effect and helps to open or close stubborn valves. KNOCKOUT POT Is a small vessel used to remove (or knock out) liquid droplets or impurities from a gas stream.
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LABORATORY A place equipped for experimental study in science or for testing or analysis. LAZY ROD An extension affixed to a valve wheel that makes the valve easier and safer to operate. LBS. (Pounds) A unit of measure of weight or pressure. Often pressure is referred to as pounds instead of pounds per square inch. LEAD See Instrument Lead. OR, The person in charge of an effort or trade such as a lead man LEAK TEST A procedure for locating leaks in process equipment by filling the equipment with compressed air or nitrogen and applying liquid soap to the exterior area to be tested. LEG Vertical line on the bottom of larger lines. Used to drain large line. LENS RING A metal ring type gasket used in high pressure piping for pressures of 2000# psig and above. LIFE LINE A safety harness with rope used as a piece of personal safety equipment. LIMITORQUE A high-pressure shutoff valve operated by an electric motor. LIMIT SWITCH A mechanically actuated switch (electric or pneumatic) which through its action prevents further travel by the variable to which it is attached and is actuated when the variable to which it is attached reaches its travel limit. LINE Pipe from one point to another. Used for transferring liquid or gas from one place to another. LIQUID LEVEL (LL) The height to which liquid has accumulated in a container. LIQUID PHASE The product or products that are in the liquid (fluid) state. Characterized by free movement of the constituent molecules amount themselves, but without the tendency to separate from one another. LITHOLINE (Grease) A multipurpose grease that is used to lubricate bearings, which are not in very high heat or very low temperature service.
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LITMUS PAPER A type of paper, which is color sensitive to pH, changes. Turns red in the presence of acid solution and blue in basic substances. LOADED (Column Condition) A condition of reaching or exceeding the liquid capacity of a column. A higher than normal liquid level on the column trays. LOCK OUT A term used to describe the locking out of electrical equipment for maintenance. LOG Automatic type out or demand type out of computer information on the alarm typewriter such as a tank log or on log typewriters. To write down certain operating conditions. LOOP Instrumentation: Either electronically or pneumatically linked group of instruments concerned with one primary variable. LOOP SEAL An offset in a pipe in the shape of a U of S for the relief of pressure at a specific limit. LOUVERS The dampers on a boiler inlet and outlet that controls the amount of air flow through the boiler. LOW LIMIT Instrumentation: Describes relay or switch designed in the circuitry to prevent the variable from decreasing below the preset lower limit. LOX Liquid Oxygen. LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas. Example: Butane.
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M
M (Thousand) The letter M is used to designate thousands in flow measurement as the letter K is used in electrical measurements. 100 M CF means one hundred thousand cubic feet. MACHINIST One who uses machine tools (lathe, drill press, mill, etc.) to reproduce machine parts from metal, plastics, etc. (inside). OR, One, who repairs, installs machinery (outside). MAINTENANCE The act of and department responsible for the daily planning and physical efforts required to keep facilities in repair for continued operation. MAJOR MAINTENANCE A significant maintenance project that typically requires its own budget, schedule and scope of work. This type of project normally requires the assistance of contractors and subcontractors. MAKE Normally referred to as the final product. MAKEUP Feed needed to replace that which is lost by leakage or normal use in a closed circuit, recycle operation. MANAGEMENT The collective body of those who manage and direct all facilities activities. MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE - A portion of PSM & RMP which requires a detailed examination and management sign-off before implementing any change to a covered process MANHEAD An access hole to a tank or boiler; usually made out of steel plate; over plates on man ways, which are removable to allow for internal inspection and/or repair. MANHOURS A term used to describe the number of hours that it will take, or has taken, to do a particular job. MANIFOLD A piping arrangement, which allows one stream of liquid or gas to be divided into two or more streams. MANOMETER A gauge for measuring the pressure of gases or vapors.
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MANUAL Mode of operation requiring man to adjust or manipulate; opposite of automatic. OR, A book specifying operational instructions and procedures. MANWAY-MANHOLE An opening in a vessel large enough for a person to enter the vessel; flanged openings normally found on vessels or tanks. MANUAL INDICATOR CONTROL (MIC) Generally used where automatic control is not needed or not practical. This device can be manually operated to control a process variable. It indicates the state of process at the same time. For instance, it might be used to control pressure, level, flow, or temperature. It would also indicate whichever of these variables it was used to control. MASS SPECTROMETER An electronic instrument used to determine the composition of chemical mixtures. MASTER TAG PROCEDURE - A procedure designed to protect individuals from injury when it is necessary to work on any process equipment, which has been removed from service. MATTER Anything that has weight and occupies space. M.C.C. (MOTOR CONTROL CENTER) A cabinet in which motor control switchgear (motor starters) and bus bars are located. MCFH One thousand cubic feet per hour, M denotes one thousand. MEASURED VARIABLE A signal that is a measure of the process variable, generally, the output of a measuring instrument or transmitter. MECHANICAL SEAL Used primarily on Rotating Equipment in place of packing to keep product from going to the atmosphere. Mechanical assembly that forms a leak proof seal between flat, rotating surfaces to prevent high-pressure leakage. MECHANICAL TRIP A mechanical device that is activated or tripped by a predetermined setting. Example: Low oil pressure shutting steam to a steam driven turbine. MEGAWATTS 1,000,000 watts.
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MEGGER An instrument to produce a DC voltage to test and read the dielectric strength of electrical equipment in ohms for mega ohms. MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone CH3COCH2CH3) Colorless liquid, acetone-like odor. Mol wt. 72.10, BP 79.57, FP-85.9C, Density 0.80615 at 20C, Flash Point 22F. It can react with oxidizing materials. MELTING POINT The temperature at which a change from solid to liquid state occurs. Particular testing procedure depends upon the substance being evaluated. METER Instrument or means for measuring. OR, The basic metric unit of length (1 meter = 39.37 inches). METHANE Natural gas or fuel gas (CH4). MICROMHOS Units of measure of the conductivity or electricity. MICRON A term used to designate pressure in the metric system. This is equivalent to the pressure exerted by the atmosphere of .001 millimeters of mercury. The micron may also be a unit of length equivalent to 1/1,000,000 of a meter. MICV A valve, which is controlled by a MIC (Manual Indicating Controller). MIDSTREAM A term utilized in the petroleum market designating the segment of the business after the production of oil out of the well head (upstream) but prior to the refining/processing and marketing of finished products (downstream). Examples are pipeline transportation of raw natural gas and clean up operations, which may remove certain impurities of a raw product prior to entering the downstream. The break point of these definitions varies from company to company. MILLIAMP 1/1000 of one amp. MILLS 1/1000 of a volt, amp, etc. MINIMUM (Min.) The least acceptable amount. MILLILITER .06 cubic inch. MISCIBLE Easily mixable or soluble.
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MITIGATION SYSTEMS AND DEVICES Systems and devices that tend to reduce the effects of a catastrophic event or serve as early warning devices, such as fire fighting and suppression systems, gas and heat detection, flare systems, etc. MIXTURE A combining of two or more substances in which each substance retains its chemical nature and identity. MM (Million) - An abbreviation symbol for a million. In Roman numerals, M is 1000. Therefore, MM is equal to 1000 x 1000, or one million. MOC See Management of Change MOL A gram molecular weight for any given substance. MOLECULAR WEIGHT The sum of the weights of the atoms in a molecule. MOLECULE The smallest unit to which a substance can be divided and retain all of its chemical and physical properties. MONITOR Nozzles on fire hydrants, or individual risers to provide fixed firewater streams for cooling or fire fighting without hose. OR, A person assigned to watch over a specific activity. MONOMER The simplest form of a compound, which is capable of undergoing polymerization. MONO RAIL A steel I beam for a Hoister chain block to travel on. MOTOR STARTER (Switchgear) A device used to control current to an electric motor. MOTOR VALVE A remote operated valve, actuated by air or electricity. MPH Rate of production or usage per hour in thousands of pounds. (Thousand pound per hour). M.S.D.S. (MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET) Data sheets supplied by manufacturers of hazardous products identifying the chemical make up and hazards associated with the use of the product. They also describe the specific action required in the case of a spill or direct contact. They must be
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maintained in an area where all potential users of the product have access to them. MT (Empty) Containing nothing or unoccupied. MUD DRUM The lower drum of a boiler that is used as a junction area for boiler tubes and a low place in boiler where heavy particles in the water will settle out and can be blown out. MULEY BLIND A slip blind without a tail or handle.
N
NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide or Caustic) Strong solution of sodium hydroxide having a pH of 14. Used to neutralize acids. Used in numerous other chemical processes. NATURAL DRAFT Refers to the movement of air through a device by natural means (not induced) such as in a Natural Draft cooling tower. NDE Non-Destructive Examinations of equipment and devices utilizing the techniques specified by codes and standards such as ASME and ANST or other equivalent codes and standards. May also be referred to as NDT Non-Destructive Testing. Will often utilize techniques such as x-ray, ultra sound, infa-red or other means. NET INCOME FROM SALES (N.I.F.S.) Amount left after all expenses of producing a product are deducted from sales income. NEUTRAL SOLUTIONS One that is neither acid nor basic (water solution with an equal concentration). NEUTRALIZE To make a solution neutral (neither acidic or basic, pH of 7) by adding a base to an acidic solution, or an acid to a basic solution. NITROGEN A chemical element, symbol N, atomic number 7, atomic weight 14.0067; it is a gas, diatomic (N2) under normal conditions; about 79% of the atmosphere is N2. NOISE In process instrumentation, an unwanted component of a signal or variable. Noise may be expressed in units of the output or in percent of output span.
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NONCONDENSABLE GAS A gas from chemical processing units (such as a distillation column) that is not easily condensed by cooling; consists mostly of nitrogen, light hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, or other gaseous materials. NONEXEMPT A payroll term used to describe employees who are paid every two weeks/or on a monthly basis. NON-RETURN A valve most commonly used with boilers. A combination stop and check valve. NON-TOXIC Referring to a compound showing no human or animal toxicity. NORGREN OILER A device (cup) used in pressurized air lines to inject a measured amount of oil into the air stream for providing lubrication for air operated equipment. NOZZLE The extension on a hose or pipe that controls the flow from them. A small spout.
O
O2 ANALYZER - An instrument that analyzes a stream and indicates the percent of oxygen in it. O2 (Oxygen) Atmospheric gas. Atmosphere contains about 20.6% oxygen. OCCULSIONS Adhesion of gas or liquid on a solid mass, or the trapping of a gas or liquid within a mass. OFFSET The steady-state deviation of the controlled variable from the setpoint, usually caused by a disturbance or a load change in a system employing a proportional-only controller. Offset will eventually be reduced to zero by the integral action in a PI or PID controller. OFF SPEC Referring to a product, which does not meet the purity specifications or standards of a given material. OIL MIST LUBRICATION A piece of equipment designed to provide minute, microscopic air-borne oil particles that lubricate the mechanisms served by the system. 63
O.I.P. (OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM) A program designed to continually improve processes and ways of doing things and reporting results through management. OLEFIN A family of unsaturated, chemically active hydrocarbons with one carbon-carbon double bond; includes ethylene and propylene. OLEUM A heavy oily, strongly corrosive, solution of sulfur trioxide in anhydrous sulfuric acid (106%). OPEN AREA An area, which has been designated by letter from facilities management as being safe for use of flame or spark producing tools without the use of a Hazardous Work Permit or with liberalized controls over the work or activity within that area. OPEN CIRCUIT A circuit where continuity has been broken for some reason, and there is no current flow. OPEN FLAME Any fire, a form of welding or burning, or any operation involving flame. OPERATING FACTOR The ratio of the total on stream time of a unit to the total time that it could have been on-stream if it did not have to be shut down for cleaning, repair, or stand-by service. OPERATING PROCEEDURES Instructions on how to operate a particular process. OPERATOR (OPER.) One who actually does the controlling of flows, levels, temperatures and pressures of the production equipment. OPERATORS CONSOLE The operators link with the computer from which he can read input points, demand logs, etc. OPERATOR TRAINING The process used to prepare the employee to make his expected contribution to his employer, usually involving the teaching of specialized skills. ORGANIC Of chemical compounds, based on carbon chains or rings and also containing hydrogen with or without oxygen, nitrogen, or other elements.
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ORIFICE Instrumentation A thin plate with an opening in it used to cause a precise calibrated pressure drop in the flowing stream. ORIFICE FLANGE Precise pipe flange with pressure sensing hole drilled and tapped perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. One of the two flanges between which an orifice plate is held captive. ORIFICE NIPPLE A X 2 pipe nipple that has a precision hole in it much smaller than the usual hole through a pipe nipple. Its use: to restrict a flow, to allow a calibrated flow at one pressure drop. ORIFICE PLATE A thin metal plate with an opening in it. Used to cause a precise calibrated pressure drop in a flowing stream. ORIFICE RUN The length of straight pipe immediately preceding and following a pair of orifice flanges. O-RING Gasket in the form of a ring, usually oval in cross sectional. Can be resilient material such as rubber or metal. O-RING JOINT Grooves in a flange enabling it to accept an O ring type gasket. ORSAT A piece of laboratory apparatus used to determine the composition and quantity of gases by reaction of the gases with various chemical solutions. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) The expressed objective of this act is to assure, so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. OSHA has several bodies of law which affect the ptro-chemical industry. OUTBOARD In conjunction with double seal, seal next to atmosphere. In conjunction with bearing, away from coupling. OUTFALL Power signal or energy delivered by an instrument or machine. OUTPUT Power signal or energy delivered by an instrument or machine. OUTPUT METER An indication of the instrument output; a PSI gauge on pneumatic controllers and an electric meter on electronic control. OVER CURRENT Current that is above the capability of the electrical equipment.
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OVER CURRENT RELAY A protective device installed in a switchgear to open the electrical circuit if a preset over current exists. OVERHEAD CRANE A lifting device built over machinery or in a shop to handle heavy objects. OVERHEAD MAKE The process stream leaving the top of a column. OVERRIDE A device, which interrupts the path of a signal and usually takes over control of the end variable. OVERSPEED To go beyond safe or top operating speed on a piece of rotating equipment. Safe limits set by manufacturer. OVERSPEED TRIP An automatic device that cuts power off of a rotating machine if it reaches preset trip point. OXIDATION A type of reaction in which oxygen is utilized to oxidize (chemical change) a particular compound or components from one form to a more or, in some cases, less desirable form. OXIDE A compound of oxygen with another element or with a radical. OXYGEN CLEAN Cleaned thoroughly of all particles of dirt, lint, oil, etc., and does not fluoresce. Clean enough to be installed in oxygen service.
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P CONTROLLER A controller which produces proportional control action only. PFD Process Flow Diagram reflecting the primary equipment and process flow. PHA See Process Hazard Analysis P&ID Process and Instrument Diagram reflecting the primary process and instrumentation. PSI 1) See Process Safety Information) 2) Units of pressure (Pounds per Square Inch) PSM See Process Safety Management
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PSSR See Pre-Startup Safety Review PACKED COLUMN Referring to a distillation column, which is packed with Raschig rings, saddles or other ceramic china-like material to aid in liquid vapor contact during distillation. PACKING A device of material used to prevent leakage of pressure. Primarily used in valves and pumps to seal a product from the atmosphere. Examples: Asbestos, Teflon, lead, hemp, and carbon. PACKING GLAND A metallic ring used to keep packing in place. PAD A concrete slab. PANIC BUTTON A manual emergency shutdown button. PARALLEL FLOW Flow of material in the same direction as another flow but remaining separate from the other flow. PARTIAL CONDENSER A condenser (heat exchanger) that furnishes sufficient cooling medium to condense a part of a vapor stream. The condensed portion is usually drawn off or separated in a separator downstream from the partial condenser. PASSED SPECS Referring to chemical compound, which has met the laboratory requirements for purity. PASTEURIZED MAKE A refined process stream coming off the upper side of a column. PA SYSTEM Public Address System. PARALLEL DATA Data transmission where all data bits of a data word are processed at once. PD CONTROLLER A controller which produces proportional plus derivative (rate) control action.
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PERIOD COSTS All expenses other than raw material costs, such as labor allocated and apportioned expense, repairs, taxes, and insurance. PERMANENT NOTE Operating note issued as a permanent operating procedure until it is superseded or cancelled. PERSUADER An extension used to give more leverage. Used mostly in turning stubborn valve wheels. PEROXIDE A compound containing two oxygen atoms, which are slightly linked. The oxygen is loosely held and may oxidize and attack other chemical compounds, or metals, in some cases. Must be kept wet or cool to prevent ignition. PH The negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration. Solutions having a pH below 7.0 are acid. Solutions having a pH above 8.0 are basic. A pH of 7.0 8.0 is neutral, neither acid nor basic. PH INDICATOR An organic substance, which has different colors at different pH ranges, used to indicate acidity or alkalinity of a solution. PHASE (Electrical) A term used to describe one component of electric power. PHASE (Liquid, Vapor) A solid, liquid or gaseous homogeneous substance that exists as distinct portion of a heterogeneous system. A gas mixture may consist of a single phase; a liquid solution consists of a single phase; a solid solution consists of a solid phase; two liquids which will not mix from two phases. PICKLE (Pipe, etc.) To clean or passivate by soaking in a solution (usually acid) to remove rust, scale, oil, etc. PI CONTROLLER a controller which produces proportional plus integral (reset) control action. PID CONTROLLER A controller which produces proportional plus integral (reset) plus derivative (rate) control action. PIG A crude casting of metal. PIGTAIL A splice in electrical wires where a short piece of wire is brought out to connect to electrical devices.
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PILOT - Small flame used in a boiler to maintain a fire and make it easier to start the main burner. PINCH BACK To partially close a valve. PIPE A long tube or hollow body used to conduct a fluid, gas, or finely divided solid. PIPEFITTER A facilities maintenance classification of work centered about pipe and/or tubing installation or removal. PIPERACK - Supports for pipes usually 12-15 feet above the ground in areas where trucks and cranes operate. PIPETTE A piece of glass equipment used to measure the volume of a solution. PISTON That portion of a reciprocating pump, which receives force from the power medium and, in turn, transfers it to the fluid being handled. PLANT (FACILITIES) PROCEDURES A term used to describe formal procedures and policies, which are followed facilities wide by all employees. PLASTIC A material, which may be molded into desired shapes while soft, and then hardened by heat, cooling, or exposure to air. Many plastics are synthetic polymers. PLATE A substantially horizontal structure supported in a vertical cylindrical chamber and adapted for intimately contacting vapors or gases rising from below the structure to bubble through the retained liquid. The plates are usually of the bubble cap type, although so-called perforated plates are used in special cases. PLATINUM COBALT Platinum and Cobalt are both transition metals of the group 8 of the periodic table with Platinum being the largest (atomic number 78) and Cobalt being the second largest (atomic number 27). In conjunction with one another can be used in applications such as alloys, as catalyst, as a conductor of electricity, ionization, oxidation and are resistant to attack by acids, air or water under high temperatures. PNEUMATIC Pertaining to, or using air or wind. 69
PHEUMATIC OILER A device that emits oil into an air stream. PNEUMATIC SOLENOID VALVE An electrically powered valve, which is used to interrupt or divert a pneumatic signal. POINTER A manually or pneumatically adjusted pointer on the chart that indicates the position of the set point. POLLUTION Destruction or impairment of the purity of the environment. POLYMER An organic compound formed by intermolecular reaction of unsaturated or cyclic compounds which are capable of inter-molecular reaction, or by the interaction of poly-functional compounds such as X-R-Y where X and Y are capable of mutual reaction. POLYMERIZATION A process, which joins two or more small molecules to form a larger one. POOP The End of Shift production figures and operating information. The latest information available on any particular subject. POPOVER DMV (Popover Diaphragm Motor Valve) A cross tie between two different points that control the amount of flow. POPVALVE A valve used to relieve or reduce pressure to prevent over pressuring. POST INDICATING VALUE (PIV) This is a control or sectionalizing valve on the facilities fire water underground piping; a normally underground valve whose valve stem sticks above ground inside a metal post with a position indicator (open or closed). POST-SUPPORTED TRAYS Describes a method of supporting distillation column trays from each other. POUNDS PER HOURS (#/Hr.) Ratio of production or usage per hour. Measured in pounds. POWER FACTOR (PF) Ratio of energy applied to work to energy generated (electricity). POWER SURGE OR FAILURE A voltage drop in the electrical system.
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PPM (Parts Per Million) This term is used to define the quantity of impurities in chemicals, regardless of what they may be. This quantity is referred to on a weight basis, such as, 1 pound of impurity in 1 million pounds of refined product. PRC (Pressure Recorder Controller) Usually automatic control. PRE-STARTUP SAFETY REVIEW (PSSR) A portion of PSM & RMP which requires a management review and & sign-off before introducing materials into a covered process PRECIPITATOR An apparatus in which droplets of liquid, or solid particles are deposited from liquid, vapor or gas streams by physical means. PRESSURE A measurable force. Can be above atmospheric or below atmospheric pressure. See PSI and PSIA. PRESSURE DISTILLATION If the operative pressure of a distillation column is greater than atmospheric, it is called pressure distillation. PRESSURE DROP The difference in pressure between two given points. The decrease in pressure due to friction, which occurs when a liquid or gas passes through a pipe, vessel, or other piece of equipment. PRESSURE GAUGE A device having a metallic sensing element such as a flexible curved tube (bourdon tube) or a flexible diaphragm, which deforms under fluid pressure. PRESSURE PROFILE A series of pressure reading points on a vessel. PRESSURE PURGE See Purging. PRESSURE RATING The operating (allowable) internal pressure of a vessel, tank, or piping used to hold or transport liquids or gases. PRESSURE-REGULATING VALVE A valve that releases or holds processsystem pressure (that is, opens or closes) either by preset spring tension or by actuation by a valve controller to assume any desired position between full open and full closed.
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PRESSURE REGULATOR Open-close device used on the vent of a closed, gaspressured system to maintain the system pressure within a specified range. PRESSURE RELIEF A valve or other mechanical device (such as a rupture disk) that eliminates system overpressure by allowing the controlled or emergency escape of liquid or gas from a pressure system. PRESSURE SEAL A seal used to make pressure-proof the interface (contacting surfaces) between two parts that have frequent or continual relative rotational or translation motion. PRESSURE STORAGE The storage of a volatile liquid or liquefied gas under pressure to prevent evaporation. PRESSURE SWITCH A device, which interrupts or diverts either an electrical or a pneumatic signal when motivated by a change in input signal pressure. A switch that is actuated by a change in pressure of a gas or liquid. PRESSURE TAP A small perpendicular hole in the wall of a pressured fluidcontaining pipe or vessel; used for connection of pressure-sensitive elements for the measurement of static pressures. PRESSURE TEST Testing of equipment, using a gas or liquid as a testing medium. PRESSURE VESSEL An enclosed vessel in which a pressure greater than atmospheric is maintained. PRIME To put a pump into working condition by pouring liquid into pump mechanism to displace vapor or gas. PRIORITY Precedence Relativity of importance. PROCESS The chemistry and related facility used to produce a product from raw materials. PROCESS HAZARDS ANALYSIS (PHA) A portion of PSM & RMP which requires a detailed analysis of every covered process regarding the hazards it can create in normal and abnormal conditions. PROCESS SAFETY INFORMATION (PSI) A portion of PSM & RMP which requires an operating company to have standards and specifications to build
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and maintain their processes. PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT (PSM) OSHAs laws governing the operation of covered processes. The law is contained in 29CFR 1910.119. PROCESS SIDE That part of the equipment, which comes in contact with the organics being produced. PRODUCT The desired end components from a particular reaction. PRODUCTION Output, such as units made in a factory, oil from a well, or chemicals from a processing facilities. PRODUCTION CONTROL The procedure for planning, routing, scheduling, dispatching, and expediting the flow of materials, parts subassemblies, and assemblies within a facilities, from the raw state to the finished product, in an orderly and efficient manner. PRODUCTION ENGINEER The first management level of an operating engineer. PRODUCTION RECORDS A department for keeping daily records of production and usage of material in the manufacturing of various products. PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR (DPS OR SPS) A person of practical experience serving in a day or shift management capacity. PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory). A device with information placed into it during manufacture that cannot be altered by the computer. It can, however, be reprogrammed using special equipment. PROPANE (C3H8) A straight chain hydrocarbon of the paraffin series (saturated) having a boiling point of -54F. PROPORTIONAL BAND The adjustment on an instrument controller that determines the change in controller output for a change in controller input or set point. PROPORTIONAL AND RESET ACTION A controller response that is proportional to deviation, duration of deviation, and the rate of change of deviation.
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PROPORTIONAL AND RESET AND DERIVATIVE ACTION A controller that is proportional to deviation, duration of deviation, and the rate of change of deviation. PROPORTIONAL CONTROL A mode of control using an algorithm which causes the output of a controller to change in a linear fashion as the error signal (process variable setpoint difference) changes. See also Control Action, Proportional. PROPYLENE (C3H6) A straight chain hydrocarbon of the olefin series (unsaturated) having a boiling point of -44F. PRV (Pressure Relief Valve) A mechanically set valve which will relieve pressure above a preset value. PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) Measurement of pressure above atmospheric pressure in units of pounds. PSIA (Pounds Per Square Inch Absolute) The absolute scale starts at absolute vacuum considered to be 14.7 lbs. below atmospheric pressure. PSIG (Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge) The contained pressure as indicated by a gauge. PUKING An upheaval of fluid in a processing system, frequently causing a carryover of liquid through the vapor lines. PUMP A machine that raises, transfers or compresses fluids used in the facilities to circulate cooling H2O1 and to transfer fluids to storage tanks, etc. PUMP, CENTRIFUGAL (Volute Type) Consists of one or more impellers mounted on a rotating shaft. The liquid enters the impeller at the center, or eye and is thrown outward at high velocity into the volute of the pump casing. The function of the volute is to catch the impeller discharge and convert velocity head into pressure head while conducting the liquid to the discharge nozzle of the pump casing. PUMP, DIAPHRAGM A metering pump, which uses a diaphragm to isolate the operating parts from, pumped liquid in a mechanically actuated diaphragm pump, or from hydraulic fluid in a hydraulically actuated diaphragm pump.
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PUMP, DUPLEX A reciprocating pump that has two liquid cylinders. Duplex pumps have a more steady discharge pressure than do simplex pumps. PUMP, MULTI-STAGE Centrifugal pump with two or more impellers mounted on the same shaft. The discharge from one impeller is conducted by the suction eye of the next impeller, etc. PUMP, OIL A pump of the gear, vane, or plunger type, usually an integral part of the automotive engine; it lifts oil from the sump to the upper level in the splash and circulating systems, and in forced-fed lubrication, it pumps the oil to the tubes leading to the bearings and other parts. PUMP, POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT See Reciprocating or Rotary Pump. PUMP, POWER A reciprocating pump in which the liquid piston is driven by means other than direct acting steam piston and rods. PUMP, RECIPROCATING A positive displacement type of pump consisting of a plunger or a piston moving back and forth within a cylinder. With each stroke of the plunger or piston, a definite volume of liquid is pushed out through the discharge valves. PUMP, ROTARY A positive displacement pump used mainly to pump liquids, which are either too viscous or too difficult to pick up suction with a centrifugal pump. There are many types of rotary pump designs, one of the most common being the gear type, in which two gears mesh and rotate toward each other within a very close fitting casing. The liquid is trapped between the gear teeth and the casing and carried around to the discharge side of the pump. The meshing gear teeth prevent the liquid from returning to the suction side. PUMP, SIMPLEX A reciprocating pump that has one liquid cylinder on a single drive. PUMP, VACUUM A device for exhausting gas from an enclosed chamber in order to lower the pressure below atmospheric. PUMP CASING (Volute) Makes the liquid being pumped increase in pressure rather than speed. The part of the pump enclosing the impeller. PUMP DISCHARGE Opposite of the pump suction. The pressure of the liquid coming out of the pump.
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PUMP SUCTION The inlet side of a pump. The pressure in the line leading into the pump. PURGE To displace the vapors in a line or vessel usually with fresh air or an inert gas. The cleaning or removal of existing materials by displacing with another medium. PURITY Free from contamination, hence containing no other substances; for instance, a 99.5% purity chemical will contain 0.5% impurities.
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PYROMETER Any of a broad class of temperature-measuring devices. They were originally designed to measure high temperatures, but some are now used in any temperature range; includes radiation pyrometers, thermocouples, and thermistors.
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QUENCH H2O Is used as a method of preventing any of the pumped fluid from a pump, from coming into contact with the atmosphere, by which liquid escaping the packing box is carried away safely before it can escape to the atmosphere.
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RACK, STEAM A series of cams on a shaft that control valves which controls the flow of steam to a turbine. OR, A steel bar with teeth (cogs) on one side that meshes with a cogwheel. RACK OUT To positively open an electrical circuit by rolling (or racking) out the breaker section of the switchgear. RADIAL BEARING A bearing to restrain/restrict radial forces. RADIATION The transfer of heat through space (similar to a beam of light) without affecting the intervening space. RAISED FACE The section of a pipe flange that is thicker than the bolthole section; made to fit the gasket. RAM (Random Access Memory). Memory which contains no pre-programmed information but is loaded and/or altered by the computer system. It is of a volatile nature in that all the contents are lost when electrical power is removed. RAM memories are usually provided with battery backup power systems. RAMP An increase or decrease of the variable at a constant rate of change with respect to time. RASHIG RINGS Small cylindrical rings used in packed type distillation columns. RATIO The amount of one material or component in relation to another material or components. 77 Please send your recommended corrections or additions to:
BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER 10811 FAIRMONT PARKWAY La Porte, Tx. 77571 Phone: (281) 471-1229 Fax: (281) 471-0001 www.bayporttechnical.com A DIVISION OF T.A. BROWN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
RATIO CONTROL To regulate one variable in proportion to another variable. RAW MATERIAL A crude, unprocessed or partially processed material used as feedstock for a processing operation. REACH ROD An extension on a valve wheel or stem so it may be operated from a few feet away. REACTION The interaction of a compound with itself or other compounds to form one or more new compounds. REACTIVATE To regenerate, renew or return to a useable condition. REACTIVE CHEMICAL A material that will vigorously decompose, condense, polymerize, or otherwise react with itself in the pure state or in the presence of some other catalytic material, or which will react violently with water. REACTOR A vessel utilized to mix two or more components together and initiate and sustain a desired, controlled reaction. REACTOR EFFLUENT The mixture of products leaving a reactor. READINGS Collecting of data related to the operating job, measured in pounds, gallons, pounds pressure, inches of vacuum, degrees temperature, kilowatts, amperes, or other numbers to meet job requirements. REAGENT A substance, chemical, or solution used in the laboratory to detect, measure, or otherwise examine other substances, chemicals or solutions. REBOILER A tubular heat exchanger placed at the bottom of a distillation column or stripper to supply the necessary column heat. The liquid from the bottom tray passes through the reboiler where it is heated by indirect exchange with a hotter liquid or by steam. The heated liquid and vapors formed then return to the bottom of the column. RECEIVERS The tanks into which the distillates from the stills are run. RECEIVER GAUGE A pressure gauge, which is actuated by the pneumatic output of an instrument. Its primary element usually has a range of 3 to 15 pounds per square inch, but its dial may be calibrated in the same units as the pneumatic transmitter sending the signal.
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RECIPROCATING Back and forth; up and down; in and out. RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR The Reciprocating Compressor consists of one or more cylinders each with a piston or plunger that moves back and forth, displacing a positive volume with each stroke. See Compressor RECIRCULATION The re-passage of one or more of the components of a stream through a given system. RECORDER A mechanical recording instrument for registering pressure, speed, flow, electrical units, etc. RECORDING CONTROLLER An instrument that indicates a variable reading and actuates a secondary device to affect the process. RECOVERY A chemical area designed to process chemicals using distillation columns. RECTIFICATION A form of distillation by passing vapor through liquid on a tray, which has collected by condensing the vapor previously passing through the tray. RECTIFIER An electrical device for rectifying, as the half-wave rectifier which utilizes only half of each cycle of the alternating current or the full-wave rectifier which utilizes both halves of each cycle. RECYCLE That portion of the products of a process, which is resubmitted to the process. To route a stream back to a location where it came from. RED LINE Also known as RED MARK, is the act of making correction or comment on drawings. RED TAG A tag placed on equipment or lines that have been removed from service for maintenance work. NOTE: See Master Tag Procedure in Facilities Procedures Manual. REDUCING STATION A valve installation that is used to lower a pressure to a lower level pressure. Common in steam, air and methane service. REDUCTION The removal of oxygen from a compound in a chemical reaction. 79
REFINE A term referring to the extracting of a final single product out of a crude material, which has several elements in it. It is pure enough to meet certain specifications. REFLUX - That portion of the condensed vapors that is returned to the top tray of the column. REFLUX RATE Rate addition of a cool liquid to a column in order to remove heat and, thereby, to induce reflux in the column. REFLUX RATIO The ratio of the amount of condensed vapor returned as reflux to the amount removed from the system as make. REFLUX TANK A vessel containing condensed vapors, which are pumped back to the top of the column as reflux and taken off as make. REFRACTIVE INDEX (RI) The refractive index of a substance is the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in the substance. In simple terms, it is a measure of the amount of refraction or bending which light rays undergo on passing through a transparent material, such as a hydrocarbon. Because of the ease with which it can be measured, and its constancy for pure substances under reproducible conditions, it is a useful aid in the identification of these substances. REFRACTOMETER An instrument used to measure the bending of light rays through a liquid, as compared to the ratio of the bending of light in air under the same conditions. Light changes its direction when it passes at an angle through compounds of different densities. REFRACTORY A form of insulation used in high temperature boilers, incinerators, heaters, furnaces, etc. Generally two forms, brick and castable. REFRIGERANT The fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigeration system, which absorbs heat at a low temperature and low pressure and rejects heat at a higher temperature and higher pressure. REGENERATION In general, any process by which a spent material is made available for reuse. REGENERATOR The vessel in which regeneration of used catalyst or other material takes place. A pea-gravel filled heat exchanger utilizing cold gas on outgoing half-cycle and an atmospheric air inlet on other half of cycle.
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REGULATOR Electrical An automatic device for maintaining or adjusting the current, speed, etc., of a machine, transformer, or the like. Mach. A governor. Pneu. A balance valve for controlling pressure. OR, A valve, which directly controls the flow of liquid or gas through a line; usually actuated by an instrument to control pressure, temperature, or flow conditions. RELAY An electrical fixture used to perform certain control functions. OR, A device that is operated by a variation in the conditions in one electric circuit and serves to make or break one or more connections in the same or another electric circuit. RELIEF (Shift Workers) Oncoming shift, who take over duties from the shift on duty. RELIEF VALVE An automatic pressure-relieving device, which opens in proportion to the increase in pressure over the set opening pressure. REMOTE (Local Set Switch) A pneumatic or electric switch that is capable of transferring the set point of a controller from a local control to a remote control. REQUISITION The internal document utilized and act of requesting the approval of a purchase or service from others. RERUN The reprocessing of material through the same equipment to improve product specifications. RESET (Instrumentation) That function of an instrument, which allows it to change its air output as the demand, or load, on the system changes. RESET BUTTON An electrical switch designed to restore another switch to its original position when actuated. RESET RATE The inverse of integral time; usually expressed as repeats per minute.
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RESIDENCE TIME The time a component, or a mixture of components, remains in a given vessel. It is also used to denote the time required for a specific reaction to go to completion. RESIDUE Material, which remains after evaporation of a liquid. This is a Criterion for determining the purity of various chemicals. RESISTANCE Resistance in electrical equipment is measured in ohms. One ohm is the amount of resistance where one volt produces a flow on one amp. RESTRICTION ORIFICE A fitting or plate installed to restrict the flow of material. REVERSE CURRENT RELAY A protective relay to trip electrical switchgear in case the current should flow in the wrong direction. R.F.P. (REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL) A formal document utilized to request price and delivery from one party to another party for goods or services. Also known as an R.F.Q. (REQUEST FOR QUOTATION). RHEOSTAT A variable resistor, usually manually operated to increase or decrease resistance to an electrical substance. RIGGER An individual involved in facilities maintenance (classification of worker) involving the use of straps, cables or chains for lifting of heavy objects. RING BURNER A type of burner utilizing pressurized gas used to fire equipment such as boilers. RING SUPPORTED TRAYS Trays that are supported from rings welded to the inside wall of a distillation tower. RISER One of a number of small vertical pipes extending slightly above the surface of a bubble plate through which vapors from the next lower plate pass upward. OR, A long vertical high pressure, high temperature pipe or chamber in which a reaction takes place. OR, A vertical conduit coming out of the earth through which underground utility lines are brought above ground.
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RISK MANAGEMENT PLANNING (RMP) This is an EPA law which parallels PSM in many ways, but also requires a facility to model the effects of releases leaving the site. ROLLOUT (ELECTRICAL BREAKER) A circuit breaker in switchgear which operates on plug-in principle and can be rolled out on runners (rails) for maintenance and/or lock out. ROM (Read-Only Memory). Memory with information placed into it during manufacture that cannot be altered. ROTAMETER A device which presents a continuously varying size orifice, proportional to the flow through it, by means of a tapered tube containing a float. The position of the float is proportional to the flow. ROTATING SHIFT The changing schedule worked by the shift-operating group. ROTATING EQUIPMENT Equipment such as pumps, compressors, blowers, ejectors, turbines, etc. employed to raise pressure, transfer or compress a fluid or gaseous stream. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE The act of servicing equipment within facilities on a regularly scheduled basis. RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) A device containing a resistor whose value changes with temperature changes. It is, therefore, used to measure temperature. RTV A Room Temperature Volcanizing silicon rubber used as a sealer on threads and gaskets. (Produced by General Electric Corporation). RUN-AWAY REACTION An undesirable uncontrolled reaction in which the particular instruments and/or personnel have lost the ability to control the reaction. RUN-IN (Break-In) When a new or reconditioned piece of equipment is run under no load or lightly loaded conditions, or after prolonged shutdown to bring to operating temperatures. Generally applied to reciprocating machinery. RUPTURE DISC A pressure relief device that will break or tear if the pressure reaches its bursting limit. Usually, a thin piece of metal or a composition material designed to rupture (split) at a given pressure.
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SADDLE - A device in which an object rests such as a pipe or tank may rest upon allowing for expansion and contraction of the pipe or tank. SAFETY Is eliminating or avoiding hazards in your work area or work procedures. SAFETY CONSCIOUS The act of being critically aware of how safety relates to everything you do on or off the job. SAFETY EQUIPMENT Various equipment used by an individual for his personal protection. Examples: Hardhat, coveralls, goggles, safety glasses and safety shoes. SAFETY INSPECTION An inspection made for the purpose of finding and correcting unsafe items and/or conditions, thereby making the area safe to work in. SAFETY MEETING Meetings held through out the facilities for the purpose of stimulating interest in safety and safe planning. In the case of contractors or subcontractors having a daily safety meeting it is commonly referred to as a tailgate meeting. SAFETY ORIENTATION A session held with all new employees during their first week of employment SAFETY RULES Rules established to prevent injuries and protect your life and the lives of your fellow employees. SAFETY SHOWER A shower that can supply large quantities of sanitary (drinking) water to wash chemicals, etc. off of a person.
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SAFETY VALVES Are pressure-relieving devices placed on equipment and pipelines operating under pressure. Their purpose is to protect the equipment and personnel from disastrous failures resulting from possible excess pressure. They are spring or weight loaded and set to open at a specific excess pressure. They are designated for specific installation as to material handled, material of construction, temperature, capacity, pressure, etc. SAFETY VALVE SEAL Usually a wire with an attached piece of lead, which is secured/attached to the shutoff valve below a safety valve. Note: Always seal in the OPEN position. SALINE A solution containing small amounts of sodium chloride (salt) similar in composition to the fluids of the body. Saline solution is used to wash chemicals from the eyes or at times from the skin. SALT An ionic solid made up of a positive ion from a base and a negative ion from an acid. Can be produced as the neutralization product of an acid-base reaction. Often used as the name of the most common salt, sodium chloride. SAMPLE A representative part of a chemical taken from a large tank or stream. For instance, a one-quart sample of a tank or refined material. SAMPLE TAP A device consisting of a valve and small tubing for the purpose of extracting a sample. SANDBLAST Sand is projected at high speed by the use of compressed air. This method is used to remove rust or paint from metal. SANITARY SEWER Sewers originating in restrooms, sinks, drinking fountains, etc. to dispose of the waste or used water. SAPONIFICATION The hydrolysis of an ester in basic solution. Usually refers to the reaction of a fat or vegetable oil (ester) with an aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide, which produces a soap. SATURATED To dissolve a sufficient amount of substance, either a solid or gas, in a solution, so that no more of that substance can be dissolved.
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SATURATED HYDROCARBON A hydrocarbon which does not readily react with other substance; it bonds as attractions for other substances are completely satisfied. SATURATED INDEX A number, which is related to the scale-forming or corrosive properties of water. It is expressed as the difference between the pH of the sample and the calculated pH, which is a complex function of the total dissolved solids, calcium ion concentration, total alkalinity, and temperature. A positive index indicates that the water tends to deposit a calcium carbonate scale, whereas a negative index indicates a corrosive tendency. SATURATED SOLUTION A solution, which has dissolved as much solute (that substance dissolved in a solution) as it can under the existing conditions. SATURATED STEAM Steam that has been reduced in temperature to a point slightly above condensing. SATURATION VAPOR PRESSURE (Thermo) The vapor pressure of a thermodynamic system, at a given temperature, wherein the vapor of a substance is in equilibrium with a plane surface of that substances pure liquid or solid phase. SC (Steam Condensate) The water, which is formed when steam is condensed. SCAFFOLD - Platform (temporary) used to reach inaccessible areas. It provides a safe platform to work from. SCALE A chemical deposit left when water or other materials are vaporized. A visual indication of the range of the instrument; may also be 0 to 100 percent of the range. SCAN The computer checks computer inputs, temps, pressures, and flows at specific time intervals or scanned. The readout is the same until the next scan. SCHEDULE A clearly defined bar-chart listing each of the numerous activities required to complete a project including the specific start and completion times for each of those activities. The most common schedule producing software is Primavera (P3). OR, A calendar or date specific type document listing scheduled events. 87
SCOPE GROWTH - When a predetermined work requirement is expanded to include additional activities. Scope growth always includes additional costs. See Change Management and Scope Of Work. SCOPE OF WORK A clearly defined document encompassing one or many activities required to accomplish an end result or task. A Scope Of Work should be a part of any Contract or Subcontract that is executed with others. SCOTT AIR PAK This is a self-contained breathing unit for use in contaminated areas. SCREW COMPRESSOR A positive displacement compressor which uses two inter-meshed screws rotating to produce a pressure SCREW CONVEYOR A conveyor consisting of a helical screw that rotates upon a single shaft within a stationary trough or casing, and which can move bulk material along a horizontal, inclined, or vertical plane. Also known as auger conveyor; spiral conveyor; worm conveyor. SCREW FEEDER A mechanism for handling bulk (pulverized or granulated solids) materials, in which a rotating helicoid screw moves the material forward, toward and into a process unit. SCRUBBER A device for the removal, or washing out, or entrained liquid droplets or dust, or for the removal of an undesired gas component from process gas streams. A piece of equipment designed to remove a particular component from a gas or vapor stream usually by counter current contact with a liquid. SCRUBBING COLUMN A vessel designed to act as a scrubber. SEAL Any device or system that creates a nonleaking union between two mechanical or process-system elements; for example, gaskets for pipe connection seals, mechanical seals for rotating members such as pump shafts, and liquid seals to prevent gas entry to or loss from a gas-liquid processing sequence. A tight, perfect closure or joint. SEAL (Government) A copper disk with attached wire to prevent sampling of ethanol under government bond. SEAL FLUSH Used in conjunction with mechanical seal to minimize or dilute possible product leakage. Also, acts as a cooling medium.
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SEAL OIL Oil used as the sealing medium to prevent the passage of fluid or gas from one chamber to another. SEAL POT A small tank or vessel designed to relieve vacuum or pressure at a specific point by employing a liquid as the relief device. Usually on the base of a column. SEAL TANK A receptacle designed to prevent the return of air or gas into a pipe or container within specified pressure limits. SEAL WELD A weld usually between a tube and a tube sheet to make it leak tight. SEALING LIQUID A liquid used to fill the seal pots and lines connecting differential pressure taps and a meter, when it is necessary to prevent the fluid being measured from reaching the meter. SEAT - Support or holder for a mechanism, or for a part of one. Or, To fit correctly in or on a holder, or prepared position, such as to seat a valve in a compressor, or in an automobile engine block. SECTIONAL VALVE See Post Indicating Valve. SENSIBLE HEAT The amount of heat required raising or lowering the temperature of matter without a change of state. SEPARATOR A device, usually a drum, employed for the division of a multiphase system (usually two phase) into its constituent phases. May be used to separate vapors from liquids, or liquids of different densities. SEPARATOR DRUM A synonym for separator but is more specifically applied to small, cylindrical-shaped containers. SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS Sending bits of information in succession along a single circuit (pair of wires). SERVOMOTOR A device (mechanical or electrical), which positions another device according to an input signal. SET POINT The point or place where the controls index of a controller is set. 89
The point at which the controller is adjusted to regulate the process. The point at which the controller is adjusted to regulate the process. The set point is defined in the same units of measured variable. SEWER A collection system for waste material. SHAFT Pump Shaft: A round piece of steel with impeller mounted, suspended in bearings. OR, Motor Shaft - A round piece of steel with rotor mounted, suspended in two bearings. SHAFT BOW A deviation from a straight line. Can be found in turbines, compressors, gas turbine rotors and motor shafts. SHELL The outer housing of a heat exchanger, which covers the tube bundle. SHELL SIDE In referring to heat exchangers, the space or area between the tubes and outside shell. SHIFT Group of employees assigned to work the same hours, rotating per posted schedule. SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL An amount of money added to an operators earnings to compensate him for the inconvenience of working shifts. SHIFT SUPER The person, that is, head of a given shift group. He is responsible for all actions of his assigned group, such as safety, production, and general performance. Refer to shift for identification. SHIPPING The areas in a facilities where refined chemicals are stored in large tanks then shipped out by barge, tank car, or tank truck. SHOP ORDER A work request or written request for work by Maintenance. SHORT (Electrical) Term used when two phases of electrical circuit get together or one phase goes to ground. SHUTDOWN A situation when the continuity of operation is interrupted, A supply flow or source of power has been lost or intentionally closed off. SHUTDOWN BUTTON (Device) A switch that stops supply of power (electricity, steam, etc.) to machinery or process equipment. 90
SHUTDOWN POINT The point or place where, once the measured variable passes going either positively or negatively, a shutdown sequence is initiated. SIDE MAKE Any point between the base and top of a column where a product is withdrawn from the system. It can be in either the liquid or vapor phase. SIDE STREAM A stream taken from any intermediate plate (tray) in a distillation column, i.e., from the side rather than the top or bottom of the column. SIDE TEMPERATURE A temperature taken on the side of a vessel (reactor or distillation column) at any point between the base and top of the vessel. SIEVE TRAY A plate with a large number of small holes drilled in it. The tray has weirs and down comers similar to the bubble cap tray, but no bubble caps. The vapor passes through the plate holes, through the liquid level maintained by the weir, and on to the next tray. Sieve tray allows much higher column capacities for the same diameter vessel than do bubble caps. SIGHT GLASS A heavy glass tube located on a boiler drum or vessel, open into the vessel on top and bottom, to show the level or liquid contained within the vessel. SIGNAL An electrical or pneumatic signal from the process equipment to a control instrument. SINGLE PASS When used in conjunction with heat transfer equipment (reboilers, heat exchangers and condensers), single pass means that the mediam on the tube side flows in one direction. Multiple passes may be had on both shell and tube sides by a baffle arrangement. SINGLE PHASE Describes a type of low voltage power used in residences and small industrial motors. SINGLE SEAL A single mechanical seal, either inside or out to keep product from going to the atmosphere. SINGLE STAGE COMPRESSOR A machine that effects overall compression of a gas or vapor from suction to discharge conditions without any sequential multiplicity of elements, such as cylinders or rotors. SINGLE STAGE PUMP A pump in which the head is developed by a single impeller.
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SINGLE TRAIN See Train. SKIMMER A wooden or metal mesh across the top of a lateral ditch or canal to catch floating objects or materials. SKIRT The border or area around the bottom of a tank or vessel. Usually supports the tank or vessel. SLEEVE BEARING A bronze, babbitt, aluminum, or plastic sleeve supporting and restricting a rotating or reciprocating shaft. SLINGER RINGS Used in pumps or compressors that do not have force fed lubrication. A ring that rotates with the shaft, taking oil from the sump and supplying to the bearing. SLIP BLIND A piece of steel or stainless steel plate cut out to a pipe gasket size and used between two pipe flanges to prevent a flow or to isolate a line from a vessel. SLOW ROLL The operation of a piece of rotating equipment at a speed below its normal speed. SLOPLINE A line going to the waste disposal area used to pump organic contaminated wash waters. SLOW OXIDATION Oxidation, such as rusting, in, which no noticeable light or heat is involved. Heat is produced, but slowly. SLUG A condition that occurs in a column when either the vapor or liquid handling capacity is exceeded at any point in the column. If the condition continues, the column will cease to operate. SLURRY A watery mixture of insoluble matter. SOAP Originally considered as the alkali metal salts of high molecular weight fatty acids. The term has since been generalized to include not only other metal salts of these acids but salts of other acids which in solution exert a pronounced effect on the surface tension of the solvent. SOAP TEST Test method used to detect leaks, because the soap and water make bubbles at the leak.
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SOFT WATER Water, which has been treated to remove chemicals, referred to as hardness. SOFTWARE A set of programs and associated data tables which causes the hardware components of a computer system to perform the desired tasks. SOLENOID An electrical device that starts or stops flows using an electromagnet to activate the valve. SOLID That state of matter, which is characterized by a definite crystalline shape. A pure solid substance has a definite melting point. SOLUBILITY The amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at given conditions. SOLUTE The substance dissolved in a solution. SOLUTION A uniform liquid mixture of particles of molecular size. SOLVENT Usually a liquid substance capable of dissolving one or more substances. SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) A standard operating procedure is one that has a recognized and permanent value. Basically, once the procedure is issued, it becomes the accepted procedure until a better procedure is developed. Instructions in your home operating manual on how to start the lawn mower you just purchased are standard operating procedures. SPACE VELOCITY The relationship between feed rate and reactor volume in a flow process; defined as the volume or weight of feed (measured at standard conditions) per unit time per unit volume of reactor (or per unit weight of catalyst). SPARE - A device that has a back-up device that can be put in service if one should fail. Usually, pumps in critical service have spares. SPECIFIC GRAVITY The ratio between the density of one gas or liquid and the density of another. For example: H2O is the base for liquid; air is the base for gas. Is the density of a substance divided by the density of H2O. If, we say that a chemical has a specific gravity of 1.5, we mean that a gallon weight 11/2 times as much as a gallon of H2O.
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SPECIFIC HEAT Quantity of heat required to increase a unit volume of a substance 1F. SPECS Abbreviation for specifications, the quality limitations for a product. SPENT ACID A weak acid solution that has been used and is usually contaminated with a process by-product. SPIRAL WOUND GASKET Gasket, which contains a spiral, wound metal. These gaskets are usually impregnated with a filler of conventional gasket material such as Teflon or asbestos. SPLIT-RANGING Action in which two or more final control elements are actuated by a single controller output. For example, in a heating circuit, 050% of the controller output operates a primary heat source and the 50100% portion of the controller output operates a secondary heat source. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION Active burning started by the accumulation of heat resulting from slow oxidation. SPRAY SYSTEM A fixed pipe system with open spray nozzles which sprays water on equipment for fire extinguishment and equipment protection. SPRINKLER SYSTEM A fixed pipe system with closed sprinkler nozzles, which will spray water from any nozzle when heat from a fire actuates the soldered orifice cover on the nozzle. SPUD BURNER A lance type nozzle, usually installed in a circle, with holes or orifices in the end of the lance. Used to introduce fuel into a boiler, incinerator or heater. SPUD WRENCH Usually a single open-end wrench with pointed opposite end. STABILITY The quality, state, or degree of being stable (the resistance to chemical change). STABILITY INDEX The stability index is a method of characterizing the scale forming capacity of a given water, quantitatively. It is closely related to the Saturated Index of the water. STAINLESS ALLOY Any of a large and complex group of corrosion resistant
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iron-chromium alloys (containing 10% or more chromium), sometimes containing other elements, such as nickel, silicon, tungsten, and niobium. Commonly known as stainless steel (SS). STANDARD CONDITIONS Conditions that do not change routinely. They have a recognized and permanent valve. In operations, it is desirable to maintain a certain condition constant for an extended period of time. This would then be a standard operating condition. STANDBY A machine or equipment which is in a state of readiness for use but which is not presently needed. START-STOP SWITCH A push button control usually located at a motor, to start and stop the motor. START-UP To bring into operation a piece or pieces of equipment. STATIC HEAD Pressure of a fluid due to the head of fluid above some reference point. STATIC PRESSURE Acting by mere weight without motion; bodies or forces at rest or in equilibrium. STEADY STATE The condition when all properties are constant with time, transient responses having died out. STEAM Water vapor, or water in its gaseous state. The gas or vapor into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point. STEAM BOILER A pressurized system in which water is vaporized to steam by heat transferred from a source of higher temperature, usually the products of combustion from burning fuels. Also known as steam generator. STEAM, DESUPERHEATED The control of the temperature of superheated steam by condensate injection. STEAM, DRY Water vapor, which does not contain water droplets. STEAM, SUPERHEATED Water vapor heated above the saturation temperature at a given pressure. Examples would be 200# and 600# steam. STEAM, WET Steam containing entrained water.
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STEAM DRIVE Any device, which uses power generated by the pressure of expanding steam to move a machine or a machine part. STAEM DRUM The top drum of a boiler where all of the generated steam gathers before entering a process. STEAM HOSE A hose used only for low-pressure steam service, with special fitting (See Boss Fitting). STEAM JET A nozzle used to create a particular pattern of spray steam. STEAM JET EJECTOR A device using steam as the motive force, which lifts a liquid from a sump or creates a vacuum. Also called a vacuum jet. STEAM TRACING Tubing that is installed adjacent to a pipeline and is enclosed with the pipeline by insulation. Steam is then passed through the tubing and the heat provided, prevents the contents of the pipeline from freezing. STEAM TRAP A device used on low sections of steam lines to remove condensate from the line, and condensate from heat exchangers that use steam. STEAM TURBINE A prime mover for the conversion of heat energy of steam into work on a revolving shaft, utilizing fluid acceleration principles in jet and vane machinery. A turbine that is driven by the pressure of steam discharged at high velocity against the turbine vanes. STEEL An iron base alloy, malleable under proper conditions, containing up to about 2% carbon. STILL A still or column is a piece of equipment in which a distillation takes place. It permits the use of countercurrent flow of the vapor and liquid phases. STOPCOCK This is a valve-type device used in laboratory equipment. STRESS CONE A terminator for hi-voltage (above 5000 volts) which are necessary to keep down corona effect, which if not controlled, causes the cables to blow up. STRESS CRACKING The attack of the chloride ion (usually from sodium chloride) on stainless steel. The resulting attack usually cracks the stainless steel used in process equipment.
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STRIP CHART Chart on which a measured flow, temperature or pressure, etc. is continuously recorded. STRIP HEATER An electric heater used to keep equipment warm and dry. Used mainly in switchgear and large motors and generators. STRIPPER An evaporative device for the removal of vapors from liquids; can be in a bubbletray distillation column, a vacuum vessel, or an evaporator; if it is part of a distillation below the feed tray, it is called the stripping section. STRIPPING OUT Stripping or stripping out a column is the complete removal of the more volative component from the column. To accomplish this it is first necessary to shut off the feed to the column. STROKE - To give a motor valve its working travel. The distance a reciprocating engine or compressor will travel through a 180 rotation of crankshaft. STRUCTURE The steel works that are used to hold up or support an area of elevated equipment. Usually has stairs or ladders leading to the different levels from the ground. STRUCTURAL FORMULA A system of notation used for organic compounds in which the exact structure, if it is known, is given in schematic representation. STUFFING BOX A device to prevent leakage along a moving part (as a piston rod) passing through a hole in a vessel (as a cylinder) containing steam, water, or oil consisting of a box or chamber made by enlarging the hole and a gland to compress the contained packing. SUBCONTRACTOR A specialized third party who physically performs a predetermined scope of work within facilities under the direction of a contractor. SUB COOL The further cooling of condensed material to the desired temperature. SUBCOOLER A piece of equipment design to cool liquids, after they have been condensed, to a lower temperature. A heat exchanger.
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SUBLIMATION This is the transformation of a solid to a gas followed by condensation back to the solid state. It differs from distillation in that the solid does not pass through the liquid state. It is used to purify various substances. SUBSTANCE A sample of matter, all parts of which have one set of identifying, or specific, properties. SUB STATION An assembly of equipment in an electric power system through which electric energy is passed for transmission, transformation, distribution, or switching. SUCTION Normally referred to the inlet side of a pump, compressor, fan, or jet. Also, the pipe or duct that forms the suction. SUCTION HEAD Is the height of a column of liquid that would exert a pressure equal to the suction pressure. SUCTION LINE A pipe or tubing feeding into the inlet of a fluid impelling device (for example, pump, compressor, or blower), consequently under suction. SUCTION PRESSURE Is the pressure in the line leading into the pump. SUCTION PUMP A pump that raises, H2O for example by the force of atmospheric pressure pushing it into a partial vacuum under the valve piston, which retreats on the upstroke. SUCTION SCREEN Normally, a cone shaped or flat metal strainer in the suction line to a pump. SUCTION STROKE The piston stroke that draws a fresh charge into the cylinder of a pump, compressor, or internal combustion engine. SULFUR A nonmetallic element that occurs either free or combined especially in sulfides and sulfates, is a constituent of proteins, exists in several allotropic forms including yellow orthorhombic crystals, resembles oxygen chemically but is less active and is more acidic, and is used especially in the chemical and paper industries, in rubber vulcanization, and in medicine for treating skin diseases. A common element found in raw fossil fuels. SUMP A pit for a tank, which receives and temporarily stores drainage at the lowest point of a circulating or drainage system.
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SUMP PUMP A small, single stage vertical pump used to drain shallow pits or sumps. SUPERHEAT Heat added to a vapor to raise its temperature above the dew point at the pressure existing. The term is also applied to the temperature difference between the vapor and its dew point. Also, used to denote the amount of extra heat, which is in superheated steam. SUPERVISORY CONTROL A method of computer control whereby a computer or master station provides set-points to individual controllers which independently perform the actual control algorithms. SURGE A sudden change in a flow, liquid level, temperature, pressure, etc. Normally, refers to electric or to compressor train malfunction. Electrical surge usually consists of large variation in voltage or amperage in a system. Damage is relative to the magnitude of the surge. When compressed fluid flows back toward the compressor, rather than away from it, it is said to be in surge. SURGE CHAMBER See Surge Tank. SURGE POT Specifically, a small metal cylinder with a rubber bladder inside with pressure between the bladder and the pot. It is placed on the discharge line of a pump to hold the pressure constant. Generally, a greatly increased section of line, as a small tank that provides volume to smooth out the flow. SURGE TANK A vessel installed in a line to absorb and dampen the pulsations of the material being pumped through the line. SWITCH To change from one to another, usually involving pumps. This can relate to other equipment that is duplicated and can be alternated in service. Example: Switch from the north pump to the south pump. Switch from the pump that is in service to the spare pump. SWITCH GEAR A piece of electrical equipment that stops or allows the flow of electricity. SWITCH RACK A panel (normally located outside) containing electrical switches and breakers for motors and pumps. A central location for the termination of pipes, where any pipe can be connected to another by the use of a flexible metallic hose.
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SWITCH ROOM A room or building containing nothing but electric switches and breakers for motors and pumps. SWITCH TANKS To switch material flow from one tank into another. SYMBOL One or two letters used to designate one atom of an element. SYNCHRONIZE The act of connecting two electrical generating systems together. It is imperative that both systems have identical electrical characteristics at the time they are connected together. SYNCHRONOUS - A type of machine or mechanism, which operates at one constant speed. In step or in phase, as applied to two or more circuits, devices, or machines. SYNTHESIS Any process or reaction for building up a complex compound by the union of simpler compounds or elements. SYNTHESIS GAS (Syn-Gas) A mixture of gases prepared as feedstock for a chemical reaction, for example, carbon monoxide and hydrogen to make hydrocarbons or organic chemicals.
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TAG-OUT Procedure of tagging valves, breakers, etc. in preparation of equipment for maintenance. A master card and red danger tags are used. TAILS The process flow that is taken off the bottom of a column, sometimes referred to as bottoms. TAILS FLOW The flow from the bottom of a column to another column or vessel. TANK - A receptacle designed to hold or store liquids. Tanks can be of numerous sizes and design. TANK CAR (T/C) A railroad car with a tank built in it, used for hauling liquid or liquefied gases. TANK FARM - An area with multiple tanks for storage of crude or refined material. 100
TANK LOG A reading of a list of tanks showing their levels. TANK TRUCK (T/T) - A truck with a tank on it for hauling liquid or liquefied gases. TECH MAN A term used to describe department personnel who are responsible for a particular unit or system in operations. This could be an engineer or a day production supervisor. Engineers are technical (degreed). Day production supervisors are non-technical (normally). TELEMETRY A technique which permits a measured quantity to be transmitted and interpreted at a distance from the measuring location. Form, or types of telemetry include analog, digital, frequency, and pulse. TEMPERATURE The degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale. See Centigrade and Fahrenheit. TEMPERATURE BULB The enlarged portion of a thermal system, which is placed inside a thermo well to sense the temperature of a line or vessel. It is part of a hermetically sealed and pressurized system. TEMPERATURE CONTROL Temperature is the control variable from which a control output is determined. The output, in turn, controls the heating or cooling medium to maintain the desired temperature. TEMPERATURE GRADIENT The difference in temperature of materials in various stages of processing, as for instance, between the inlet and outlet of a tube heater. TEMPERATURE PROFILE A temperature profile is a series of temperatures taken at various points across a vessel (reactor or distillation column). TEMPERING Heat treatment of hardened steels to temperatures below the transformation temperature range, usually to improve toughness. THERMOCOMPRESSOR A piece of equipment that uses high-pressure steam to raise a lower pressure steam to a desired higher pressure. THERMOCOUPLE A means of measuring temperature using parallel wires of different metals. The wires are coupled together at the end near the temperature to be measured. The electric current created by dissimilar metals increases as temperature rises and decreases as temperature falls.
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This rise and fall is measured, calibrated and indicated on a meter or dial. THERMOMETER An instrument for determining temperature consisting typically of a glass bulb attached to a fine tube of glass with a numbered scale and containing a liquid (as mercury or colored alcohol) that is sealed in and rises and falls with changes of temperature. THERMOPILE Several dissimilar metals arranged alternately which generate an electric current when the junctions are heated; more sensitive than a thermocouple. THERMOWELL A tube housing, one end closed and inserted into a vessel, pipe, or furnace as protection for a thermocouple or temperature bulb. THRESHOLD LIMIT This refers to the exposure, either by breathing or skin contact, of chemical compounds, which may injure a persons health. Limits have been determined for the amount of material in the air or skin contact, which will affect a human, or animals health. THIEF, SAMPLE A device for drawing samples of a chemical from a tank at various levels. THROTTLE To control a flow through a line with a valve, usually refers to the manual operation of a hand valve. THRUST The force exerted endwise through a shaft to give forward motion. THRUST BEARING A babbitt or ball bearing used to restrict axial movements. TIME CARD Cards on which the hours worked by employees are recorded. TITRATION An analytical method for determining the strength of a solution, or the concentration of a substance in a solution in terms of the smallest amount of reagent of known concentrations required reacting or neutralizing the test solution. Acids are used to titrate caustic or basic materials to a pH of 7, which is neither acid nor basic. TON OF REFRIGERATION Amount of heat required to melt one ton of ice in twenty four hours, equivalent to 12,000 Btu/hr. TOP LAYER The liquid withdrawn from the top of a vessel or decanter after the heavier portion of the liquid has been allowed to settle to the bottom.
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TOTAL HEAD The difference between the suction head and the discharge head. TOTAL REFLUX When all overhead vapors are condensed and returned to the column as reflux so that no distillate product of make is withdrawn, the column is said to be operating under total reflux. Under total reflux, no feed is introduced to the column nor bottoms withdrawn. Thus, the capacity of the column becomes zero, although a definite separation is taking place. TOXIC GAS A gas that has poisonous or injuries effect on the human body by physical contact, ingestion or inhalation. TOXIC GAS ALARM Is when a dangerous quantity of toxic (harmful) gas is released or releasing to the atmosphere. The gases can be harmful to your health as well as being a potential fire hazard. TOXICIITY The ability of a substance to cause injury to living tissue once it reaches a susceptible site in or on the body. TRAIN Components of a system. A series of related equipment components, all in an orderly procession or in a line, necessary to accomplish a specific task, i.e., distillation or compressor train. TRANSDUCER A device to change one form of energy to another, as electric to pneumatic, electric to mechanical, etc. Used primarily in instrumentation. TRANSFER To move material from one place to another, usually done with a pump. TRANSFER LINE A term used to describe a pipeline used to move (or transfer) process material from one point to another. TRANSFORMER There are two common types of transformers, one changes the current potential (voltage) up or down; the other changes the type of current as from alternating current to direct current. TRANSMITTER A device that issues an intelligible, usually modulated, signal. Its source of power can be either pneumatic or electronic. Its input signal, which modulates or controls its output is usually a physical force, i.e., pressure, differential pressure, electrical power. TRAP (Steam, H2O) A device for removing liquid from a vapor or gas line.
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TRAY (Column) A distillation column has many stages of separation within it. Each stage consists of a metal tray or shelf with a level of boiling liquid on it. Trays have vents in them for vapors from below to pass upward through them while the heavier liquid on this tray spills over to the tray below. TRIP Term used when a piece of electric or mechanical gear is opened either manually or automatically. TRIP-THROTTLE VALVE An inlet valve on a piece of equipment. The valve can be slowly opened or closed (this is the throttling section), or it can be closed quickly (this is the trip section). TUBE BUNDLE (Heat Exchanger) Small pipes spaced close together in a bundle and encased. The tubes can then be used to heat or cool by running one fluid outside of the tubes at a temperature different than the fluid temperature inside of the tubes. TUBE SHEET A metal plate usually circular in shape with holes drilled through it into which the ends of the heat exchanger tubes are mechanically expanded to form leak tight seals between the tube side and the shell side. The section in a heat exchanger, which separates the liquid flowing through the tubes from the liquid in the shell and holds the tubes in place. TUBE SIDE A term used to describe the internal portion of the tubes in a heat exchanger. TUBING Small copper or stainless steel pipe used extensively in instrument work. Plastic tubing is also used. A seamless type of steel pipe is referred to as tubing. TURBIDITY A work describing the slight cloudiness of a solution caused by fine suspended particles. TURBIINE A rotary engine actuated by the reaction or impulse or both of a current of fluid (as H2O or steam) subject to pressure and usually made with a series vanes on a central rotating spindle. TURBULENT FLOW A fluid flow in which the velocity at given point varies erratically in magnitude and direction. TURNAROUND The shutdown period for an operations unit, usually for
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mechanical reconditioning. The period from the end of one run to the beginning of the next, i.e., off-stream to on-stream period. TWO BELL ALARM The 2-bell alarm is to notify the area of an emergency and to report to the nearest receiving station. One of the most frequent uses is when there is an energy cutback or unit emergency, which affects other units in the facilities.
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UNCONTROLLED REACTION A reaction which takes place at a rate such that heat evolution and/or pressure build-up cannot be controlled without emergency measures. UNDERCURRENT RELAY A protective relay, which senses a low current flow and, in turn, operates the proper electric equipment. UNREACTED Describes the action of a component of a reaction, which passes through the reaction unchanged. UNSATURATED COMPOUND An organic compound in which carbon atoms are joined by double or triple valence bonds. UNSATURATED SOLUTION A solution, which can still dissolve more solute at the given temperature. UNSTABLE COMPOUND One that is, easily decomposed by heating. UTILITY One of the non-process (support) facilities for a manufacturing facilities; usually considered as facilities for steam, cooling water, deionized water, electric power, refrigeration, compressed and instrument air, and effluent treatment. UTILITY DROP Central locations or stations throughout a unit where facilities utilities are readily accessible to Operators and Maintenance personnel. For example: river H2O, nitrogen, air, and 70# steam. UTILITY HOSE A hose used for air, nitrogen, or water service, with special fittings (See Crows Foot)
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VACUUM Any space from which air or fluid or gases have been completely or partially removed. Its presence is measured in relation to air pressure (760 millimeters) as expressed in millimeters of mercury. VACUUM BREAKER Any device used to prevent a vacuum from being pulled on a piece of equipment. There are many varying designs including a thin metal plate that is designed to break at a predetermined pressure, a liquid seal that will be broken by a vacuum, a mechanical spring-operated device, etc. VACUUM BREAKING VALVE A valve, which acts inversely to a pressure relief valve. If the exterior pressure is higher than the pressure within a vessel, the valve will open to equalize the pressures. VACUUM DISTILLATION A term referred to when a distillation is conducted at reduced pressure or pressure less than atmospheric (See Vacuum). VACUUM GAUGE A gauge indicating the degree of negative pressure (normally calibrated in inches of mercury). VACUUM JET Also called a steam jet ejector. High-pressure steam is admitted to a nozzle that sends a jet of very high velocity into the throat of a venturi tube. By properly proportioning the throat of this tube and the volume and velocity of the steam used, the steam can be made to entrain the gases and produce any degree of vacuum desired. VALENCE The number of hydrogen atoms with which an atom will combine or replace; i.e., as carbon atom combines with four hydrogen atoms. Therefore, carbon is said to have a valence of four. VALVE Any of numerous mechanical devices by which the flow of liquid, gas (as air), or loose material in bulk may be started, stopped, or regulated by a moveable part that opens, shuts, or partially obstructs one or more ports or passageways. VALVE (3-WAY) A valve (usually plug type) having three ports usually flowing into bottom and out either of the other two, depending on handle setting. VALVE, ANGLE A type of valve, which effectively utilizes globe valve seating principle which providing for 90-degree turn in piping. It is less resisting to
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flow than the globe valve it displaces. Requires fewer joints; saves make-up time and money. VALVE BALL - Unique in design, this valve controls the flow of a wide variety of fluids. It can be opened or closed in a quarter-turn of the operating handle. The name ball is derived from the ball-shaped disc located within the body. A hole through the center of this disc provides the straight-through flow, which is characteristic of ball valves. VALVE, BUTTERFLY A valve that is extremely durable, efficient and reliable. The butterfly valve derives its name from the wing-like action of the disc, which operates at right angles to the flow. Its chief advantage is a seating surface, which is not critical. The reason for this being the disc impinges against a resilient liner to provide bubble tightness with low operating torque. VALVE, CHECK Sometimes referred to as the non-return valve, the check valve stops backflow in the piping. Unlike the gate and globe valves, this simplest of types operates automatically. Types: Lift Check - Like the globe valve with its indirect line of flow, the lift check is restricting to flow. For this reason, it is generally used as a companion to globe valves. NOTE: Will operate in horizontal lines only. Line pressure lifts a disc, and path of flow is in a changing course as through a globe valve. When flow reverses, the disc falls to its seat and cuts off backflow. Swing Check Moving through the line, pressure automatically swings the disc open to full flow as in a gate valve. Should flow reverse, the reversed pressure and the discs weight close the disc against the seat, and backflow is stopped. Y-pattern swing check should be installed with direction of flow as indicated by the arrow on the valve body. Flow through swing check is in a straight line and without restriction at the seat, similar to a gate valve. This similarity in effect on flow is the reason for generally using swing checks in lines in combination with gate valves. VALVE, DELUGE A control valve holding back water spray systems, which can be actuated manually or by a heat responsive system. VALVE, GATE Commonly used in industrial piping, this type of valve, as a rule,
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should be used as a stop valveto turn on and shut off the flow, as opposed to regulating flow. It gets its name from the gate-like disc, which operates, at a right angle to the path of flow. VALVE, GLOBE The flow through globe valves follows a changing course, thereby causing increased resistance to flow and considerable pressure drop. Because of the seating arrangements, globe valves are the most suitable for throttling flow. The valve is named after its globular body. VALVE, NEEDLE Are designed to give fine control of flow in small-diameter piping. Their name is derived from their short-pointed conical disc and matching seat. They come in globe and angle patterns, in bronze and steel, and find usage on steam, water, gas, light liquid and similar services. VALUE. PLUG A valve fitted with a plug that has a hole through which fluid flows and that is rotatable through 90 for operation in the open or closed position. Also known as plug cock. VALVE ARRESTER A type of lightning arrester which consists of a single gap or multiple gaps in series with current-limiting elements; gaps between spaced electrodes prevent flow current through the arrester except when the voltage across them exceeds the critical gap flashover. VALVE BODY The base housing or main part of a valve to which the piping is connected. VALVE FOLLOWER Linkage between the cam and push rod of a valve train. VALVE GUIDE A channel, which supports the stem of a poppet valve for maintenance of alignment. VALVE HEAD The disk part of a poppet valve that gives a tight closure on the valve seat. VALVE POSITIONER A device that modulates an air supply to the actuator of a valve. Its input signal, which controls the amount of modulation, is usually the output signal from a pneumatic or an electronic controller. VALVE SEATS Internal parts or part of a valve against which the plug affects a seal. Usually integral with the body.
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VALVE STEM The rod by means of which the disk (gate) or plug is moved to open and close a valve. VALVE STROKE OR LIFT The actual travel of a valve from a closed position to a fully operated position; or vice-versa. VALVE TRAYS A valve tray is one of several tray designs used in distillation columns. The tray deck has holes, approximately 1-1/2 in diameter, uniformly spaced throughout the deck. Liftable caps, about 2 in diameter, cover each hole and are retained on the tray by spiders or clips. As the vapor velocity or boil-up increases, the cap rises, opening a greater area for vapor flow. The spider limits the height that the cap can travel. The vapor velocity between the hole and the cap prevents the liquid from draining back through the hole. VALVE TRIM Accessory parts of a valve such as stem, seats, gate, and/or plug. Different metals are sometimes used for the trim parts. VALVE WRENCH Hand tool to increase leverage to aid in turning hand wheel on a valve. VANES In a centrifugal pump, projections from the casing. They direct the flow of fluid from the rotating impeller to the discharge from the casing minimizing turbulence. VAPOR A substance in the gaseous state, which can be condensed by cooling or compression. VAPOR BOUND An interruption of liquid flow as a result of vapor being formed in a liquid line; also called vapor lock. VAPOR DENSITY The ratio of the weight of a certain volume of gas to that of an equal volume of hydrogen at the same conditions. VAPOR LINE The pipe through which the vapors of a material/product are led from the column to the condenser. VAPOR PHASE Any product in the gaseous state. VAPOR PRESSURE The pressure exerted by a vapor, which is in a state of equilibrium with a solid, liquid, or solution at a specified temperature (usually expressed in millimeters of mercury).
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VAPOR CLOUD (Release) Normally, the term refers to a large cloud of gas, which is or may be toxic or highly flammable. VAPORIZATION The conversion of a chemical substance from a liquid or solid state to a gaseous or vapor state by the application of heat, by reducing pressure, or by a combination of these processes. Also known as volatilization. VAPORIZER A process vessel in which a liquid is heated until it vaporizes; heat can be indirect (steam or heat transfer fluid) or direct (hot gases or submerged combustion). VAPOR RATE In distillation, the upward flow rate of vapor through a distillation column. VARIABLE A quantity of other condition which is subject to change; this may be measured or regulated. VARIABLE FLOW Fluid flow in which the velocity changes both with time and from point to point. VARIABLE-SPEED DRIVE A mechanism transmitting motion from one shaft to another that allows the velocity ratio of the shafts to be varied continuously. VARIANCE Difference between actual costs incurred and standard costs. VELOCITY Rate of linear motion in a given direction. VENT To release or depressurize into the atmosphere. To equalize the interior of a vessel with the outside atmosphere. To remove the non-condensable material from the tank or vessel to the atmosphere or to a vent system. VENT CONDENSER A heat exchanger tied into the venting system of a piece of equipment that condenses the light material that did not condense in the normal condenser of a system. VENT HEADER A line used to carry vent gases from several pieces of equipment. VENT TANK A small tank that captures the liquid out of a vent before passing the vent gas to the atmosphere. 110
VENT VALVE A valve provided for the discharge of pressure from tanks, vessels, reactors, processing equipment, and so on. VENTILATE Use an air mover to force air into a vessel that is already open to the air and ventilate until only fresh air is in the equipment. VENTURI TUBE A constriction that is placed in a pipe and causes a drop in pressure as fluid flows through it, consisting essentially of a short straight pipe section or throat between two tapered sections; it can be used to measure fluid flow rate (a venturi meter), or to draw fuel into the main flow stream, as in a carburetor. VESSEL BLANKETING See Blanketing. VESSEL ENTRY See Entry. VESSEL A container or structural envelope in which materials are processed, treated, or stored. For example: pressure vessels, reactor vessels, agitator vessels, and storage vessels. VFA (Vapor Fraction Analyzer) (Chromatograph) A device, which separates some or all of the component chemical elements or compounds of a sample and issues an intelligent signal, which is indicative of the quantity of these constituent components. VIBRATION A continuing periodic change in a displacement with respect to a fixed reference. VINYL ACETATE (CH3 COOCH: CH2 A colorless, water-insoluble, flammable liquid that boils at 73C, used as a chemical intermediate and in the production of polymers and copolymers. For example: the polyvinyl resins. VINYL CHLORIDE A flammable, explosive gas with an ethereal aroma; an important monomer for polyvinyl chloride and its copolymers; used in organic synthesis and in adhesives. VINYL CHLORIDE RESIN (CH2 CHCL) A white-power-polymer made by the polymerization of vinyl chloride; used to make chemical-resistant pipe (when unplasticized) or bottle and parts (when plasticized). VINYLITE Trade name for a resin made from high-molecular-weight vinyl chloride.
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VINYL POLYMERIZATION Addition polymerization where the unsaturated monomer contains a CH2 = C group. VISCOSITY Energy dissipation and generation of stresses in a fluid by the distortion of fluid elements; quantitatively, when otherwise qualified, the absolute viscosity. Also known as flow resistance; internal friction. @. The resistance to flow displayed by a fluid (liquid or gas). VOLATILE Readily passing off by evaporation; term used to describe a substance, which can easily be vaporized. VOLATILE COMPONENT A component of magma whose vapor pressures are high enough to allow them to be concentrated in any gaseous phase. VOLATILE FLUID A liquid with the tendency to become vapor at specified conditions of temperature and pressure. VOLT One volt shall be taken as that electro motive force which will establish a current of one amp through a resistance of one ohm. VOLTAGE DIP A momentary or prolonged drop in voltage. VOLTAGE FLOW RATE The volume of the fluid that passes through a given surface in a unit time. VOLUTE A spiral casing for a centrifugal pump, designed so that speed will be converted to pressure without shock. VORTEX The cone formed by a swirling liquid or gas. VPC (Vapor Phase Chromatograph) A method of separating and analyzing mixtures of chemical substances of chromatographic absorption.
W
WARNING TAG A yellow tag used in critical places usually with written instructions on it to follow before operating the tagged equipment. WATER HAMMER Hydraulic action associated with a non-compressible fluid in a pipe. Sounds like some one hit a pipe with a hammer. The energy developed by the sudden stoppage of fluid in motion.
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WATERSIDE Refers to the side of the heat exchanger tube that water (most often cooling water) flows on. WATT Work is being done at the rate of 1 watt when a constant curr4ent of 1 amp is maintained through a resistance by an EMF or 1 volt. WEAK ACID Sulfuric acid or low concentration recovered by hydrolyzing acid sludge. WEAR RING We use wear rings to allow the impeller and casing suction head to seal tightly together without wearing each other out. WEATHERING The deterioration caused by exposure to natures elements. WEEPHOLE Drilled hole used to allow leaking fluids to escape to the atmosphere so that they can be detected and/or wont be trapped and pressurize a joint where pressure is not desired. WEEPING (Column) When the vapor velocity of boil up in a distillation is too low, liquid is allowed to drain back through the perforations (see Sieve Tray). This is called weeping. During normal operation, the vapor velocity is high enough to prevent this occurrence. WEIGHT A measure of the force of attraction between the earth and an object. WEIR A weir is a flat or notched dam or barrier to liquid flow and is normally used for either the measurement of fluid flows or to maintain a given depth of fluid as on a tray of a distillation column. WET GAS Wet gas is a gas containing important amounts of heavier hydrocarbons. WET SYSTEM Normally referring to a sprinkler system charged with water. A dry system would be a spray system with air as the primary charge. WHB (Waste Heat Boiler) A heat exchanger (HX) utilized to conserve heat from combustion gases or process stream. Normally, condensate on the shell side and producing steam at various pressure levels. WIND BOX The section of a boiler surrounding the burners that distributes the combustion air evenly to each boiler.
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WIND-UP To finish or complete. WORD, COMPUTER A sequence of bits of characters treated as a unit and capable of being stored in one computer location. Some common word lengths are 8 bit, 16 bits, and 32 bits.
X, Y, Z
X-AMOUNT X denotes an unknown quantity. Example: X gallons, X lbs. YELLOW TAG A tag placed on something that is to be out of service indefinitely. Also used for information purposes. ZERO The lower end of the measuring instrument scale.
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BAYPORT TRAINING & TECHNICAL CENTER Glossary of Processing Terms Edited by Timothy A.

Brown Rev: 1 January 2004

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