Process Systems and Time!

Time Constant and Process Systems!
Depending upon the kind of devices you use in your instrumentation system and process, there will always be a time constant. It is the time delay that is incurred by the system, because of the kind of components you use in the system. If the components are such that they are slow to sense the changes that happens, it is important for you to understand that, and must relate your expectations to such time constant.

Take for example, in heat transfer by radiation. The amount of heat absorbed by a substance by radiation is directly related to its emissivity, kind of material, temperature difference of heat transfer surfaces, mass of the material absorbing heat.etc. Reaching a temperature change therefore takes some time and the time constant is somewhat fixed, given the factors involved. Be aware of this, and you will always know, what kind of expectations to have for a particular set up in a given process. When you put therefore a material to heat up in a particular oven, you must know what to expect as the time length to heat it to a certain temperature. Establish the time constant of the oven, given a material mass and you will always be able to predict your process productivity.
Written by: Sanoy Suerte, RME /MBM; Http://www.linkedin.com/in/sannysuerte