PDVSA

ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL

VOLUME 9I
ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA N

TITLE

PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

K301

DEC.99

REVISION GENERAL

Y.K.

A.A.

J.E.R.

AUG.94

FOR APPROVAL

L.T.

E.J.

A.N.

APPD.

APPD.

REV.

DATE

APPD.BY Alexis Arvalo

E PDVSA, 1983

DESCRIPTION
DATE

PAG. REV.

DEC.99 APPD.BY Jess E. Rojas

DATE

DEC.99

ESPECIALISTAS

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

Page
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Indice
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 CODES, STANDARDS AND PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 SELECTION AND SPECIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Principles of Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Units of Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selection of Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Design Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Gauges Connected to Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Transmitters and Transducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Gauges Pneumatic Receiver Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Controllers/Recorders Field Mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Controllers/Recorders Panel Mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 MODIFICATIONS, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS (EXCEPTIONS) OF

API 551 SECTION 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5

2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5

Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Gauges and Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure Transmitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5
5
6
6
6

6 PDVSA SPECIFICATION FORMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7 QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

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SCOPE
This section covers PDVSA requirements for the design, specification, installation
and commissioning of pressure instrumentation. Guidelines of specification
K300 shall also be applicable.
API551 sections 4 and 6 have been accepted by PDVSA as its own standard for
pressure device installation, with the amendments indicated in this document.
The requirements of this specification are modifications, additions and/or
deletions (exceptions) to API 551 Process Measurement Instrumentation
sections 4 and 6. The section, paragraph, item, table and figure numbers and the
associated headings used in this specification correspond to the ones used in API
551, First edition, May. 1993. Since this specification does not take exception to
all the requirements in API 551 SECTIONS 4 AND 6, the
section/paragraph/item/table/figure numbers in this specification may not be
sequential. Its clearly understood that section, paragraph, items, tables or figures
of API 551 sections 4 and 6 not mentioned in this specification have been adopted
without changes.

CODES, STANDARDS AND PRACTICES

PDVSA K300
PDVSA K369
ISA S20

ASME B1.20.1
ASME B40.1

Introduction to PDVSA Instrumentation

Instrumentation QA/QC
Specifications Forms for Process Measurement and
Control Instruments, Primary Elements and Control
Valves.
Pipe Threads, General Purpose (inch)
Gauge Pressure Indicating Dial Type Elastic
Element

ANSI

DEFINITIONS
All definitions are listed in the appendix of PDVSA standard K300.

SELECTION AND SPECIFICATION

4.1

General
The selection and specification of all instruments for process applications, utilities,
etc. shall be done in accordance with the following procedure.
1.

Define measurement options and decide upon the optimum for the
application.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

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PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

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2.

Select the manufacturers and types of instruments from the List of Selected
Instrument Vendors as prepared by PDVSA representative.

3.

Select the accuracy and range of the instrument to suit the process
requirements.

Principles of Selection
The following items shall be defined for instrument selection:

4.3

1.

Instrument purpose (Indication, control, transmitter, etc.).

2.

Process conditions, such as fluid phase, viscosity, corrosiveness,

erosiveness, toxicity, temperature, pressure, etc., under normal and
abnormal conditions.

3.

Environmental conditions, electrical area classification and mechanical

integrity (piping class, vibration, etc.).

4.

Ranges and accuracy classes shall be selected according to the process

data sheets.

5.

Calibration facilities, possible cross contamination of process fluids and the

need to wash before removal (purge, flush and disposal) shall be identified
as these will influence the instrument selection for the process condition
(normal, abnormal, startup and shutdown).

6.

Maintenance aspects such as access, ease of installation, calibration and

removal and remote of selfdiagnostic features shall be considered.

Units of Measurement
The instrument ranges and scales shall be according to plant criteria unless
otherwise specified in the project specification.

4.4

4.5

Selection of Ranges
a.

The selected range shall be such that the normal operating condition is
approximately at mid scale and that the maximum process operating
pressure does not exceed 80% of the range of the indicating instrument or
blind self acting regulator.

b.

Instruments shall have overrange protection of 1.2 times the maximum

pressure to which they may be exposed.

c.

Instruments exposed to vacuum shall have underrange protection to full

vacuum.

General Design Requirements

a.

Instruments measuring absolute pressure shall be compensated for

barometric pressure changes.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

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PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

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b.

Instrument air supply and transmission connections shall be 1/4 N.P.T. The
electrical connection shall be 1/2 N.P.T.F.

c.

Pressure indicating pointers shall be adjustable with a micrometer type

screw.

d.

Panel mounted pressure gauges, indicating or recording instrument and

controller shall be flush or wall mounted.

e.

Blind pressure controllers shall not be used.

f.

Pressure gauges connected to process shall have a blow out disc in the
back.

Pressure Gauges Connected to Process

4.6.1

Pressure gauges shall conform to ASME/ANSI B 401.

4.6.2

The pressure gauge measuring element shall be bourdon, bellows or diaphragm

type depending upon the application and measuring range.

4.6.3

The element on furnace draft measurement service shall be slack diaphragm

type.1.

4.6.4

Pressure gauges shall not have suppressed ranges.

4.7

Pressure Transmitters and Transducers

4.7.1

They shall be solid state with analog or digital transmission. Pneumatic 315
P.S.I.G. output types shall be used where necessary and subject to PDVSA
approval.

4.7.2

Suppressed and/or elevated zero ranges shall be used to enhance process

measurement accuracy, readability and performance. All such ranges shall be
agreed with PDVSA.

4.8

Pressure Gauges Pneumatic Receiver Type

4.8.1

Pressure gauges shall conform to ASME/ANSI B 401.

4.8.2

The pressure gauge measuring element shall be bourdon.

4.8.3

The case and pressure element for gauges located inside airconditioned control
rooms shall be manufacturers standard.

4.8.4

On items such as positioners, electropneumatic transducers, air filter regulator

sets, the dial size shall be 1 1/2 inches minimum.

4.9
4.9.1

Pressure Controllers/Recorders Field Mounted

The elements shall be bourdon, spiral, helix, bellows or diaphragm type
depending upon the service and process pressure range to be measured.

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PDVSA

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

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Pressure Controllers/Recorders Panel Mounted

4.10.1

These may be mounted on local panels or inside the control room. Refer to API
551 section 4, item 4.2.2 Application Practice.

4.10.2

Same as 4.9.

4.11

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Pressure Switches

4.11.1

The pressure elements shall be bourdon, bellows or diaphragm type depending

upon the pressure range to be measured and the required switch differential.

4.11.2

The switches shall be micro type rated for 1 amp at 24 volts D.C. All other ratings
shall be subject to PDVSA approval.

4.11.3

The switch differential (fixed or adjustable) shall comply with all necessary
process operating conditions.

4.11.4

The switches shall be double pole double throw (D.P.D.T.) type with three wires
connected to three terminals in order to select either a normally open (N.0.) or
normally closed (N.C.) action.

4.11.5

The maximum number of independent switches actuated by one pressure

element shall be two. Exceptions shall be approved by PDVSA.

MODIFICATIONS,
ADDITIONS
AND
(EXCEPTIONS) OF API 551 SECTION 4
5.1

DELETIONS

Scope
Modify

5.1.1

5.2

This section covers practices for the installation of instruments and devices
commonly used to indicate, record and control pressure and differential pressure
normally encountered in petroleum and petrochemical processes. Any deviation
to this standard requires PDVSA approval. The instruments covered are pressure
gauges and switches, pressure transmitters and locally mounted controllers and
recorders.

General
Numeral 4.2.4: Local Indication
Delete: locally mounted pressure controls in the first paragraph.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

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Numeral 4.2.5: Vibration

Add the following statement: Adequate support shall be provided for all devices
sharing a common process connection.
Numeral 4.2.8: Piping
Add the following statement to 4.2.8.1: Size and Design.
PDVSA requires, as a minimum, the use of 316 SS tubing for process
connections. Exceptions shall be approved by PDVSA.
Add the following statement to 4.2.8.2: Cleaning.
Pressure connections must include rodding facilities as required.
Numeral 4.2.10: Element and Socket (wetted) Materials
Add the following statement to 4.2.10: Element and Socket (wetted) Materials.
All wetted and pressure containing parts shall meet the piping class material
requirements.

5.3

Pressure Gauges and Switches

Numeral 4.3.3: Safety Devices
Replace: Gauges are available with safety glass or plastic windows as an
additional safeguard with Gauge windows shall be doublestrength
shatterresistant safety glass in highpressure service.
Numeral 4.3.5: Case Material and Size
Replace: Plastic case with phenol case.
Addition: The case shall be weatherproof, resistant to any specified corrosive
environment (marine, H2S, HF, HCL, etc.).

5.4

Pressure Transmitters
Numeral 4.4.2: Installation Considerations
Replace: item c with Placement of taps on the bottom of the line is not permitted.

5.5

Section 6
Numeral 6.1: Scope
Addition: Any technique selected for protecting instruments from adverse
process and ambient environments shall be agreed with PDVSA.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

PRESSURE INSTRUMENTATION

PDVSA K301
REVISION

DATE

DEC.99

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PDVSA SPECIFICATION FORMS

Refer to ISA S 20.
20.1b
20.40a
20.40b
20.41a
20.41b
20.42a
20.42b
20.51

Receiver Instruments
Pressure Instruments
Pressure Instruments
Pressure Gages
Pressure Gages
Pressure Switches
Pressure Switches
Pressure Control Valves Pilots and Regulators

QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

Refer to PDVSA Specification K369.

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