UFC 3 -430-11
14 February 2001
CHAPTER 4
PANEL INSTRUMENTS
4-1
GENERAL. This section covers instruments usually located on panels. Non-
panel instruments, such as control valves, are covered in Chapter 5.
4-1.1
Types of Control Panels. Boiler plant panels include panels for boiler
control, combustion safeguards, and the control of special equipment s uch as
electrostatic precipitators.
4-1.2
Panel Location. Panels may be located either in a control room or locally.
Both types of panels are covered in this section and are discussed below.
4-1.2.1 Control Room Panels. The control room is the prefe rred location for panels.
Locate as much of the plant instrumentation in the control room as practical. The
central location of panels will simplify both operation and maintenance. The control
room is also usually cleaner, has better temperature and hum idity control, and has less
vibration than other plant locations. These conditions necessitate less stringent
instrument enclosure requirements and the instruments will last longer.
4-1.2.2 Local Panels. Local panels are located in the vicinity of the equipment that
they control. This can be either indoors or outdoors. The atmosphere can vary from
clean to dusty or corrosive. Local panels should be minimized since more time and
effort is required to access and monitor a large number of local panels than a centrally
located one.
Restrict local panels to instrumentation that does not require continuous
attention and is used extensively for start-up and shutdown of the local equipment.
Locate the panel as close to the equipment as practical. Do not locate local panels in
front of any access panels or inspection plates where an operator may interfere with
boiler inspections or where an explosion may injure an operator.
Provide a panel designed for the environment. Furnish the panel with a rain
hood for outdoor locations. Avoid local wall mounted panels which are mounted flush
with the wall. These panels may allow wall condensate to enter. The panel should be a
self-supporting box type if it is not mounted integrally with the local equipment.
4-1.3
Layout. Good panel layout requires experienced personnel in panel design
and user drawing review. The layout depends on the type of instrumentation to be
placed on the panel and how it will be operated. For best results both the user and the
designer should agree on instrumentation arrangement on the various panels prior to
start of panel fabrication. Once the panel is in fabrication changes are expensive and
should be kept to a minimum.
Provide a minimum of 10 percent spare panel space for the fut ure expansion
of control room panels. Provide 1.52 to 1.83 meters (5 to 6 feet) access clearance
4-1
Previous Page
