In an increasingly digitalised industry, Automated Measuring Systems (AMS) have become key elements in the control and monitoring of industrial processes.
These automatic control tools are essential to ensure the efficiency, accuracy and safety of the various processes, but what exactly is a Automated Measuring System and how do you choose the most suitable one?
What are Automated Measuring Systems (AMS)?
The term “Automated Measuring System (AMS)” refers to a set of devices designed to collect, process and record data of various physical or chemical variables in a continuous and autonomous manner.
These systems allow accurate measurements to be made without direct human intervention, reducing the margin of error and improving operational efficiency.
AMS can monitor a wide range of parameters including temperature, pressure, humidity, gas concentration, air quality, liquid level, flow rate and many more.
Because of their versatility, these systems are used in any industrial environment that requires a high degree of control and precision in its processes, such as the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage or energy industries.
What does an AMS consist of?
These systems are generally based on several key components, such as:
- Sensors: devices that detect and measure specific variables.
- Data acquisition units: devices that collect and digitise the information obtained by the sensors.
- Processing software: programs that analyse and process the data to generate reports and alerts.
- Communication systems: infrastructure that transmits data to control centres or cloud storage.
When choosing the most appropriate system, it is essential to clearly define the variables to be monitored and the environment in which the system will be installed, taking into account the need to integrate with other existing control systems.
Types of Automated Measuring Systems
The ability to provide accurate data makes these systems have multiple industrial applications, being able to find different types such as:
Industrial process monitoring and control systems.
Used in industrial environments, they control certain critical variables of manufacturing processes to ensure the quality and efficiency of production, such as: temperature, pressure, flow, liquid levels….
To this end, process instrumentation is used to collect data in real time and transmit it to the appropriate control centre, providing immediate warning of any abnormal behaviour.
Automatic water measuring system
Designed for the continuous monitoring of physico-chemical parameters affecting water quality (pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates and phosphates, turbidity, temperature…), they are particularly useful in waste water treatment plants, drinking water distribution systems or process water control.
The importance of AMS for emission and pollution control
As global environmental regulations become increasingly stringent, it is necessary to have automatic measurement systems to control and report industrial emissions to the appropriate authorities.
In this context, the term CEMS (Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems) appears, which is nothing more than a specialised sub-category of AMS, specifically designed to continuously measure and record gas and particulate emissions from industrial sources such as stacks or boilers.
The importance of these systems lies in their ability to provide real-time data that allows a rapid response to any deviation from normal levels of pollutants, helping to prevent environmental emergencies and financial penalties for companies.
What is the difference between an AMS and a CEMS?
The arbitrary use of the terms AMS and CEMS in the industrial environment can lead to confusion.
The main difference between the two terms is that AMS encompass all the tools and technologies designed to automatically measure and record physical and chemical variables in various industrial environments and processes, whereas CEMS are exclusively designed for continuous emission monitoring.
In other words, a CEMS is an AMS designed to measure emissions, but not all AMS need to be CEMS.
In addition, AMS use a wide variety of sensors and devices to measure the industrial process parameters that need to be controlled, such as thermocouples, hygrometers, ultrasonic level meters, electromagnetic flow meters and other instrumentation.
CEMS, on the other hand, include specific instrumentation such as gas analysers, sample conditioning systems and controllers, and communication systems for transmitting data to the relevant emission authorities.
Automated Measuring Systems and compliance with EN-14181 standards
Automated Measuring Systems implemented in facilities with polluting potential and intended for continuous emissions monitoring (CEMS) must be accurate, reliable and comply with current regulations.
The European standard UNE-EN 14.181 is responsible for describing the quality assurance procedures necessary to ensure that a AMS is capable of complying with the uncertainty requirements and the measured values established in the regulations.
In addition, it specifies the procedures for the establishment of Quality Assurance Levels (QAL) for systems installed in industrial plants by specifying:
- The evaluation of the suitability of the AMS (QAL1) and its measurement procedure.
- The QAL2 procedure for calibrating the AMS after installation and determining the variability of the measured values so as to demonstrate the suitability of the AMS for its application.
- The QAL3 procedure to maintain and demonstrate the required quality of the measurement results during normal operation of a AMS, verifying that the zero and range characteristics are consistent with those determined during QAL1.
Calibration and maintenance to ensure AMS reliability
As the AMS may drift or become less accurate during routine operation, it is imperative that preventive maintenance and calibration procedures are carried out to ensure that the zero and span repeatability requirements of EN 14.181 and its Quality Assurance Levels are met.
Preventive maintenance of AMS Automated Measuring Systems includes regular inspection of the system and its components for signs of wear or damage, e.g. cleaning of sensors and other components to prevent accumulation of dirt affecting measurements, checking of electrical and mechanical connections and replacement of worn or defective components.
Calibration, which can be carried out either on-site or in an accredited laboratory, uses reference gases and approved methods to adjust the AMS readings, with all values and procedures duly recorded and documented.
At Envira, we have a dedicated technical team and an accredited calibration laboratory, which enables us to provide consultancy and diagnostic services on the state of compliance with current emission and air quality regulations.
