Rod Isolation Check
Rod Isolation Check
B3 Systems' patented rod isolation check (RIC) actually measured the electrical resistance between the sensor's rod and the process wall. The RIC is a quality assurance (QA) check that the dust response signal is good. When too much contamination or build-up occurs, between the sensor's rod and the process wall, the dust signal will by-pass the sensor's electronics and go directly to the process wall.
Signal Quality
The dust signal can be affected by by build-up or contamimnation between the sensor rod and the process wall. This contamination can be dust, condensation or both. If the build-up is allowed to continue, at some point the resistance betwwen the rod and the wall will be equal to or less that the sensing electronics. The lower resistance can result in some or all of the dust signal to by-pass the sensor's monitoring electronics, resulting in a false indication of the actual dust signals.
Reduced Maintenance
The RIC functions can virtually eliminate unnecessaary maintenance inspections of the sensor for build-up or contamination. Because our RIC method is an actual measurement of the rod's isolation, it can tell you when it needs to be cleaned. By monitoring the RIC results over time, this function fits well in a predictive or proactive maintenance system.
EPA MACT Guidance
Although the RIC is not a requirement under the current EPA BLD Guidance, it is still an important function when it comes to implementing your MACT reporting. The RIC, along with the electronic drift check (zero/span/linearity) functions, allows failities the quickest and easiest way to "initiate corrective action", even at 2 am. Both of these functions provide an overall picture of the sensor's condition. The EDC functions verifies the condition of the signal processing electronics. The RIC verifies the overall quality of the dust signal coming into the electronics. Together they are are the most advanced QA checks available.
