Beamex MC6 calibrators with Emerson’s AMS Device Manager make calibrations seamless

NECI finds Emerson’s AMS Device Manager Calibration Assistant SNAP-ON combined with the Beamex MC6 calibrator and communicator an ideal calibration system for several reasons:

- Easy to use and train less experienced technicians
- Doubles the amount of work they can complete in a day with the utmost accuracy
- Ability to execute a wide variety of calibrations with agility using one device
- Reduces the amount of equipment required to maintain and carry in the field
- Saves time of manually populating or adjusting vital data

More recently at a combined cycle plant, NECI was called upon to perform calibrations for around 20 instruments. The technicians at the plant lacked confidence in their measurements after noticing the DCS was scaling. Antonio found the instruments had previously been calibrated using standards that were not accurate enough for the process. Every instrument he found was between 1 to 6% out of tolerance. After bringing them back into an acceptable tolerance using the MC6, the scaling issues in the DCS have been resolved and do not have to be checked as often. Antonio said, “I’ve heard people say that Beamex is too expensive, but if you use low-quality equipment, your results are the same—low quality. After seven years of using Beamex, I can’t even imagine how I would perform calibrations without Beamex.”

As a long-time Beamex customer, NECI has used Beamex MC5 calibrators integrated with Emerson's AMS Device Manager via the Calibration Assistant SNAP-ON application to perform and document their work for many years. Today, they benefit from the advanced functionality of the latest Beamex MC6 calibrator. Additionally, they can take advantage of the new communication option between AMS and the MC6, which Emerson and Beamex recently released. In the future, NECI may opt to take advantage of the higher-level features of Beamex CMX calibration management software.

NECI explored the new options and calibration tools that are currently available. They noticed many improvements from the MC5 to the MC6. It is more ergonomic, easier to hold, the internal battery and connection ports have been improved, and the HART communicator is robust. Accessories, such as hose kits and communication cables, are standardized and less cumbersome to use. They also noted the MC6 has the capability to store a large number of tags which work effectively for loading multiple routes.

“We found that when using the Beamex MC6 with AMS, we are able to perform double the amount of calibrations in the same amount of time,” Bryan continues. “For example, in situations where we performed 12-13 instruments a day, we can now complete 24-30. It doubles productivity while increasing accuracy of the documentation.”

In addition to efficiency, NECI needs the ability perform a wide variety of calibrations, many with high accuracy requirements and that were complex, such as multivariable instruments. The advanced accuracy and all-in-one capability of the MC6 allows them to perform static pressure tests with the high-pressure module and differential pressure on low pressures with the built in internal modules. “Other equipment would require multiple external pressure modules for us to manage. The MC6 does not, which MC6 allows us to carry less in the field. It makes executing our job easier,” Antonio states.

Furthermore, NECI found the Beamex MC6 offers improved functionality that makes it easier for less experienced technicians. “The intuitive graphic interface guides the user on how and where to connect, whereas the MC5 required you to reference to the manual if you weren’t familiar with it. The instruments are also protected, so for example, technicians don’t source voltage when it is loop powered. This also brings consistency and standardization to our processes so that everyone performs calibrations in the same way. The learning curve is shortened, and the process is almost dummy proofed,” Bryan emphasizes.