Glossary · Sensors and measurement
Measurement range (application)
Also known as: Required measurement range, Process measurement range
German: Messbereich
In instrument engineering, the measurement range of an application is the range of values of the measured quantity that a measuring point has to cover in the process, from the lowest to the highest expected value; it must lie within the measuring range of the selected instrument.
- Sensors
In one sentence
The measurement range of an application is the span of values a measuring point must cover in the process, which the instrument's range must include.
Example
The instrument specification sheet for a reactor temperature point states a measurement range of 20 to 180 °C, so the team selects a transmitter set to 0 to 200 °C.
How it applies
- Engineering: The process engineer defines the required measurement range, including start-up and upset conditions. The instrument engineer then selects a device whose Measuring range covers it with margin and sets the transmitter range accordingly.
- Commissioning: Check that the configured range of the transmitter and the scaling in the controller match the application range.
- Change: Process changes, such as higher throughput, can move values outside the original measurement range. Management of change should include a check of affected measuring points.
- Documentation: Keep the application range in the Instrument index or specification sheet and keep it consistent with transmitter settings and HMI scaling.
Measurement range vs. measuring range
The list uses both terms for the German Messbereich. On this site, measurement range (application) is the range the process requires, and Measuring range is the property of the instrument: the range in which it measures within its specified error limits.