Abstract:
Outer annulus plugging detection is provided for gas-lift oil wells. The outer annulus detection is effected using a pressure transmitter (100). The pressure transmitter (100) provides an indication of pressure within an outer annulus (22) of the oil well. A statistical parameter related to a plurality of outer annulus pressure readings is used to provide an indication of annulus plugging. Examples of the statistical parameter include means and standard deviation.
Abstract:
A system for providing remote diagnostic and maintenance services to a process plant includes a database and a server, both of which are located remotely from the process plant. The database includes a plurality of applications. The server includes a data collection unit, an analysis unit, and a control unit. The data collection unit collects data associated with the process plant via a communication link, such as the Internet. The analysis unit analyzes the collected data to detect a condition associated with the process plant. In response to the detected condition, the control unit automatically implements one or more of the applications by automatically executing one or more of the applications remotely and determining parameters to be communicated to the process plant, automatically downloading one or more applications to the process plant via the Internet, and/or activating a web page that provides information for guiding an operator located at the plant in correcting the detected condition.
Abstract:
A field device (12) having a self-description is provided. The field (12) device includes loop communication circuitry (50) configured to communicate process information using a process standard communication protocol. A controller (60) is coupled to the loop communication circuitry (50) to communicate with one or more process devices using the loop communication circuitry (50). The controller (60) is coupled to a non¬ volatile, writeable, non-transitory computer readable medium (64) having a plurality of blocks (66, 68). A first block (66) contains device executable code, which when executed by the controller causes the field device to provide at least one process control function. A second block (68), at least as large as the first block (66), contains an electronic device description (70) of the field device.
Abstract:
An apparatus in a distributed control system having a network interface and wireless gateway coupled to the network interface. The network interface is configured to communicate with a network. The wireless gateway includes a wireless gateway function block application process configured to map process information between a wireless network having at least one wireless field device and the network. The wireless gateway further includes a wireless network management component configured to manage access to the wireless network and at least one wireless field device function block application process configured to define a resource and input and output process information of the wireless field device.
Abstract:
An industrial process sensor having a sensor component exposed to process fluid detects when the sensor performance has been degraded by a sensor coating buildup from the process fluid. A baseline statistical metric, such as standard deviation of the process parameter sensed by the sensor, is determined during an initial operating period when the sensor component is clean. During continued operation of the sensor, the statistical metric is continually updated and monitored. An alarm output indicating that sensor coating has degraded sensor performance is produced when the current value of the statistical metric varies from the baseline value by an amount indicating degraded sensor performance.
Abstract:
An apparatus (10) and method are provided for transferring electrical energy from a Fieldbus process communication loop (12) to at least one other process communication loop (24) operating in accordance with a different process communication protocol. A power transfer device (10) is coupleable to a Fieldbus process communication loop (12) and to a second process communication loop (24). The power transfer device (10) is wholly powered by the Fieldbus process communication loop (12), and is configured to supply at least some electrical energy to the second process communication loop (12).
Abstract:
A field mountable interface module (120, 302) is provided. The intelligent interface module includes at least one data connection port configured to couple to a data communication network (118, 122, 314) as well as at least one process communication connection port (124, 126, 128, 130) configured to couple to a field device bus (132, 134, 307A, 307B, 307C, 307D) . The intelligent interface module (120, 302) also includes a controller (320) and memory (324) coupled to the controller (320) . The controller (320) is configured to provide a higher order function with respect to one or more field devices and/or field device buses. Higher order functions include calibration support, complex device support, diagnostic support, distributed control system support, and virtual field device functions.
Abstract:
A system for predicting fouling and corrosion of a combustion system in an industrial process includes a pipe (102) , a restrictive element (104) , and a fouling and corrosion detector (110) . The pipe (102) contains a fuel. The restrictive element (104) is coupled to the pipe (102) and the fuel passes through the restrictive element (104) . The fouling and corrosion detector (110) is coupled to the pipe (102) and is adapted to detect a characteristic signature of the restrictive element (104) and to generate an alarm if a change in the detected signature exceeds a predetermined limit relative to a baseline signature.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a field-mountable process device (16, 116) that receives digital information from one or more process devices (D1, D2, D3, D4), and provides an associated analog output. Embodiments of the present invention include providing a wireless interface (120) to the field-mounted process device (116) such that configuration and/or diagnostic information can be communicated between the field-mounted process device (116) and one or more additional devices. In some embodiments, the field-mounted process device (16, 116) can be completely powered by the digital process communication loop (14) to which it is. coupled. Finally, embodiments of the present invention also include generating and storing within the field-mounted process device (16, 116) a mapping (300) between one or more field devices communicating in accordance with a digital process communication protocol and an analog output of the field-mounted process device (16, 116).
Abstract:
An interface module is operatively coupled to a Fieldbus process control network and a Modbus process control network to facilitate the exchange of process control information between the networks. The interface module stores a register map database in which the process control parameters of the function blocks in the field devices of the Fieldbus process control network are mapped to register numbers of the Modbus process control network. Once the Fieldbus process control parameters are mapped to the Modbus registers, the interface module is adapted to transmit request messages on the Fieldbus process control network to the Fieldbus field devices for the current values of the process control parameters, receive response messages from the Fieldbus field devices, and store the current values of the process control parameters in the register map database.