Abstract:
A field device includes diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a characteristic related to a process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic is used to provide a diagnostic output indicative of a condition of the process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic can be provided to a diagnostic module that operates upon the measured characteristic to predict, or otherwise model, a condition of the process control and measurement system.
Abstract:
A distributed control system has a plurality of distributed field devices, each of which contains a transducer and a wireless transceiver. The distributed control system includes a base station transceiver, a database and a virtual transmitter application in communication with the database. Each field device transmits and receives data via wireless signals between the communications boards and the base station. The data is stored in the database for later retrieval and evaluation by the virtual transmitter application. The deployed field device senses information and transmits the sensed information wirelessly to a base station. The sensed information is stored in memory on a computer system, and programmatically groomed to provide a measurement value, upon request by a user.
Abstract:
A two-wire field-mounted process device (16) with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can be coupled to multiple sensors or actuators (32, 34), respectively. The process device (16) is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop (14). The process device (16) includes a controller (40) adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) coupled to an input channel (42, 44, 46) and to control actuators coupled to an output channel (48). The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator (36) that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
Abstract:
A two-wire field-mounted process device (16) with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can be coupled to multiple sensors or actuators (32, 34), respectively. The process device (16) is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop (14). The process device (16) includes a controller (40) adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) coupled to an input channel (42, 44, 46) and to control actuators coupled to an output channel (48). The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator (36) that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.
Abstract:
A wireless mesh network provides secure communication by encrypting data using one or more encryption keys. A configuration device in communication with a security manager of the network provides a temporary secure communication path between the security manager and a new field device to be added to the mesh network. Cryptographic material and other configuration data can then be transferred between the security manager of the network and the new field device securely via the configuration device.
Abstract:
A distributed control system (32) has a plurality of distributed field devices (34), each of which contains a transducer (36) and a wireless transceiver (38). The distributed control system (32) includes a base station transceiver (40), a database (42) and a virtual transmitter application (44) in communication with the database. Each field device (34) transmits and receives data via wireless signals between the communications board (38) and the base station. The data is stored in the database (42) for later retrieval and evaluation by the virtual transmitter application (44). The deployed field device (34) senses information and transmits the sensed information wirelessly to a base station. The sensed information is stored in memory on a computer system,and programmatically groomed to provide a measurement value, upon request by a user.
Abstract:
A process control system utilizes wireless transceivers to divorce the field devices from traditional wired network topologies. By providing field devices with wireless transceivers and shared wireless transceivers for adapting wired field devices, the field device network may be adapted to any number of network topologies without concern for additional wiring costs. Specifically, a power supply can be provided for each field device or for groups of field devices, as needed. Thus, the entire network can receive power from a single power bus, without expensive power filtering. In addition, the network can be a hybrid in which part of the information is transmitted and received over wired lines and part is transmitted and received over wireless communications.
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 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).