Apparatus and method for monitoring and maintaining plant equipment
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing a failure in a piece of equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing to a user, for comparison with symptoms of said failure, data representative of a plurality of possible failure modes corresponding with the piece of equipment;
receiving from the user data based on observation of symptoms of said failure, including data identifying at least one of said possible failure modes based on said observation; and
analyzing the received data to determine a cause of said failure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system implements a process for gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing data relating to a pump and/or seal or other rotating equipment failure. Data indicating the current state of the equipment is gathered and verified prior to a failure occurring so that accurate information is available. After a failure or problem occurs, data about the problem or failure are methodically gathered to aid in the determination of the root cause of the failure. In particular, visual images of failure modes are provided to the user to ensure that proper and accurate data are obtained. A user also is directed to gather other data about the failure and the system. After data relating to the problem or failure has been gathered, the data are synthesized and an analysis is performed to determine the root cause of the failure or problem. These various methods and apparatus allow a non-specialist to properly identify and diagnose a failure or problem associated with a mechanical seal and pump. After the analysis has determined the root cause of the problem or failure in the system, the system suggests corrective actions and plans for implementing a corrective action. Installation instructions, training and safety information can be provided to the user to ensure proper execution of the selected corrective action. A plant reliability manager also may monitor the progress and verify that installation, maintenance and failure correction are performed correctly. The plant reliability manager also may track problems or failures by each individual or department to determine if additional training is needed.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing a failure in a piece of equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing to a user, for comparison with symptoms of said failure, data representative of a plurality of possible failure modes corresponding with the piece of equipment;
receiving from the user data based on observation of symptoms of said failure, including data identifying at least one of said possible failure modes based on said observation; and
analyzing the received data to determine a cause of said failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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19. A method for analyzing a failure in a piece of equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a database comprising failure mode data accessible to provide data representative of possible failure modes of said piece of equipment;
providing to a user, for comparison with symptoms of said failure, data representative of a plurality of possible failure modes of said piece of equipment;
receiving from the user data based on observation of symptoms of said failure, including data identifying at least one of said plurality of possible failure modes based on said observation;
accessing said database, with use of data received in the step of receiving from the user, to determine a cause of said failure.
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24. An apparatus, for analyzing a failure in a piece of failed equipment, comprising:
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a failure mode database (106) comprising data on equipment failure modes accessible to provide failure mode data representative of a plurality of possible failure modes of said failed equipment for comparison by a user to symptoms of said failure;
an equipment database (224) comprising data on characteristics of equipment, to provide at least one of access to stored data on said failed equipment prior to said failure and storage of data relating to said failure; and
a system failure analyzer (900) coupled to the failure mode and equipment databases and responsive to (i) first data representative of a failure mode as selected by the user based on observation of the failed equipment in comparison to failure mode data provided to the user from the failure mode database, and (ii) second data received from the user based on observation of the failed equipment and identifying at least one symptom of said failure, the system failure analyzer arranged to process the first data and second data to provide output data representative of a cause of said failure.
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45. An apparatus, for analyzing a failure in a piece of failed equipment, comprising:
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a failure mode database (106) comprising data on equipment failure modes accessible to provide failure mode data representative of a plurality of possible failure modes of said failed equipment for comparison by a user to symptoms of said failure; and
a system failure analyzer (900) coupled to the failure mode database and responsive to (i) first data representative of at least one failure mode as selected by the user based on observation of the failed equipment in comparison to failure mode data provided to the user from the failure mode database, and (ii) second data received from the user based on observation of the failed equipment and relating to at least one symptom of said failure, the system failure analyzer arranged to process the first and second data to provide output data representative of a cause of said failure.
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55. A plant performance method, utilizing data corresponding to a piece of equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing equipment data indicative of at least one characteristic of a piece of equipment;
storing operating data representative of at least one of the installation, operation and maintenance of the piece of equipment;
storing action data representative of at least one of any failure, modification or corrective action on the piece of equipment;
accessing and analyzing at least a portion of the stored equipment, operating and action data for plant performance purposes comprising one or more of failure analysis, corrective action, reliability analysis, design analysis, and replacement proposal generation relating to the piece of equipment; and
providing output data based on said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification