Process equipment validation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A Safety Instrumented System for use in diagnosing operation of a basic process control system (BPCS), comprising:
- a pressure sensor coupled to process piping configured to measure a pressure of process fluid in the process piping;
a valve positioner configured to control a valve which controls flow of process fluid through the process piping; and
diagnostic circuitry configured to cause the valve positioner to perform a partial stroke of the valve, the diagnostic circuitry further configured to compare a change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor due to the partial stroke with a stored pressure signature and responsively diagnose operation of the process control system based upon the comparison.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Safety Instrumented System for use with a process control system receives pressure of process fluid in the process piping. A valve positioner positions a valve which controls flow of process fluid through the process piping. The valve positioner is caused to perform a partial stroke of the valve or otherwise introduce a perturbation into the process. A resulting change in sensed pressure due to the perturbation is used to diagnose operation of the process.
74 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A Safety Instrumented System for use in diagnosing operation of a basic process control system (BPCS), comprising:
-
a pressure sensor coupled to process piping configured to measure a pressure of process fluid in the process piping;
a valve positioner configured to control a valve which controls flow of process fluid through the process piping; and
diagnostic circuitry configured to cause the valve positioner to perform a partial stroke of the valve, the diagnostic circuitry further configured to compare a change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor due to the partial stroke with a stored pressure signature and responsively diagnose operation of the process control system based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A diagnostic system for diagnosing operation of a process control system, comprising:
-
a pressured sensor coupled to process piping configured to measure a pressure of process fluid in the process piping;
a valve positioner responsive to a control signal configured to control position of a valve which controls flow of process fluid through the process piping;
diagnostic circuitry configured to cause small variations in the control signal during normal operation of the process control system, the diagnostic circuitry further configured to compare changes in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor due to the variations in the control signal with a stored pressure signature and responsively diagnose operation of the process control system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A method in a Safety Instrumented System for use in diagnosing operation of a process control system, comprising:
-
sensing a pressure of a process fluid carried in process piping;
causing a valve coupled to the process piping to perform a partial stroke;
monitoring pressure of the process fluid following the partial stroke; and
diagnosing operation of the process control system based upon the monitored pressure of the process fluid. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A method of diagnosing operation of a process control system, comprising:
-
introducing small variations into a controlled position of a valve coupled to the process piping;
monitoring pressure of the process fluid following the introduction of small variations into the controlled positioned of the valve;
diagnosing operation of the process control system based upon the monitored pressure of the process fluid. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
Specification