METHOD FOR DETECTING THE DRIVE TYPE OF AN ACTUATOR (II)

• US 20090145291A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Scholz, Wolfgang, Stelter, Andreas, Pape, Detlef, Engelke, Stefan, Meier, Urs E., KLEEGREWE, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 91/358.R
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 19/002 Calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes

Abstract

A method is disclosed for detecting the drive type of an actuator, e.g., a pneumatic actuator, having a positioner for operating a final control element in a process engineering plant. The actuator is connected to the positioner by a mounting set, the positioner comprising an electronic control unit, which uses a microcontroller to receive one or more input signals, and to output actuating signals to control the flow of gas to or from the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic drive. The position feedback sensors are equipped with a rotational measuring system. During commissioning of the actuator, the relationship between the drive volumes and the position signal is found and compared with transfer characteristics of known drive types. Where there is a match between the transfer characteristic defined by the value pairs of the given actuator and one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types, the identified drive type is assigned to the given actuator.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the drive type of an actuator having a positioner for operating a final control element, the positioner comprising an electronic control unit, which uses a microcontroller to receive one or more input signals, and to output actuating signals to control the flow of gas to or from the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic drive, with the pressure being monitored in at least one pneumatic fluid supply line to the chambers of the drive, and with the position of the final control element being signaled in the positioner by a rotational measuring system, wherein

during commissioning, the actuator is moved over a definable distance within its operating range,

the pressure in at least one pneumatic fluid supply line to the chambers of the actuator is monitored and recorded,

the angle positions fed back by the position feedback sensors are recorded with the corresponding pressures,

the drive volumes and the relationship between the drive volumes and the position signal are found from the fed back angle positions and the associated pressures, and are compared with transfer characteristics of known drive types, and

where there is a match between the transfer characteristic, defined by the relationship between the drive volumes and the position signal of the given actuator, and one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types, the identified drive type is assigned to the given actuator.

2. An arrangement for detecting a drive type of an actuator in a process engineering plant, comprising:

a control element;

a positioner for operating the control element, the actuator being connected to the positioner by a mounting set, the positioner comprising an electronic control unit, which uses a microcontroller to receive one or more input signals, and to output actuating signals to control the flow of gas to or from the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic drive; and

at least one position feedback sensor equipped with a rotational measuring system, wherein, during commissioning of the actuator, the relationship between drive volumes and a position signal is determined and compared with transfer characteristics of known drive types to identify the drive type to be assigned to the actuator.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the comparison is based on ascertaining a match between a transfer characteristic defined by value pairs of the actuator and one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types to identify the drive type to be assigned to the actuator.

4. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.