SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MONITOR OPERATING PROCESSES

• US 20140212978A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sharpe, Joseph Hiserodt Jr., Jenssen, Hallgeir
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/6
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2823 raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures hydrocarbon content of earth materials G01N33/241; prospecting G01V; drilling per se E21B
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user

Abstract

Example methods, systems, and computer readable media are provided for monitoring operating processes. An example method includes monitoring an equipment parameter associated with an asset in an operating process unit and monitoring a process parameter associated with the asset. The example method includes determining an asset health corresponding to the asset. The asset health is determined based on a potential state of corrosion associated with the asset by comparing a corrosivity index to a corrosion threshold. The corrosivity index is a function of at least one of current values or changes in the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring an equipment parameter associated with an asset in an operating process unit;

monitoring a process parameter associated with the asset; and

determining an asset health value corresponding to the asset, the asset health value being determined based on a potential state of corrosion associated with the asset by comparing a corrosivity index to a corrosion threshold, the corrosivity index being a function of at least one of current values or changes in the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the corrosivity index is determined based on an asset type of the asset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the asset type is at least one of a liquid hydrocarbon unit, a gaseous hydrocarbon unit, or an aqueous unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the potential state of corrosion includes weighting the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter based on impact on corrosion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the corrosion threshold specifies limits on the equipment parameter or the process parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an alarm associated with the potential state of corrosion, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining thermal stress associated with the asset by comparing a thermal stress index to a thermal stress threshold, the thermal stress index being a function of changes of the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising creating an alarm associated with the thermal stress, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.

9. A system comprising:

a monitoring application to monitor a equipment parameter and a process parameter associated with an asset in a process unit; and

an asset health value calculator to determine an asset health corresponding to the asset, the asset health being determined based on thermal stress associated with the asset by comparing a thermal stress index to a thermal stress threshold, the thermal stress index being a function of changes of the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the thermal stress index is determined based on at least one of a material composition of the asset, a wall thickness of a material, a safety margin, an engineering guideline, or an industry standard.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the thermal stress includes weighting the monitored equipment parameter and the monitored process parameter based on impact on thermal stress.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the thermal stress threshold specifies limits on the equipment parameter or the process parameter.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a thermal stress analyzer to create an alarm associated with the thermal stress, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a corrosion analyzer to determine a potential state of corrosion associated with the asset by comparing a corrosivity index to a corrosion threshold, the corrosivity index being a function of at least one of current values or changes in the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the corrosion analyzer is to create an alarm associated with the potential state of corrosion, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.

16. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least:

monitor an equipment parameter associated with an asset in an operating process unit;

monitor a process parameter associated with the asset; and

determine an asset health corresponding to the asset, the asset health being determined based on a potential state of corrosion associated with the asset by comparing a corrosivity index to a corrosion threshold, the corrosivity index being a function of at least one of current values or changes in the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the corrosivity index is determined based on an asset type of the asset.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining the potential state of corrosion includes weighting the monitored equipment parameter and the monitored process parameter based on impact on corrosion.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the corrosion threshold specifies limits on the equipment parameter or the process parameter.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the computing device to create an alarm associated with the potential state of corrosion, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause the computing device to:

determine thermal stress associated with the asset by comparing a thermal stress index to a thermal stress threshold, the thermal stress index being a function of changes of the monitored equipment parameter or the monitored process parameter over time; and

create an alarm associated with the thermal stress, wherein the alarm is to be presented to an operator.