MOBILE ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL PHENOMENA IN A PROCESS PLANT

• US 20140277605A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Nixon, Mark J., Beoughter, Ken J., Christensen, Daniel D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,031,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/49
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In a process plant, a mobile device detects a physical phenomenon and converts the detected physical phenomenon to digital data representative of the physical phenomenon. The data are transmitted to an expert system and analyzed by the expert system to determine a state of one or more process elements. Abnormal conditions associated with the process elements may be detected, and a cause of the abnormal condition may be determined from the digital data. Process control parameters may be automatically changed to correct the abnormal condition, work items may be created to cause personnel to take action to correct the abnormal condition, and/or an operator may be prompted to take a corrective action to resolve the abnormal condition.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing physical phenomena in a process plant, the method including:

detecting, in a mobile device, a physical phenomenon in the process plant;

converting, in the mobile device, the detected physical phenomenon to digital data representative of the physical phenomenon;

transmitting the digital data to an expert system; and

analyzing the digital data in the expert system to determine a state of one or more process elements.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting an abnormal condition associated with the one or more process elements.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising determining from the digital data a cause of the abnormal condition.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising automatically initiating a change to one or more process control parameters to correct the abnormal condition.

5. A method according to claim 3, further comprising automatically creating a work item to cause personnel to take action to correct the abnormal condition.

6. A method according to claim 3, further comprising providing to an operator an indication of a corrective action to be taken to resolve the abnormal condition.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a visual scene, detecting a sound, or detecting a vibration.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a visual scene including a flame, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises analyzing the colors associated with one or more portions of the flame.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a visual scene including a flame, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises analyzing the shape of the flame.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises capturing a video of a flame, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises analyzing the movement of the flame.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a sound associated with a combustion chamber.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a sound associated with a fluid movement, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises detecting a cavitation associated with the fluid movement.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a vibration associated with a fluid movement, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises detecting a cavitation associated with the fluid movement.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a visual scene including a stack top, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises analyzing a color of smoke emitted from the stack top.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a visual scene including a stack top, and wherein analyzing the digital data comprises analyzing the volume of smoke emitted from the stack top.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the physical phenomenon comprises detecting a vibration associated with a rotating element.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a fuel composition associated with a flame or a combustion chamber.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein analyzing the digital data in the expert system comprises analyzing the digital data and process data retrieved from a unitary, logical data storage area including one or more data storage devices configured to store, using a common format, process data corresponding to the process plant, the process data including multiple types of process data selected from configuration data, measurement data, batch data, continuous data, and event data.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a state of one or more process elements comprises determining a state of a burner.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein determining a state of a burner comprises determining air flow, fuel flow, or fuel composition associated with a flame of the burner.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a state of one or more process elements comprises determining a state of a combustion chamber.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting, in a mobile device, a physical phenomenon in the process plant comprises one or more of the following:

detecting infrared emissions;

detecting visible light emissions;

detecting ultra-violet emissions;

detecting the concentration of a gas;

detecting sounds in the audible frequency range;

detecting sub-audible frequencies; and

detecting super-audible frequencies.