METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PREVENT A FALSE TRIGGER OF A SHUTDOWN FUNCTION OF A PROCESS CONTROL COMPONENT

• US 20180131228A1
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Seberger, Stephen George
• Granted Patent: US 10,483,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enhancing reserve power units are described. An example apparatus includes a power source to operate a process control component and a power conditioner to provide power during a disruption of power from the power source to prevent a false trigger of a shutdown function of the process control component.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power source to operate a process control component; and

a power conditioner to provide power during a disruption of power from the power source to prevent a false trigger of a shutdown function of the process control component.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a diode to enable power flow between the power source and the process control component and prevent power flow between the power conditioner and the power source.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the power conditioner provides power to the process control component when the power from the power source is insufficient to operate the process control component.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the power conditioner is charged when power is flowing from the power source to operate the process control component.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 further including a current regulating circuit to regulate a charging current of the power conditioner.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a reserve power unit to provide power to the process control component during a shutdown condition.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a diode to enable power flow from the power conditioner to the process control component.

8. A method comprising:

providing power to a process control component during normal operation via a power source; and

providing power to the process control component due to a disruption of power from the power source to prevent a false trigger of a shutdown condition via a power conditioner coupled to the process control component.

9. The method as described in claim 8 further including preventing power flow from the power conditioner to the power source during the disruption of power via a diode.

10. The method as described in claim 8 further including charging the power conditioner when power is provided from the power source.

11. The method as described in claim 8, wherein the disruption of power is a surge or overload of the power source.

12. The method as described in claim 8 further including providing power to the process control component via a reserve power unit coupled to the process control component when the power conditioner is depleted.

13. The method as described in claim 12 further including moving the process control component to a predetermined shutdown position using the reserve power unit.

14. The method as described in claim 13 further including, upon resumption of power from the power source, moving the process control component to a position based on a signal from a control signal source.

15. The method as described in claim 12 further including recharging the power conditioner and the reserve power unit upon resumption of power from the power source.

16. An apparatus comprising an energy storage device including a first storage component and a second storage component, the first storage component to provide power to a process control component upon a disruption of power from a power source, the second storage component to provide power to move the process control component to a shutdown position upon depletion of the first storage component.

17. The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the second storage component includes an amount of energy to move the process control component from any position to the shutdown position.

18. The apparatus as described in claim 16 further including a housing, the energy storage device to be disposed within the housing.

19. The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the first storage component is a supercapacitor.

20. The apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the second storage component causes the process control component to move to the shutdown position upon depletion of the first storage component using a control signal.