Valve diagnostic environmental data acquisitioner

• US 5,425,270 A
• Filed: 11/04/1994
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Siegel, Edward A., McDonald, Francis X.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US08/334,459
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 73/168, 137/551, 137/487.5, 137/552, 364/558, 364/550, 364/556, 364/551.01
• US Class Current: 73/168
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8175 Plural

Abstract

A data acquisition system (1) by which environmental parameters proximate to plant installed valves (2) may be monitored, recorded and correlated with other valve operating data. The system includes sensors (8) for sensing environmental parameters such as gas/vapor concentration, temperature or humidity. The system also includes sensors for sensing changes in the actuating variable (34) and sensors for sensing valve stem displacement (58). The sensors (8, 34, 6) generate electrical signals proportional to the value of the sensed parameter. First data interface equipment (32, 42, 43) is provided for digitizing the sensed actuating variable as the actuating variable is changed to displace the stem, preferably a full stroke from the open-to-close-to-open positions or vice versa. Second data interface equipment (7, 45) is provided for digitizing the sensed environmental parameter as the stem is displaced. Third data interface equipment (6, 45) is provided for digitizing the sensed stem displacement. The digitized data are stored, preferably with a computer (45) and associated random access memory, and can later be uploaded for use in, for example, a plant database system or correlated to evaluate valve operability.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring characteristic data of a valve proximate a pneumatic valve connected to a fluid line, the valve having a body containing a sealable passage through which line fluid may flow, an operator including a stem for positioning sealing means in the passage, and a pneumatic pressure actuator for displacing the stem a stroke distance corresponding to the open and closed positions of the sealing means, said system comprising:

means for sensing a contaminant vapor concentration while a pneumatic pressure change is applied to the actuator;

means responsive to the means for sensing a vapor, for generating environmental data commensurate with the magnitude of the sensed vapor concentration;

means for sensing pneumatic pressure in the actuator simultaneously with the sensing of the contaminant vapor concentration as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the pressure sensing means, for generating pressure data commensurate with the pneumatic pressure in the actuator as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance;

first data interface means for digitizing the sensed environmental data;

second data interface means for digitizing the sensed pneumatic pressure data; and

means for storing the digitized environmental data and pneumatic pressure data.

2. The system of claim 1, further including:

means for sensing stem displacement over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the stroke displacement sensing means for generating stem displacement data commensurate with displacement of the stem resulting from a change in operator pressure; and

third data interface means for digitizing the stem displacement data;

wherein the stem displacement data is stored in the data storing means.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensing means comprises means for sensing a concentration off a contaminant vapor selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen dioxide.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising means for correlating on a common time scale, said digitized environmental data with said digitized pneumatic pressure data and said digitized stem displacement data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensing means comprises means for sensing a concentration of a contaminant vapor selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen dioxide.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for correlating on a common time scale, said digitized environmental data with said digitized pneumatic pressure data.

7. A system for acquiring characteristic data of a valve proximate a pneumatic valve connected to a fluid line, the valve having a body containing a sealable passage through which line fluid may flow, an operator including a stem for positioning sealing means in the passage, and an actuator for displacing the stem a stroke distance corresponding to the open and closed positions of the sealing means, said system comprising:

means for sensing a contaminant vapor concentration while the stem is displaced over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the means for sensing a vapor, for generating environmental data commensurate with the magnitude of the sensed vapor concentration;

means for sensing stem displacement over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the stroke displacement sensing means for generating stem displacement data commensurate with displacement of the stem resulting from a change in operator pressure;

first data interface means for digitizing the sensed environmental data;

second data interface means for digitizing the stem displacement data; and

means for storing the digitized environmental data and stem displacement data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the environmental sensing means comprises means for sensing a concentration of a contaminant vapor selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and nitrogen dioxide.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for correlating on a common time scale, said digitized environmental data with said digitized stem displacement data.

10. A system for acquiring characteristic data regarding a device connected to an industrial process, the device having a stem and actuator responsive to an actuating variable for displacing the stem over a stroke distance, said system comprising:

means for sensing a contamination vapor emitted from the valve while the actuating variable is displacing the stem;

means responsive to the means for sensing a vapor, for generating environmental data commensurate with the magnitude of the sensed vapor;

means for sensing changes in the actuating variable as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the actuating variable sensing means, for generating actuator data commensurate with the actuating variable as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance;

first data interface means for digitizing the sensed environmental data;

second data interface means for digitizing the sensed actuator data; and

means for storing the digitized environmental data and actuator data.

11. The system of claim 10, further including:

means for sensing stem displacement over the stroke distance;

means responsive to the stroke displacement sensing means for generating stem displacement data commensurate with displacement of the stem resulting from a change in the actuating variable; and

third data interface means for digitizing the stem displacement data, said digitized stem displacement data being storable in said storing means.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a portable container enclosing at least the means for generating environmental data, means for generating actuator data and means for generating stem displacement data;

the first, second and third data interface means; and

the means for storing the digitized data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for generating environmental data, means for generating actuator data and means for generating stem displacement data and the first, second and third data interface means are associated with a computer, and the system includes a human interface associated with the computer for setting the rate at which the stored data is acquired.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the human interface provides for setting the duration of time during which environmental data, actuator data and stem displacement data are generated and stored.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the human interface means is mounted within the container.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the environmental sensing means comprises means for sensing a concentration of a contaminant vapor a selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen dioxide.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for correlating on a common time scale, said digitized environmental data with said digitized actuator data and said digitized stem displacement data.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the environmental sensing means comprises means for sensing a concentration of a contaminant vapor selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and nitrogen dioxide.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for correlating on a common time scale, said digitized environmental data with said digitized actuator data.

20. A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator, a stem that is displaced in response to a change in the actuating variable, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data includes environmental data commensurate with contaminant vapor emission from the valve and at least one of actuating variable data or stem displacement data, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring said characteristic data at a plurality of time points during the displacement of the stem;

digitizing said characteristic data;

recording said characteristic data; and

correlating on a common time scale, the environmental data with the at least one of actuating variable data or stem displacement data.

21. A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a pneumatic valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having a pneumatic pressure chamber, a stem that is displaced over a stroke distance in response to a change in the pressure in the chamber, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data includes at least one of chamber pressure data or stem displacement data, and environmental parameter data comprising a contaminant vapor concentration, the method comprising the steps of:

manually transporting a portable data acquisition unit from an arbitrary first location in the plant to a second location near the pneumatic valve, the unit including,

a displacement sensor for sensing stem displacement over the stroke distance,

means associated with the stem displacement sensor for generating digital representation of change in stem displacement sensed by the stem displacement sensor,

a pressure sensor for sensing pneumatic pressure in the pressure chamber as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance,

means associated with the pressure sensor for generating a digital representation of changes in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor,

an environmental parameter data sensor for sensing contaminant vapor concentration,

means associated with the environmental parameter sensor for generating a digital representation of changes in the parameter sensed by the environmental sensor, and

a human interface for manually setting control parameters for the unit;

mounting the stem displacement sensor adjacent said valve so that stem displacement is monitored;

connecting the pressure sensor to the pressure chamber;

mounting the environmental sensor adjacent said valve so that environmental data is monitored during the monitoring of the stem displacement;

setting the interface to

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the pressure in the chamber,

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem,

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the environmental data comprising contaminant vapor and

terminating the storage of additional values after a sufficient number of such values have been stored.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the unit includes a symbolic code reader and the method includes the steps of,

attaching a symbolic identification code to the valve whereby said code identifies the valve,

reading the code with the reader, and

storing the valve identification as a digitized value associated with the environmental, pressure and displacement data values for the valve.

23. The method of claim 21 including the steps of correlating the environmental data to stem displacement data or pneumatic pressure data.

24. A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator responsive to an actuating variable, a stem that is displaced over a stroke distance in response to the actuation of the actuator, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data includes actuating variable data and stem displacement data, and environmental data comprising a contaminant vapor concentration, comprising the steps of:

positioning a data acquisition unit near the valve, the unit including,

a displacement sensor for sensing stem displacement over the stroke distance,

means associated with the stem displacement sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the stem displacement,

a sensor for sensing said actuating variable,

means associated with the actuating variable sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the actuating variable sensed by the actuating variable sensor,

an environmental parameter data sensor for sensing a contaminant vapor concentration,

means associated with the environmental parameter sensor for generating a digital representation of changes in the parameter sensed by the environmental sensor,

memory means coupled to the stem displacement, actuating variable and environmental data digital representation means for storing the digital representations, and interface means for manually setting control parameters for the unit;

mounting the stem displacement sensor adjacent the stem of the valve so that the output signal generated by the stem displacement sensor is responsive to the displacement of the stem;

connecting the actuating variable sensor to the actuator;

mounting the environmental data sensor adjacent the valve so that contaminant vapors emitted by the valve are monitored during changes in the actuating variable;

varying the actuating variable to displace the stem; and

setting the interface means to

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the actuating variable,

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem, and

initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the environmental parameters.

25. The method of claim 24 including the steps of correlating the environmental data to stem displacement data or actuating variable data.