Generation of data indicative of machine operational condition

• US 6,915,235 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computational Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hilemon, Christopher, Walton, Keith, Reeves, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US10/388,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/188, 702179-181, 702/183, 700/79, 701/29, 703/19
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37242 Tool signature, compare pattern with detected signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37435 Vibration of machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0229 knowledge based, e.g. expert systems; genetic algorithms

Abstract

Information related to an operational condition of a machine in a process plant is generated, where the generated information is in a first data format. The information may be generated based on data in a second format. The second format may, for example, correspond to a format used by a certain type or types of process entities, whereas the first format may, for example, correspond to a format used to process operational condition information of other types of process entities in the process plant. Providing operational condition data for various types of process entities in a common format may, for example, assist an operator in ascertaining the relative importance of the operational condition for various types of entities.

Claims

1. A method of processing information related to operational condition of machines in a process plant, the method comprising:

receiving a first value associated with a monitored machine, the first value from a range of values in a first index, wherein at least a portion of the range of values in the first index is indicative of varying degrees of deviation from an acceptable operational state of the monitored machine;

generating a second value based on the first value, the second value from a range of values in a second index, the second index different from the first index, the second index indicative of varying degrees of relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants; and

generating a notification associated with the monitored machine, the notification including the second value.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the monitored machine comprises a rotating machine.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of the range of values in the first index is based on vibration information associated with the monitored machine.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein increasing values in the at least a portion of the range of values in the first index are indicative of increasing deviation from an acceptable operational state of a machine adapted for use in process plants.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein decreasing values in the at least a portion of the range of values in the first index are indicative of increasing deviation from an acceptable operational state of a machine adapted for use in process plants.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein increasing values in at least a portion of the range of values in the second index are indicative of better relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein decreasing values in at least a portion of the range of values in the second index are indicative of better relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating the second value based on the first value comprises calculating the second value according to at least one equation.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein generating the second value based on the first value comprises looking up the second value in a look-up table.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the notification includes the first value.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the first index is indicative of a lack of information regarding the operational condition of the monitored machine.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a lack of information regarding the operational condition of the monitored machine.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a failed condition.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a maintenance needed condition.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of an advisory condition.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a normal condition.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for information associated with the monitored machine; and

in response to the request, retrieving the first value from a database.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the request is received from a requesting computer via a network, the method further comprising:

in response to the request, communicating the notification to the requesting computer via the network.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a tangible medium storing machine readable instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the machine readable instructions comprising:

first code for receiving a first value associated with a monitored machine, the first value from a range of values in a first index, wherein at least a portion of the range of values in the first index is indicative of varying degrees of deviation from an acceptable operational state of the monitored machine;

second code for generating a second value based on the first value, the second value from a range of values in a second index, the second index different from the first index, the second index indicative of varying degrees of relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants; and

third code for generating a notification associated with the monitored machine, the notification including the second value.

20. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the monitored machine comprises a rotating machine.

21. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 20, wherein the at least a portion of the range of values in The first index is based on vibration information associated with the monitored machine.

22. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein increasing values in the at least a portion of the range of values in the first index are indicative of increasing deviation from an acceptable operational state of a machine adapted for use in process plants.

23. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein decreasing values in the at least a portion of the range of values in the first index are indicative of increasing deviation from an acceptable operational state of a machine adapted for use in process plants.

24. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein increasing values in at least a portion of the range of values in the second index are indicative of better relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants.

25. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein decreasing values in at least a portion of the range of values in the second index are indicative of better relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants.

26. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the first index is indicative of a lack of information regarding the operational status of the monitored machine.

27. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, further comprising:

fourth code for receiving a request for information associated with the monitored machine; and

fifth code for, in response to the request, retrieving the first value from a database.

28. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 27, further comprising sixth code for, in response to the request, communicating the notification to a computer via a network.

29. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the second code for generating the second value based on the first value comprises code for calculating the second value according to at least one equation.

30. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the second code for generating the second value based on the first value comprises code for looking up the second value in a look-up table.

31. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the notification includes the first value.

32. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a lack of information regarding the operational condition of the monitored machine.

33. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a failed condition.

34. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a maintenance needed condition.

35. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of an advisory condition.

36. A article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one value in the range of values in the second index is indicative of a normal condition.

37. An apparatus for processing information related to operational condition of machines in a process plant, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor programmed to,

receive a first value associated with a monitored machine, the first value from a range of values in a first index, wherein at least a portion of the range of values in the first index is indicative of varying degrees of deviation from an acceptable operational state of the monitored machine,

generate a second value based on the first value, the second value from a range of values in a second index, the second index different from the first index, the second index indicative of varying degrees of relative health of a process entity adapted for use in process plants; and

generate a notification associated with the monitored machine, the notification including the second value.