Method and apparatus for characterizing process control equipment coupling integrity
First Claim
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1. A method implemented at a fault detection and isolation (FDI) system for indicating loss of clamping force at a coupling interface of a pair of flanges, the method comprising;
- receiving at the FDI system, a first series of measurements made at a coupling interface;
storing the first series of measurements;
receiving at the FDI system a second series of measurements made at the coupling interface;
storing the second series of measurements;
generating a first curve based on the first series of measurements and a second curve based on the second series of measurements;
determining a first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and a second plurality of coefficients for the second curve;
comparing the first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and the second plurality of coefficients for the second curve to determine if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements;
generating an indication if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements.
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Abstract
In a process plant, a first series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The first series of measurements are stored. A second series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The second series of measurements. The first series and second series of measurements are compared. An indication of loss of clamping force is generated if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method implemented at a fault detection and isolation (FDI) system for indicating loss of clamping force at a coupling interface of a pair of flanges, the method comprising;
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receiving at the FDI system, a first series of measurements made at a coupling interface; storing the first series of measurements; receiving at the FDI system a second series of measurements made at the coupling interface; storing the second series of measurements; generating a first curve based on the first series of measurements and a second curve based on the second series of measurements; determining a first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and a second plurality of coefficients for the second curve; comparing the first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and the second plurality of coefficients for the second curve to determine if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements; generating an indication if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for detecting loss of clamping force at a coupling interface between a field device and a process plant component, the apparatus comprising:
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a fault detection and isolation (FDI) system; a sensor coupled to the body of the field device; an excitation module electrically coupled to the sensor; a measurement module electrically coupled to the sensor; an analyzer coupled to the measurement module and configured to generate a first curve based on a first series of measurements by the measurement module and a second curve based on a second series of measurements by the measurement module, the analyzer further configured to determine a first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and a second plurality of coefficients for the second curve and then compare the first plurality of coefficients and the second plurality of coefficients to determine if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements; and an indicator coupled to the analyzer and configured to generate an indication if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. The apparatus of 15, wherein the measurement module is arranged to transmit data measured from the PZT sensor to the FDI.
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17. A method for indicating loss of clamping force at a coupling interface of a pair of flanges, the method comprising:
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causing a fault detection and isolation (FDI) system to receive a first series of measurements, wherein each of the measurements of the first series of measurements is made at the coupling interface; in response to receiving the first series of measurements, causing the FDI system to store the first series of measurements; causing the FDI system to receive a second series of measurements, wherein each of the measurements of the second series of measurements is made at the coupling interface; in response to receiving the second series of measurements, causing the FDI system to store the second series of measurements; generating a first curve based on the first series of measurements and a second curve based on the second series of measurements; determining a first plurality of coefficients for the first curve and a second plurality of coefficients for the second curve; comparing the first plurality of coefficients and the second plurality of coefficients to determine if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements; determining that the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements; and causing the FDI to generate an indication on determining that the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification