Systems and methods for field device feedback

• US 9,389,596 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Esposito, Sandro, Petzen, John Alexander, Kostadinov, Vladimir Dimitrov
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/772,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 700/287, 700/122, 700/86, 700/79, 700/78, 700/108, 700/282, 710/104, 702/183, 702/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output

Abstract

The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. In one embodiment, a system includes an industrial controller configured to control a first field device. The first field device includes an actuator and a positioner coupled to the actuator. The positioner is configured to position the actuator. The first field device is configured to detect an undesired condition and to communicate the undesired condition to the industrial controller by using a ReadBack facility of the first field device.

Claims

1. An industrial automation system comprising:

a first field device comprising a Foundation Fieldbus output function block comprising a Readback facility, wherein the first field device is configured to;

receive instructions to implement a SetPoint;

detect when an undesired condition related to an external condition of the first field device is present;

automatically switch to a Manual mode, an Out of Service mode, or a Local Override mode when the undesired condition is detected to stop the first field device from attempting to implement the SetPoint; and

communicate a sub-status code/category using a BKCAL_OUT parameter of the Foundation Fieldbus output function block to indicate occurrence of the undesired condition; and

an industrial controller communicatively coupled to the first field device, wherein the industrial controller is configured to;

communicate the Setpoint to the first field device;

receive the sub-status code/category from the first field device; and

adjust operation of the industrial automation system based at least in part on the sub-status code/category.

2. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the first field device comprises a Foundation Fieldbus field device.

3. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the Foundation Fieldbus output function block comprises a Foundation Fieldbus digital output (DO) function block, a Foundation Fieldbus analog output (AO), or a combination thereof.

4. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the Foundation Fieldbus output function block is configured to transmit the sub-status code/category to the industrial controller using a publish/subscribe protocol.

5. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-status code/category comprises a Fault State Active sub-status, a NotInvited sub-status, or a NotSelected sub-status.

6. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the first field device comprises:

a valve comprising an inlet and an outlet;

an actuator configured to control flow between the inlet and the outlet; and

a positioner coupled to the actuator, wherein the positioner is configured to control position of the actuator.

7. The industrial automation system of claim 6, wherein the positioner comprises:

a linear positioner configured to transform linear motion into an actuator position;

a rotary positioner configured to transform rotary motion into the actuator position;

or both.

8. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the industrial controller comprises a control function block configured to:

determine the SetPoint before communication to the field device;

receive the sub-status code/category using a BKCAL_IN parameter of the control function block; and

determine adjustment to operation of a second field device in the industrial automation system based on the sub-status code/category, wherein the second field device is configured to provide redundant operation with the first field device.

9. The industrial automation system of claim 1, comprising a commissioning system configured to create a placeholder that represents the first field device during commissioning of the first field device.

10. The industrial automation system of claim 1, wherein the industrial automation system comprises a gas turbine system, a gasification system, a steam turbine system, a wind turbine system, a water turbine system, a power generation system, or any combination thereof.

11. A method, comprising:

determining, using a processor of a field device, whether an undesired condition related to an external condition of the field device is present; and

when the undesired condition is detected;

instructing, using the processor, the field device to automatically switch to a Manual mode, an Out of Service mode, or a Local Override mode to stop the field device from attempting to implement a SetPoint received from a control function block of an industrial controller;

determining, using the processor, a first sub-status code/category, wherein the sub-status category is configured to indicate presence of the undesired condition; and

instructing, using the processor, a Foundation Fieldbus output function block of the field device to communicate the first sub-status code/category to the control function block using a BKCAL_OUT parameter of Foundation Fieldbus output function block to enable the control function block to adjust operation of an industrial automation system comprising the field device based at least in part on the sub-status category.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sub-status code/category comprises a Fault State Active sub-status, a NotInvited sub-status, or a NotSelected sub-status.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the Foundation Fieldbus output function block comprises first field device comprises a Foundation Fieldbus digital output (DO) function block, a Foundation Fieldbus analog output (AO), or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising:

determining, using the processor, whether the field device has recovered from the undesired condition; and

when recovery is detected;

determining, using the processor, a second sub-status code/category to indicate recovery of the field device from the undesired condition; and

instructing, using the processor, the Foundation Fieldbus output function block to communicate the second sub-status code/category to the control function block using the BKCAL_OUT parameter to enable the control function block to determine the recovery of the field device and to adjust operation of the industrial automation system accordingly.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the industrial automation system comprises a gas turbine system, a gasification system, a steam turbine system, a wind turbine system, a water turbine system, a power generation system, or any combination thereof.

16. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by a processor of a field device, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:

determine, using the processor, whether an undesired condition related to an external condition of the field device is present;

when the undesired condition is detected;

instruct, using the processor, the field device to automatically switch to a Manual mode, an Out of Service mode, or a Local Override mode to stop the field device from attempting to implement a SetPoint received from a control function block of an industrial controller;

determine, using the processor, a sub-status code/category, wherein the sub-status category is configured to indicate occurrence of the undesired condition; and

instruct, using the processor, a Foundation Fieldbus output function block of the field device to communicate the sub-status code/category to the control function block using a BKCAL_OUT parameter of Foundation Fieldbus output function block to enable the control function block to adjust operation of an industrial automation system comprising the field device based at least in part on the sub-status code/category.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein:

the Foundation Fieldbus output function block comprises first field device comprises a Foundation Fieldbus digital output (DO) function block, a Foundation Fieldbus analog output (AO), or a combination thereof; and

the sub-status code/category comprises a Fault State Active sub-status, a NotInvited sub-status, or a NotSelected sub-status.