Method and apparatus for predicting lifetime of a solenoid coil
First Claim
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1. A method for estimating a remaining lifetime of a solenoid coil of a valve controller operating in a process control system, the method comprising:
- maintaining, with the valve controller, a record of a duration of activation of the solenoid coil;
determining, with the valve controller, an operating temperature of the solenoid coil; and
generating, with the valve controller, an estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil based on the duration of activation of the solenoid coil and on the operating temperature of the solenoid coil;
wherein generating the estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil comprises;
determining, based on the operating temperature, an average expected lifetime of an insulation of the solenoid coil; and
calculating the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil by subtracting the duration of activation of the solenoid coil from the average expected lifetime of the insulation of the solenoid coil.
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Abstract
In a method for estimating a remaining lifetime of a solenoid coil of a valve controller operating in a process control system, a record of a duration of activation of the solenoid coil is maintained during operation of the solenoid coil. An operating temperature of the solenoid coil is determined. An estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil is generated based on the duration of activation of the solenoid coil and the operating temperature of the solenoid coil.
6 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for estimating a remaining lifetime of a solenoid coil of a valve controller operating in a process control system, the method comprising:
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maintaining, with the valve controller, a record of a duration of activation of the solenoid coil; determining, with the valve controller, an operating temperature of the solenoid coil; and generating, with the valve controller, an estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil based on the duration of activation of the solenoid coil and on the operating temperature of the solenoid coil; wherein generating the estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil comprises; determining, based on the operating temperature, an average expected lifetime of an insulation of the solenoid coil; and calculating the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil by subtracting the duration of activation of the solenoid coil from the average expected lifetime of the insulation of the solenoid coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A valve controller coupled to a control valve operating in a process control system, the valve controller comprising:
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a solenoid valve having a solenoid coil; and an electronic module configured to; maintain a record of a duration of activation of the solenoid coil; determine an operating temperature of the solenoid coil; and generate an estimate of a remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil based on the duration of activation of the solenoid coil and the operating temperature of the solenoid coil; wherein generating the estimate of the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil comprises; determining, based on the operating temperature, an average expected lifetime of an insulation of the solenoid coil; and calculating the remaining lifetime of the solenoid coil by subtracting the duration of activation of the solenoid coil from the average expected lifetime of the insulation of the solenoid coil. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification