SELF EVALUATING TRANSMITTER

• US 20100255796A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Koukol, John L. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/007 Malfunction diagnosis, i.e. diagnosing a sensor defect
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/19 Self-testing arrangements

Abstract

A self-evaluating process control transmitter system includes a transmitter configured to capture output data from an integral sensor, and a transmitter memory integrally disposed with the transmitter. The transmitter memory is configured to store a plurality of sets of the output data thereon, including an initial as-built data set, and at least one subsequent data set. A self evaluation module integrally disposed with the transmitter, in communication with the transmitter memory is configured to identify one or more variations between the as-built data set and at least one subsequent data set.

Claims

1. A self-evaluating process control transmitter system, said system comprising:

a transmitter configured to capture output data from an integral sensor;

a transmitter memory integrally disposed with said transmitter;

said transmitter memory configured to store a plurality of sets of said output data thereon, including an initial as-built data set, and at least one subsequent data set;

an as-built data set stored on said transmitter memory;

a self evaluation module integrally disposed with said transmitter, in communication with said transmitter memory and configured to identify one or more variations between said as-built data set and at least one subsequent data set.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a pressure transmitter and said sensor is a pressure sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify variations between a plurality of subsequent data sets.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to determine a trend of said output data sets over time.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify one or more variations between said trend and any of the subsequent data sets.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter memory is configured to record temporal and ambient temperature information associated therewith.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to standardize output data by adjusting for temperature.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter memory is configured to record orientation information associated therewith.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to standardize output data by adjusting for orientation.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter memory is configured with an acceptable range of data variation stored thereon.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to compare said one or more variations with said acceptable range of data variation.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify a variation between an individual one of said plurality of data sets and a trend of said output data sets over time, and to compare said variation with said acceptable range of data variation.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to generate a notification upon identification of a variation exceeding said acceptable range of data variation.

14. A method for monitoring the performance of a process control transmitter having an integral sensor, said method comprising:

(a) installing said transmitter in a process;

(b) capturing, on memory of the transmitter, an installed data set corresponding to output of the integral sensor at known conditions after said installing (a);

(c) comparing, with an integral self evaluation module, the installed data set to an as-built data set stored on the memory of the transmitter, the as-built data set corresponding to output of the integral sensor at predetermined conditions; and

(d) identifying, with the self evaluation module, any variation between the installed data set and the as-built data set that may indicate degradation.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising generating a notification upon identification of a variation exceeding a predetermined acceptable range of data variation.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising repeating said capturing (b) for a plurality of installed data sets.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising calculating a trend of said installed data sets over time.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said process control transmitter is a pressure transmitter having an integral pressure sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said capturing (b) comprises capturing an installed data set corresponding to output of the integral sensor at known pressure, temperature, and orientation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said comparing (c) comprises comparing the installed data set to an as-built data set corresponding to output of the integral sensor at predetermined pressure, temperature, and orientation.

21. The method of claim 14, comprising adjusting at least one of the as-built and installed data sets for any differences between the known conditions and the predetermined conditions.

22. A self-evaluating process control transmitter system for the evaluation of pressure transmitter degradation, said system comprising:

a pressure transmitter configured to capture output data from an integral pressure sensor;

said pressure transmitter having a transmitter memory with initial as-built output data stored thereon;

said transmitter memory having a predetermined acceptable range of data variation stored thereon;

said transmitter memory configured to store subsequent output data thereon, along with temporal, orientation, and ambient temperature information associated therewith;

said pressure transmitter having a self evaluation module communicably coupled to said transmitter memory and configured to standardize output data by adjusting for temperature and orientation;

said self evaluation module configured to identify variations between the as-built output data and the subsequent output data;

said self evaluation module configured to identify variations between individual sets of subsequent output data; and

said self evaluation module configured to determine a trend of said output data over time, and to identify variations between said trend and individual sets of the subsequent output data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to:

compare variations between the as-built output data and the subsequent output data against said acceptable range of data variation;

compare variations between individual output data sets against said acceptable range of output data variation;

compare variations between an individual output data set and trend of said output data over time against said acceptable range of output data variation; and

generate a notification upon identification of a variation exceeding a predetermined acceptable range of data variation.

24. A self-evaluating process control transmitter system, said system comprising:

a transmitter configured to capture output data from an integral sensor;

a transmitter memory integrally disposed with said transmitter;

said transmitter memory configured to store a plurality of sets of said output data thereon, including a prior data set, and a plurality of subsequent data sets;

a self evaluation module integrally disposed with said transmitter, in communication with said transmitter memory and configured to determine a trend of said output data sets over time;

the self evaluation module being further configured to identify one or more variations between the prior data set and at least one of the subsequent data sets.

25. The system of claim 24, comprising a prior data set stored on said transmitter memory.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said prior data set comprises an as-built data set.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said prior data set comprises an as-installed data set.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify variations between a plurality of subsequent data sets.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify one or more variations between said trend and any of the subsequent data sets.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein said transmitter memory is configured with an acceptable range of data variation stored thereon.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to compare said one or more variations with said acceptable range of data variation.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to identify a variation between an individual one of said plurality of data sets and said trend of said output data sets over time, and to compare said variation with said acceptable range of data variation.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein said self evaluation module is configured to generate a notification upon identification of a variation exceeding said acceptable range of data variation.