Valve degradation detection via stroke time analysis

A method of monitoring a valve assembly, the method comprising:

• operating a valve driver to control a position of a valve;
• receiving, by an input interface of a monitoring control system including an electronic processor, operational data that is representative of one or more parameters of operation of a valve assembly, the operational data being collected by the valve assembly during normal operation;
• identifying, by the monitoring control system, a change in valve travel setpoint that indicates a start of an evaluable valve transition based on the operational data;
• identifying, by the monitoring control system, a change in valve travel that indicates an end of the evaluable valve transition based on the operational data;
• generating, by the monitoring control system, a valve transition time based on a time differential between the start of the evaluable valve transition, indicated by the change in valve travel setpoint, and the end of the evaluable valve transition, indicated by the change in valve travel;
• comparing the valve transition time to a first time limit, the first time limit being larger than an expected value for the valve transition time;
• comparing the valve transition time to a second time limit, the second time limit being larger than the first time limit;
• controlling a user interface to display a first alert when the valve transition time exceeds the first time limit;
• and
• controlling a user interface to display a second alert when the valve transition time exceeds the second time limit.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, the computer-executable code for causing a computer to:

• command a valve driver to control a position of a valve;
• receive operational data that is representative of one or more parameters of operation of a valve assembly, the operational data being collected by the valve assembly during normal operation;
• identify, based on the operational data, a change in valve travel setpoint that indicates a start of an evaluable valve transition;
• identify, based on the operational data, a change in valve travel that indicates an end of the evaluable valve transition;
• generate a valve transition time based on a time differential between the start and the end of the evaluable valve transition;
• compare the valve transition time to a first time limit, the first time limit being larger than an expected value for the valve transition time;
• compare the valve transition time to a second time limit, the second time limit being larger than the first time limit;
• generate a first anomaly indication when the valve transition time exceeds the first time limit;
• and
• generate a second anomaly indication when the valve transition time exceeds the second time limit.