Auto-tuning in a distributed process control environment

An auto-tuner for use in implementing a tuning procedure in a process control system that has first and second devices communicatively coupled via a communication network, a processor capable of implementing software within each of the first and second devices, a memory in each of the first and second devices and a control element located within the first device, the auto-tuner comprising:

• tuning function block software adapted to be stored in the memory of the first device and implemented on the processor of the first device including,
• a control routine that controls the operation of the control element within the first device during the tuning procedure,
• a data collection routine that collects data generated during the tuning procedure and that stores the collected data in the memory of the first device, and
• a communication routine that communicates process characteristic information to the second device via the communication network, and
• tuning parameter calculation software adapted to be stored in the memory of the second device and implemented on the processor of the second device that determines a tuning parameter for the control element of the first device from the process characteristic information.

A method of tuning a control element located in a first device of a process control system having the first device and a second device communicatively coupled via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

• implementing a control procedure stored in the first device to control the operation of the control element and thereby to implement a tuning procedure;
• collecting data generated during the tuning procedure in the first device;
• communicating process characteristic information developed from the collected data to the second device via the communication network;
• and
• determining a tuning parameter for the control element from the process characteristic information in the second device.