Knowledge based valve control method
AssigneeWestlock Controls Corporation
InventorsLeo Minervini, Daniel W. Mrozinski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method associated with a valve controller configured to capture dynamic process conditions for monitoring, diagnosing and maintaining a valve assembly through knowledge-based valve performance criteria. The method includes determining the open and closed positions of a process valve. Measuring the peak torque value required by an actuator to open and close the process valve. Measuring the supply and exhaust pressure required by an actuator to open and close the valve. Determining a deviation zone associated with the peak torque value to open the valve where an alarm is triggered when the torque value falls outside the deviation zone. Creating the dynamic baseline over Nth process cycles when the valve is installed in-line.
Claims20
A knowledge based control method associated with a valve package having a process valve, an actuator and a controller, the method comprising:
- obtaining a baseline signature for said valve corresponding to an operating characteristic value of said valve as the valve moves from a first position to a second position in-line as process media is flowing through the valve, the baseline signature comprising a torque profile for the valve;
- storing said baseline signature in a memory;
- obtaining an operating signature for said valve corresponding to values associated with said baseline signature each time the valve moves from said first position to said second position in-line as process media is flowing through the valve;
- comparing said operating signature to the baseline signature;
- and
- determining if one or more of the values associated with the operating signature is within an acceptable tolerance deviation from the corresponding one or more values in the baseline signature;
- wherein said baseline signature is calculated from a rolling average of said operating characteristic determined only after a defined break-in period, the break-in period defined by a period of N cycles, wherein a cycle is defined as movement of the valve from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position where N>1.
A valve system comprising:
- a process valve connected to a pipe line through which process media travels;
- an actuator mounted on said valve and configured to open and close said valve;
- and
- a controller connected to said actuator and configured to supply signals to said actuator to open or close said valve, said controller further configured to obtain a baseline signature for said valve corresponding to at least one operating characteristic value of said valve as the valve moves from said open position to said closed position and from said closed position to said open position in-line as process media travels through said valve, the baseline signature comprising a torque profile for the valve,
- said controller further comprising a memory device for storing said baseline signature,
- said controller further configured to obtain an operating signature for said valve corresponding to values associated with said baseline signature each time the valve moves from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position, said controller comparing said operating signature to said baseline signature;
- wherein said baseline signature is calculated from a rolling average of said operating characteristic determined only after a defined break-in period, the break-in period defined by a period of N cycles wherein a cycle is defined as movement of the valve from said open position to said closed position and from said closed position to said open position, where N>1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.