Abstract: A field device includes diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a characteristic related to a process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic is used to provide a diagnostic output indicative of a condition of the process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic can be provided to a diagnostic module that operates upon the measured characteristic to predict, or otherwise model, a condition of the process control and measurement system.

Abstract: An events management system coordinates the exchange of device alert or alarm information between an asset management system and one or more business systems within a process control system or plant. The events management system receives device alerts from the asset management system and uses a rules-engine and one or more state machines to send notifications containing device alert information to one of more of the business systems.

Abstract: A process control system uses an asset utilization expert to collect data or information pertaining to the assets of a process plant from various sources or functional areas of the plant including, for example, the process control functional areas, the maintenance functional areas and the business systems functional areas. This data and information is manipulated in a coordinated manner by tools, such as optimization and modeling tools and is redistributed to other areas or tools where it is used to perform overall better or more optimal control, maintenance and business activities. Information or data may be collected by maintenance functions pertaining to the health, variability, performance or utilization of a device, loop, unit, etc. and this information may then be sent to and displayed to a process operator or maintenance person to inform that person of a current or future problem.

Abstract: A two-wire temperature transmitter is coupleable to a two-wire process control loop for measuring temperature of a process. The transmitter includes an analog to digital converter configured to provide digital output in response to an analog input. A two-wire loop communicator is configured to couple to the process control loop and send information on the loop. A microprocessor is coupled to the digital output and configured to send temperature related information on the process control loop with the two-wire loop communicator. A power supply is configured to completely power the two-wire temperature transmitter with power from the two-wire process control loop. A temperature sensor comprises at least two temperature sensitive elements having element outputs which degrade in accordance with different degradation characteristics.

Abstract: Enhanced HART device alerts enable HART devices within a process control system to report alarm or alert conditions that are detected within the devices to a system user or operator using a plurality of intuitive device status conditions, each of which corresponds to a different level of severity and each of which may require a different type of response by the system user or operator. The status conditions are consistent with enhanced Fieldbus device alerts and include a condition associated with a failure of a HART device, a condition associated with maintenance needed by a HART device and an advisable action in connection with a HART device.

Abstract: A process plant uses an asset utilization expert to collect data or information pertaining to the assets of the process plant from various sources or functional areas of the plant including, for example, the process control functional areas, the maintenance functional areas and the business systems functional areas. Some of this data, such as data indicative of one or more process parameters associated with a process entity like a furnace, may be used to estimate a degradation level, such as a coking level, of the process entity at a first time. The estimated level of the degradation of the process entity at the first time may then be compared to a predetermined desired level of degradation of the process entity at the first time and the operation of the process entity may be altered based on the comparison to drive the estimated amount of degradation of the process entity at a second time to be approximately equal to a predetermined desired level of degradation at the second time.

Abstract: A device in a process control system includes an electrical element which has a resistance. Self heating circuitry coupled to the element provides a self heating signal related to the resistance of the element. Diagnostic circuitry provides a diagnostic output as a function of the self heating signal output.

Abstract: A monitoring system for use in a process plant having a pump or other device capable of undergoing cavitation, uses a characteristic curve, a model and/or process variables, such as indications of a flow rate within the device or a pressure at the input of the device, to detect or predict the occurrence of cavitation within the device. Upon detecting the occurrence of cavitation, the monitoring system may alert a user to the existence of the cavitation, may suggest possible causes of the cavitation and may suggest possible actions to be taken to alleviate the cavitation.

Abstract: A field device includes circuitry to successively measure a parameter related to current drawn by electronics of the field device. The measurements are provided to a prediction engine which calculates a diagnostic output based upon the plurality of current-related measurements. The diagnostic prediction provided by the prediction engine can provide an estimate of viable life remaining for the device electronics. The diagnostic feature provides on-line status of the overall status of the field transmitter.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a process collects process data within a process control plant and transmits the collected process data to a remote data processing facility. The remote data processing facility analyzes the process data using a process analysis tool such as a process monitoring tool, an equipment monitoring tool, a device monitoring tool, an index generation tool, a work order generation tool and/or an accounting tool to generate analysis data. The analysis data is then transmitted to the process control plant via a communication link such as the Internet.

Abstract: A device in a process control system includes an electrical element which has a resistance. Self-heating circuitry coupled to the element provides a self-heating current to determine the self-heating index (SHI) of the element. Diagnostic information about the electrical element is provided based upon the self-heating index.

Abstract: A process device couples to a process control loop. The process device receives process signals. A memory in the process device contains a nominal parameter value and a rule. Computing circuitry calculates a statistical parameter of the process signal and operates on the statistical parameter and the stored nominal value based upon the stored rule and responsively provides an event output based upon the operation.

Abstract: A process device is adapted to couple to a process control loop and communicate on the process control loop. Communication on the process control loop is effected in accordance with an internet protocol. A process communication device is also provided which couples to the process control loop, and an internet. The process communication device provides process control information received from the process control loop, to the internet. Conversely, the process communication device also provides information received from the internet to the process control loop.

Abstract: An industrial process diagnostic apparatus is provided which can identify a source, or “root cause”, of an aberration in an industrial process. A plurality of process configuration models are provided which each represent a physical (or actual) implementation of an industrial process. One of the plurality of models is selected and diagnostics performed on the process using the selected model and at least one process signal related to the process. Based upon the diagnostics, a root cause of the aberration is determined.

Abstract: A flow diagnostic system for a flow sensing element and impulse lines. A pressure transmitter coupled to the impulse lines provides digital pressure data to a control system. The control system provides the pressure data and real time clock readings to a diagnostic application. The diagnostic application calculates a difference between current pressure data and its moving average. A condition of the primary element or impulse lines is diagnosed from a current pressure data set relative to an historical data set. The diagnostic application is downloadable from an application service provider (ASP). The application can run on the control system, a remote computer or the ASP. A diagnostic report is preferably provided.

Abstract: Enhanced Fieldbus device alerts enable Fieldbus devices within a process control system to report alarm or alert conditions that are detected within the devices to a system user or operator using a plurality of independently reportable device alarm parameters, each of which corresponds to a different level of severity and each of which may require a different type of response by the system user or operator. The independently reportable device alarm parameters include a parameter associated with a failure of a Fieldbus device, a parameter associated with maintenance needed by a Fieldbus device and an advisable action in connection with a Fieldbus device.

Abstract: A process device couples to a process control loop. The process device receives a process signal. A memory in the process device contains a nominal parameter value. Computing circuitry provides an event output based upon the stored nominal value and the process signal. Output circuitry provides an output in response to the event output.

Abstract: A device in a process control system includes a memory for storing a series of sensed process variables and command outputs representative of a learned process cycle. Comparison circuitry compares recent process information to learned process information stored in the memory and responsively provides a validity output signal. A method includes learning a cycle of a process to provide learned process information which comprises stored process variables and stored control signals over a time period, measuring a process variable in the process and responsively calculating the control output, storing the process variable in the control output to provide recent process information, and comparing the recent process information to the learned process information and responsively providing a validity output signal.

Abstract: A process device couples to a process control loop. The process device receives process signals. A memory in the process device contains a nominal parameter value and a rule. Computing circuitry calculates a statistical parameter of the process signal and operates on the statistical parameter and the stored nominal value based upon the stored rule and responsively provides an event output based upon the operation. Output circuitry provides an output in response to the event output.

Abstract: A device in the process control system includes a sensor input receiving a sensor signal. The sensor signal comprises a process variable signal and a residual sensor signal related to sensor operation. Diagnostic circuitry receives a separated sensor signal and responsively provides a diagnostic output related to the sensor. Sensor signal processing circuitry separates the sensor signal into signal components which are provided to the diagnostic circuitry.