Abstract: A method for monitoring of an industrial system, such as a pneumatic control system, can include monitoring a plurality of operating characteristics of a plurality of components of the system, logging a plurality of instances of the operating characteristics for each of the components, creating a mathematical model of the system from the plurality of instances of the operating characteristics, predicting a failure of one of the components by comparing a trend in the plurality of instances of the operating characteristics to the model, or any combination thereof. The model can model the system as a whole and/or include discrete modelling of any of the components.

Abstract: A slam-shut mechanism for operatively connecting a slam-shut control element of a fluid regulator with a controller for the control element. The mechanism includes a shaft and a cam carried by the shaft and having a cam surface adapted to be operatively connected to the slam-shut control element. The mechanism also includes a latching pin carried by the shaft, a latch, and a lever operably connected to the latch and adapted to be selectively engaged by the controller. When the controller engages the lever, the latch is movable from a first position, in which the latch securely retains the latching pin, such that the cam surface is arranged to retain the slam-shut control element in a fully open position, to a second position, in which the latching pin is released from the latch, thereby allowing the slam-shut control element to move from the fully open position to a closed position.

Abstract: Balanced plug assemblies and pressure regulators having balanced plug assemblies are described herein. A pressure regulator disclosed herein includes a device body defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet. The device body defines a channel between the fluid passageway and a pressure sense chamber. The pressure regulator includes a seat in the fluid passageway, a stem having a flange, and a plug coupled to the stem. The pressure regulator also includes a stem guide disposed in the channel of the device body. The flange of the stem disposed in a balance chamber of the stem guide and divides the balance chamber into a first balance chamber portion and a second balance chamber portion. The stem guide at least partially forms a balance passage that fluidly couples the pressure sense chamber and the second balance chamber portion.

Abstract: Universal control circuitry for an electro-hydraulic valve actuator system includes logic gate circuitry to control one or more of a closing solenoid valve, an opening solenoid valve, an emergency shutdown solenoid valve, and a hydraulic fluid pump motor to route hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic circuit to actuate a valve via a hydraulic actuator according to received commands. The universal control circuitry is configured to control operation for multiple different configurations of a hydraulic valve actuator system including double-acting configurations, single-acting spring-to-open configurations, and single-acting spring-to-close configurations, each with or without an emergency shutdown arrangement (which may be configured to trip based on an external shutdown input alone or in combination with a local system power failure), a hydraulic accumulator, and maintained or momentary input commands.

Abstract: Flame arrestors and methods of making flame arrestors are described herein. An example flame arrestor includes a cylindrical body. The body includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the body has an end surface. The body also includes a recess formed in the end surface of the first end. The recess is defined by a recessed surface extending inward from the end surface toward the second end. The body further includes a set of channels formed through the body between the first and second ends. The channels extend through the recessed surface.

Abstract: A trim assembly for a regulator can include a cage and a plug assembly. The cage can include a peripheral wall defining an opening and a plurality of cage apertures formed in the peripheral wall. The plug assembly can include a plug and a sealing element and can be configured to be moveably received within the opening so that the sealing element contacts an inner surface of the cage to vary a flow area through the plurality of cage apertures depending on the position of the plug.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an actuator (100) for a valve assembly. The actuator can include a yoke (146) with at least one bore (196), a first rod assembly (136), and a first slide member (148) seated within the at least one bore and pivotally connected to the first rod assembly. The yoke can be configured to rotate about a yoke axis (198) to actuate the valve assembly. The first rod assembly can be configured to move in a first direction transverse to the at least one bore and the yoke axis. The first slide member can be configured to slide telescopically within the at least one bore as the first rod assembly moves in the first direction to transmit torque to the yoke for actuation of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A real-time control system includes a faulty variable identification technique to implement a data-driven fault detection function that provides an operator with information that enables a higher level of situational awareness of the current and likely future operating conditions of the process plant. The faulty variable identification technique enables an operator to recognize when a process plant component is behaving abnormally to potentially take action, in a current time step, to alleviate the underlying cause of the problem, thus reducing the likelihood of or preventing a stall of the process control system or a failure of the process plant component.

Abstract: Heat tracing systems and related methods are disclosed. An example valve includes a valve body defining a fluid flow passageway between a primary inlet and a primary outlet. The body valve has a first face adjacent the main inlet, the first face including a first groove. A first cover is positioned over the first groove to define a first heat tracing path. A secondary inlet is formed in the valve body and fluidly coupled to the first heat tracing path. A secondary outlet formed in the valve body and fluidly coupled to the first heat tracing path.

Abstract: Valve handles and dual-valve assemblies having handles are disclosed herein. An example dual-valve assembly includes a first valve having a first shaft. The first valve has a plate with a notch. The dual-valve assembly also includes a second valve having a second shaft. The dual-valve assembly further includes a handle coupled to the first and second shafts, such that when the handle is rotated, the first and second shafts are rotated simultaneously. The handle includes a body and a flexible arm coupled to and extending from the body. The flexible arm has a lock edge sized to fit within the notch to limit rotation of the handle relative to the first and second valves.

Abstract: A process characteristic parameter determination system uses a process model and a tuning module to accurately determine a value for a process characteristic parameter within a plant without measuring the process characteristic parameter directly, and may operate on-line or while the process is running to automatically determine a correct value of the process characteristic parameter at any time during on-going operation of the process. The process characteristic parameter value, which may be a heat transfer coefficient value for a heat exchanger, can then be used to enable the determination of a more accurate simulation result and/or to make other on-line process decisions, such as process control decisions, process operational mode decisions, process maintenance decisions such as implementing a soot blowing operation, etc.

Abstract: A control system having a first pressure regulator, a downstream fluid control device, first pilot, and second pilot. The first pressure regulator has a fluid inlet, fluid outlet, and actuator assembly with a cavity divided into a first chamber and a second chamber. The downstream fluid control device has a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet. The first pilot has a first setpoint and the second pilot has a second setpoint, less than the first setpoint. The first and second pilots fluidly couple the second chamber to the second fluid outlet in a first mode of operation, isolate the second chamber from the second fluid outlet in a second mode of operation, and fluidly couple the second chamber to the fluid inlet in a third mode of operation.

Abstract: Balanced plug assemblies and pressure regulators having balanced plug assemblies are described herein. A pressure regulator disclosed herein includes a device body defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet. The device body defines a channel between the fluid passageway and a pressure sense chamber. The pressure regulator includes a seat in the fluid passageway, a stem having a flange, and a plug coupled to the stem. The pressure regulator also includes a stem guide disposed in the channel of the device body. The flange of the stem disposed in a balance chamber of the stem guide and divides the balance chamber into a first balance chamber portion and a second balance chamber portion. The stem guide at least partially forms a balance passage that fluidly couples the pressure sense chamber and the second balance chamber portion.

Abstract: Control valves and cages that are adapted to reduce flashing and cavitation. A cage for use with a control valve having an inlet, an outlet, and defining a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. The cage includes a generally cylindrical body and having a central bore, an upper portion, and a lower portion and an inner wall, an outer wall, and an intermediate wall disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall includes an inlet opening and the outer wall including an outlet opening. The inner wall, the outer wall, and the intermediate wall cooperate to define a portion of the flow passage that extends from the inlet opening, through the cage along the inner wall, along the intermediate wall, past a terminal portion of the intermediate wall, along the outer wall, to the outlet opening.

Abstract: An adjustable cage assembly for a flow control device can include a first cage body and a second cage body. The first cage body can be rotationally fixed relative to the second cage body at a plurality of alignments to provide a flow opening of variable size for adjustable control of fluid flow areas through the adjustable cage assembly.

Abstract: A real-time control system includes a simulation system to implement a predictive, look-ahead function that provides an operator with information that enables a higher level of situational awareness of the expected transitional events of future steps within the control program or sequence logic. The simulation system enables future steps and transitions to be monitored before they actually occur, which enables the operator to recognize and potentially take action, in a current time step, to alleviate the underlying cause of the problem, thus reducing the likelihood of or preventing a sequence stall of the control program.

Abstract: A method of custom manufacturing a flame arrestor assembly configured to extinguish a flame propagating therethrough. The method includes creating a customized flame cell using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming one or more channels in the body. The one or more channels define a flow path configured to transfer heat from a flame front propagating through the flow path to the body. The method also includes providing a housing, and securely arranging the flame cell within the housing.

Abstract: Plates and plate assemblies for noise attenuators and other devices and methods of making the same are described herein. An example plate assembly includes a support frame to be coupled to a body of the noise attenuator. The support frame has a plurality of radially extending ribs. The plate assembly also includes a disc-shaped plate having a plurality of openings forming flow paths to attenuate noise. The disc-shaped plate is coupled to the support frame such that pressure-induced loads on the disc-shaped plate are distributed to the plurality of radially extending ribs of the support frame.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for leak detection from a thief hatch. An example thief hatch includes a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control fluid flow through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem, and an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a visual indication of a condition of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A laser detection system comprises a sample chamber configured to receive and contain a volume of sample gas, one or more lasers within at least one laser housing, wherein each laser is configured to produce a respective laser beam for excitation of one or more different materials in the sample gas and the one or more lasers are outside the sample chamber, a detector apparatus for detecting light output from the sample chamber, a first optical interface to the sample chamber having at least one window that is at least partially transparent to the laser beams from the one or more lasers, wherein the at least one laser housing is positioned in a close-coupling arrangement relative to the at least one window of the first optical interface such that, in use, the laser beams are substantially unmodified by passage between the laser housing and the at least one window.