Abstract: Apparatus and methods for alert management in instrumentation are disclosed. An example method includes generating a set of alerts within a process control instrument, processing the set of alerts to compare the set of alerts to known combinations of alerts, determining if one of the known combinations of alerts matches the set of alerts based on the comparison of the set of alerts to the known combinations of alerts, and identifying a recommended action instruction based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for RFID communications in a process control system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a non-volatile memory to be operatively coupled to a field device of a process control system; and a radio-frequency identification tag to be operatively coupled to the non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is to store data received from at least one of the field device or a radio-frequency identification writer via the radio-frequency identification tag. The radio-frequency identification tag is to wirelessly transmit the data to a radio-frequency identification reader. The data includes at least one of maintenance information, diagnostic information, or configuration information associated with the field device. The non-volatile memory and the radio-frequency identification tag to be physically coupled to the field device.

Abstract: An accelerometer wireless position transducer or sensor is physically coupled to a control device in a process control system and includes an accelerometer that generates a signal based on a position of the control device or its actuator. The transducer converts the accelerometer signal into a wireless signal that includes a value indicative of the actuator position, and causes the wireless position feedback signal to be transmitted over a wireless channel to a valve controller, e.g., by using a short-range wireless protocol. The controller controls the valve based on the value included in the wireless signal. In some configurations, the feedback signal is received at a device paired with the transducer, and the paired device transmits the feedback signal to the controller. The paired device may be paired with multiple transducers and/or sensors, and may transmit various feedback signals to multiple recipient controllers and other devices.

Abstract: A rotary valve is provided for use in highly corrosive and abrasive applications. The valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve also includes a ball element disposed within the valve interior via a valve stem to control fluid flow through the valve, and a valve seat to sealingly engage the ball element. The ball element includes a body having an outside portion, a bore disposed through a center portion of the body, and at least one brace disposed between the bore and the outside portion to strengthen the ball element during highly corrosive and abrasive applications of the valve.

Abstract: Integrated acoustic emission transducer apparatus and methods are described. An example integrated external preamplifier device includes a data extractor, a process variable determiner, a status indication determiner, and a presentation device. The integrated external preamplifier device receives an acoustic emission signal generated via an acoustic emission sensor operatively coupled to the integrated external preamplifier device. The data extractor extracts signal data from the acoustic emission signal. The process variable determiner determines process variable data based on the extracted signal data. The process variable data includes at least one of flow rate data, flow capacity data, flow area data, flow velocity data, mass accumulation data, or volume accumulation data. The status indication determiner determines status indication data based on the process variable data.

Abstract: Bandwidth-selectable acoustic emission apparatus and methods for transmitting time-averaged signal data are described. An example apparatus includes an integrated external preamplifier device having a bandwidth-selectable analog filter and a data extractor. The integrated external preamplifier device is to receive an analog acoustic emission signal generated via an acoustic emission sensor operatively coupled to the integrated external preamplifier device. The bandwidth-selectable analog filter is to filter the analog acoustic emission signal based on a software-programmed bandwidth to generate a filtered analog acoustic emission signal. The data extractor is to extract a time-averaged analog signal from the filtered analog acoustic emission signal, and to transmit the time-averaged analog signal from the integrated external preamplifier device to an external data acquisition system.

Abstract: A bushing having a shaft seal is disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a fluid valve body, a valve shaft disposed in the fluid valve body, and a bushing disposed on the valve shaft between the valve shaft and the fluid valve body. The bushing includes a first groove disposed on an inner surface of the bushing and a second groove disposed on an outer surface of the bushing. A first seal is disposed in the first groove to seal against the valve shaft and a second seal is disposed in the second groove to seal against the valve body.

Abstract: An example control valve is disclosed herein and includes a valve body having a substantially axial fluid flow path extending from an upstream face surface to a downstream face surface of the valve body. A crank is disposed within the valve body, and a reciprocating valve trim, external to the valve body, is coupled to the crank and abuts the downstream face surface of the valve body.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to monitor health information of a valve are disclosed. An example system includes a field device in a process control network to monitor a valve, and a valve health monitor to be communicatively coupled to the field device to obtain operational health information from the field device when the valve is commanded to move from a first position to a second position, the first position opposite the second position, identify a condition of the valve based on the operational health information, and send an alert via the process control network based on the condition of the valve.

Abstract: A valve body has in inlet, an outlet, and a port positioned between the inlet and outlet. An approach passage interconnects the inlet and the port and has a cross-sectional area that is greater than that of the port. One or more guide vanes are positioned within the approach passage and extend longitudinally along at least a portion of the approach passage so that a downstream end of the guide vanes is spaced apart from the port and the guide vanes divide the portion of the approach passage into sub-passages that have equal flow resistances.

Abstract: A tool and a method are provided for cleaning a sealing surface of a valve body. The tool includes a stem adapted to be disposed in the valve body, at least one cleaning element coupled to the stem, and a handle operatively coupled to the at least one cleaning element via the stem. The at least one cleaning element includes at least one cleaning surface adapted to engage the sealing surface when the stem is disposed in the valve body. The at least one cleaning element is movable responsive to actuation of the handle such that the at least one cleaning surface cleans the sealing surface of the valve body.

Abstract: A rotary valve is provided for use in highly corrosive and abrasive applications. The valve includes a valve body and an adapter coupled to one end of the valve body, thereby defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve also includes a floating ball element pivotably mounted in the valve interior via a valve stem to control fluid flow through the valve, a first valve seat movably disposed in the valve interior, and a second valve seat removably disposed in the valve interior. The first valve seat is biased toward the ball element to sealingly engage a first portion of the ball element. The second valve seat is configured to sealingly engage a second portion of the ball element and is clamped between a surface of the valve body and a surface of the adapter.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a pre-amplifier to condition an acoustic emission signal based on an acoustic emission source, a demodulator to generate demodulated acoustic emission data based on combining the acoustic emission signal with a chirp signal, and a transmitter to transmit the demodulated acoustic emission data to a data acquisition system.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an acoustic emission sensor including a pre-amplifier to condition an acoustic emission signal based on an acoustic emission source, a demodulator to generate demodulated acoustic emission data based on the acoustic emission signal, and a transmitter to transmit the demodulated acoustic emission data to a data acquisition system.

Abstract: A control valve has a cage disposed within a valve body adjacent a valve seat and proximate a valve plug to provide guidance for the valve plug. The cage includes a solid, unitary circumferential wall with inlet passages adjacent one of an inner surface or an outer surface and outlet passages adjacent the other of the inner and outer surface. An annular cavity is spaced apart from the inner and outer surfaces and is connected to the inlet passages. Intermediate passages are connected to the annular cavity and recovery plenums interconnect the intermediate passages and the outlet passages. The recovery plenums have cross-sectional areas that are larger than a cross-sectional areas of the intermediate and outlet passages.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of detecting and providing an alert regarding the presence of liquid contamination in a pneumatic supply line and/or in a pneumatic instrument are described. A liquid detection device configured to be coupled to the pneumatic supply includes an electronic liquid sensor configured to detect the presence of liquid in the pneumatic supply and a wireless communicator configured to transmit data from the electronic liquid sensor to a wireless communication node. The liquid detection device may be installed at different locations along a pneumatic supply in a plant. The plant network can forward the transmitted message from the communication node onto a plant computer, where and alert or other message may be provided to an operator or other computer system when water or other liquid is detected.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus for use with a fluid valve includes a plug having a first portion slidably coupled to a second portion. The first and second portions include opposing bleed ports. The second portion contacts a seat of the fluid valve to close the fluid valve. The apparatus further includes a cavity formed in an outer circumferential surface of the plug by the first and second portions. An axial dimension of the cavity decreases when the first portion slides toward the second portion. The decrease radially outwardly displaces a seal disposed in the cavity. The seal has a curved outer surface configured to engage an inner circumferential wall of a cage of the fluid valve in response to the second portion contacting the seat. The apparatus further includes a pin disposed in the opposing bleed ports to align the first and second portions relative to a common longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A process control apparatus includes a housing, a process control device disposed in the housing, and a temperature control device operably coupled to the housing for regulating a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing. The temperature control device includes a vortex tube and a flow control valve. The flow control valve is coupled to the vortex tube and includes a temperature sensing feature configured to sense a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing and configured to move a control element of the flow control valve based on the sensed temperature between a plurality of positions to selectively direct the flow of fluid from the first and second vortex outlets to the atmosphere internal to the housing.

Abstract: Valve trim apparatus for use with fluid valves are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a cage to be positioned in a fluid flow passageway of a valve body. The cage having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The cage including columns extending between the first end and the second end at an angle relative to a primary fluid flow path of the cage. Each of the columns includes fluid flow passageways extending through the column from an outer peripheral surface of the column to an interior surface of the column. The columns are radially spaced about a circumference of the cage body to define fluid flow passageways between the columns.

Abstract: A valve plug assembly includes a valve plug base, a valve plug tip, and a clamp that removably couples the valve plug tip to the valve plug base. The valve plug base includes a base body portion arranged for attachment to the valve stem and a base mating portion coupled to the base body portion. The valve plug tip has a tip body portion and a tip mating portion coupled to the tip body portion, the tip body portion having a sealing surface arranged to sealingly engage the valve seat. The clamp includes a clamp bore sized to receive at least a portion of the base mating portion and at least a portion of the tip mating portion.