Abstract: A system to reduce standby losses in a hot water heater is presented. The system utilizes a dual safety relay valve between the combination gas controller and the burner. The dual safety relay valve bypasses gas to a rotary damper actuator valve to position a damper flapper valve located over/inside the flue pipe. Once the flapper valve has opened to ensure combustion, the gas is allowed to flow back to the dual safety relay valve. Some of the bypass gas may be diverted to boost the pilot or to supply a booster. The dual safety relay valve is then opened to allow the gas supply to the burner. Once the burner is turned off, bypass gas bleeds out of the rotary damper actuator valve to close the damper flapper valve to reduce standby losses through the flue pipe, and to allow the dual safety relay valve to close tightly.

Abstract: A system to reduce standby losses in a hot water heater is presented. The system utilizes a dual safety relay valve between the combination gas controller and the burner. The dual safety relay valve bypasses gas to a rotary damper actuator valve to position a damper flapper valve located over/inside the flue pipe. Once the flapper valve has opened to ensure combustion, the gas is allowed to flow back to the dual safety relay valve. Some of the bypass gas may be diverted to boost the pilot or to supply a booster. The dual safety relay valve is then opened to allow the gas supply to the burner. Once the burner is turned off, bypass gas bleeds out of the rotary damper actuator valve to close the damper flapper valve to reduce standby losses through the flue pipe, and to allow the dual safety relay valve to close tightly.

Abstract: A processor executable method, system, and computer-readable media expedite the process of entering equations for use in developing simulations of chemical processes. The process of entering equations is expedited by dynamically inferring the dimensions of variables. The process infers the dimensions of all variables in user-added equations, and infers the dimensions of each variable in a user-added equation sequentially. The process automatically creates variables with unassigned dimensions in response to indications, such as inputs from a user, to declare new equations. The process assigns dimensions to variables based on relations between variables, such as logical relations between the dimensions of variables.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method or system is provided to automate actions for one or more applications executed via a platform using at least one virtual machine in a guest system. Each virtual machine includes a guest operating system, a guest agent and an application to be executed on the virtual machine. The method or system stores in a memory user-defined automation actions and causal relationships between the user-defined automation actions from which an automation graph is derived for the application to be executed on the virtual machine on the guest system; launches the guest system and the virtual machine via the platform; and executes the user-defined automation actions via the guest agent of the virtual machine according to the automation graph after the guest system and the virtual machine are launched.

Abstract: Virtual machine storage and runtime provisioning comprises accessing a base generalized reusable virtual machine image and configuring memory according to an instantiated copy of the base virtual machine image. Project specific content is accessed from a central content store configured to store content separately from the base machine image. The instantiated machine image and project specific content are linked at launch time to form a project specific functioning virtual machine. After completion of the project specific function, the project specific content is stored separately and the project specific functioning virtual machine is removed from memory. This minimizes use of virtual machine instances to only when needed and makes content available to other users.

Abstract: A system manages machine images on a plurality of distributed servers over a network. A service processor generates installation instructions for building a machine image on a remote server, the machine image comprising a component, the installation instructions including instructions for the remote server to access the component from a source of the component. A reactive management processor is coupled to the service processor, accesses the source of the component, to detect whether an update of the component exists, and to notify the service processor of existence of the detected update. The service processor generates revised installation instructions for rebuilding a revised machine image on the remote server in response to the notification of the update from the reactive management processor. The service processor transmits a global rebuild command and the revised installation instructions for rebuilding the revised machine image.

Abstract: Automated hardware device engineering and design by representing hardware engineering requirements via a wiring typical schema. An engineering workbench application executing on a computing device utilizes a wiring typical schema representing generic and project-specific requirements to automate hardware device engineering and design tasks in real time.

Abstract: Annotating content, comprising data values of one or more tags corresponding to a process device within a continuous process, with content descriptors in a historian system. Content descriptors enable indexing and saving content within a search service database for later retrieval by search strings that match the content descriptors. Content having one or more common content descriptors are retrieved and transmitted to a client computing device via a communications network for displaying in a dashboard on the client computing device.

Abstract: Operational historian system retrieving summary data values and source data values based on alignment between a summarization cycle duration and a query cycle duration. A retrieval service process executing on a historian device utilizes a summarization cycle duration, including start and/or end times thereof, and a query cycle duration, including start and/or end times thereof, to determine whether to retrieve, via a communications network, source tag data and/or summary tag data from memory storage devices.

Abstract: A method and a system for preparing a plurality of installed field devices for operation in a process control network. In some embodiments, a computing device provides a visual summary of the installed field devices to a user via a user interface. A configuration database stores predefined device preparation scopes, each scope being indicative of one or more of the installed field devices. Based on a user selection of one or more predefined device preparation scopes in the user interface, the computing device implements each of the predefined device preparation scopes by, among other things, retrieving configuration information from the configuration database for each installed field device indicated by each predefined device preparation scope and transmitting the information to each respective installed field device for updating the device configuration.

Abstract: Providing separate real-time and configuration segments in a database. The real-time segment provides real-time data values to a real-time application and the configuration segment provides configuration data values to the real-time application. Utilizing two or more configuration segments enables changes to configuration data values without impacting real-time applications.

Abstract: Providing double-buffered record locking in a database architecture. Double-buffered database records enable multiple parallel read locks substantially simultaneously with one write lock to eliminate lock collisions between the read locks and the write lock.

Abstract: First in, first out (FIFO) memory queue architecture enabling a plurality of writers and a single reader to use the queue without mutual exclusive locking. The FIFO queue is implemented using an array. A write counter value associated with the array provides a reservation value to each writer that is mutually exclusive of the value provided to every other writer. A read counter value associated with the array prevents writers from writing over data messages stored in the array that are yet to be read by the single reader.

Abstract: A field device for use in a process control system having embedded firmware stored in a a nonvolatile memory. The firmware includes computer-executable instructions for performing fixed behaviors and/or standard measurements as well as a runtime interpreter. The interpreter executes application specific code downloaded to the field device. When executed, the application specific code performs custom field device functions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter has a flowtube configured to carry a conductive fluid. The flowtube has wall made of a conductive material. The wall has an inner surface surrounding a fluid flow path for the fluid. A non-conductive liner is positioned to electrically insulate the flowtube wall from the fluid. The flowtube and non-conductive liner define an electrode mounting hole. An electrode extends through the electrode mounting hole. The electrode and the non-conductive liner form a fluidic seal between the electrode mounting hole and the fluid flow path. At least a portion of the electrode is arranged in fluid communication with the flowtube within the electrode mounting hole. A short circuit detector can detect failure of the seal when conductive fluid that has leaked past the seal creates a short circuit as a result of the fluid communication between the flowtube and the electrode mounting hole.

Abstract: Consolidating events to execute objects to extract, transform, and load data from source systems to a structured data store. An event manager process executing on a server runtime utilizes one or more event properties to determine which events can be consolidated to reduce unnecessary processor utilization.

Abstract: Coordinating scheduled events and aperiodic events to execute objects to extract, transform, and load data from source systems to a structured data store. An event manager process executing on a server runtime utilizes event suspension, consolidation, and sequencing techniques to ensure that only one event process is executed for a particular time range.

Abstract: Providing a fast response to a process step while allowing a sensor response to remain relatively slow. A mechanical component generates a response to a step change in a physical property and an electrical component generates an analog electrical signal indicative of the response generated by the mechanical component over a period of time. The analog electrical signal is converted into digital values and the digital values are used to indicate the final value of the step change in the physical property before the period of time has elapsed.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter includes a conduit and an electrical coil for generating a magnetic field extending through the conduit. A coil driver is configured to energize the coil and generate a periodically reversing magnetic field. Electrodes are arranged to detect voltages generated by flow of a conductive fluid through the magnetic field. A measurement system measures fluid flow rate using voltages detected by the electrodes. An empty conduit detector receives signals from the electrodes and determines whether or not the electrodes are immersed in the conductive fluid by analyzing the signals from the electrodes. The flowmeter optionally includes a low-flow verification system for distinguishing true low or zero flow rate measurements from measurements caused by the electrodes being exposed above the fluid level in the conduit by assessing whether or not EMF induced by magnetic flux change can be detected.

Abstract: Persisting a location of a data source in an industrial process historian system. By persisting location data for state indicators, the state indicators are filtered based on a location corresponding to a remote device. The historian system permits transmitting state indicators to a remote device based on a location of the remote device relative to persisted location data associated with one or more process devices.