Abstract: A fault tolerant control system delivers an embedded functional safety core and a distributed control engine with an onboard communication link in an industrial process control environment. The fault tolerant control system includes a process control workstation connected to a first network and a fault tolerant safety controller connected to a second network, wherein a process controller module, a safety controller module and a field device system integration module are co-located on a power interface board.

Abstract: A net oil and gas well test system for a set of oil and gas wells includes at least two net oil and gas measurement systems and a plurality of valves that are in fluid communication with the individual wells in the set and independently configurable between a first state, in which the valve routes flow to a first net oil and gas measurement system, and a second state, in which the valve routes flow to a second net oil and gas measurement system. Each net oil and gas measurement system suitably has the capability to measure a multiphase flow including oil, gas, and water without separation. For example, each measurement system can include a multiphase Coriolis meter and a water cut meter. Each measurement system suitably includes the capability to provide dynamic uncertainty estimates related to measurement of the multiphase flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a dynamically synchronized instance to a network device. A repository database stores a process model instance having a layout defined by data elements. A design tool processor coupled to the repository database provides the instance to a user device and a network device. The user device modifies data elements of the instance to generate a first version instance, and the design tool processor generates a dynamically synchronized instance for storing and serving the dynamically synchronized instance to a network device.

Abstract: A message management facility is described herein that is hosted by a networked node, in a process control network environment, that is separate from a control processor. The message management facility routes a stream of messages received from the control processor to a set of destinations on a supervisory network. By interposing the message management facility on a node that is interposed, in a message steam, between alarm message sources (control processors) and alarm message sinks (workstations, printers, historians), a number of additional functions can be implemented to carry out a number of advanced functions.

Abstract: Real-time dynamic optimization of a process model in an online model-based process control computing environment. A mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) solver utilizes a switch to activate and deactivate a first-principle model of a process unit. The switch enables MINLP behavior by attaching to the first-principle model.

Abstract: A potentiometric sensor includes an elongate non-glass, non-metal housing having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends. The housing defines a lumen extending along the length of the housing. A measuring half-cell assembly is received in the lumen of the housing and secured to the housing. The measuring half-cell assembly includes a glass body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second ends of the glass body. The second longitudinal end of the glass body is adjacent the second longitudinal end of the housing and a longitudinal extent of the glass body is less than the length of the housing.

Abstract: A multi-phase flow metering system for measuring a multi-phase fluid including oil, water, and gas, includes a Coriolis mass flow meter adapted to measure mass flow rate and density of the multi-phase fluid. The system has a water cut meter adapted to measure the water cut of the multi-phase fluid. A processor is configured to determine the oil mass flow rate of the oil, water mass flow rate of the water, and gas mass flow rate of the gas using the mass flow rate and density from the Coriolis meter and the water cut from the water cut meter. The processor is further configured to determine dynamic estimates of the uncertainty of each of the oil mass flow rate, water mass flow rate, and gas mass flow rate.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter has a driver that oscillates a conduit, a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of movement of the conduit at a first location, and a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of movement of the conduit at a second location. The first and second locations are arranged so a phase difference between the first and second signals when the conduit is oscillated by the driver is related to a mass flow rate of the fluid through the flowmeter. A digital signal processor includes a plurality of detectors tuned to a set of different frequencies. The detectors are configured to analyze the first sensor signal in parallel and generate an output indicative of how closely an actual frequency of the first sensor signal matches the frequency to which the respective detector is tuned.

Abstract: A customization tool is described in association with a universal device type manager (DTM) utility. The customization tool includes a set of user interfaces and associated functionality that facilitates creating a set of customized templates for a particular device type. The customized templates define access to device data via graphical user interfaces supported by the universal DTM utility and/or universal BTM utility for instances of the device type.

Abstract: High availability and data migration in a distributed process control computing environment. Allocation algorithms distribute data and applications among available compute nodes, such as controllers in a process control system. In the process control system, an input/output device, such as a fieldbus module, can be used by any controller. Databases store critical execution information for immediate takeover by a backup compute element. The compute nodes are configured to execute algorithms for mitigating dead time in the distributed computing environment.

Abstract: A spectroscopic sample analysis apparatus includes an actively controlled heat exchanger in serial fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer, and a controller communicably coupled to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is disposed downstream of a fluid handler in the form of a stream selection unit/stream switching unit (SSU), a solvent/standard recirculation unit (SRU), and/or an auto-sampling unit (ASU). The SSU selectively couples individual stream inputs to an output port. The SRU includes a solvent/standard reservoir, and selectively couples output ports to the heat exchanger, and returns the solvent/standard sample to the reservoirs. The ASU includes a sample reservoir having a sample transfer pathway with a plurality of orifices disposed at spaced locations along a length thereof. The controller selectively actuates the fluid handler, enabling sample to flow there through to the heat exchanger, and actuates the heat exchanger to maintain the sample at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A well test system for testing fluids produced from one or more petroleum wells has a separator and a plurality of multiphase flow metering systems, each of which has the capability, over at least a portion of its operating envelope, of separately measuring flow rates of oil, water, and gas. The well test system has a fluidic system, including gas leg conduits coupling the separator to the multiphase flow metering systems, liquid leg conduits coupling separator to the multiphase flow metering systems, and bypass conduits for directing multiphase fluid to the multiphase flow metering systems while bypassing the separator. Valves are configured to selectively route fluid flow though the fluidic system to selectively bypass the separator when the multiphase flow metering systems can be used to provide separate flow rates of oil, water, and gas in the unseparated multiphase fluids from the well.

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: A system for improving production of a process control system comprises a processor, sensors connected to one or more assets in the process control system, human-machine interfaces, and a storage memory storing instructions for execution on the processor. The system receives process data via the sensors and determines an input cost of the one or more assets and an output value of the one or more assets. The system provides a net production value of the one or more assets based on the determined input cost and output value. The system stores the input cost, output value, and net production value on a storage memory and provides the input cost, output value, and net production value along with critical asset performance information of asset value, asset performance and opportunity costs for each asset and asset set in the operation to a user via the human-machine interfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing configuration information for cloud-based services. A system comprises a data store and data sets including plant process information and configuration information. A memory device stores computer-executable instructions. When executed by a processor coupled to the cloud service, the instructions receive configuration information, store it in a data file, apply a generated certificate to the file, and deploy the resulting protected configuration data file to the cloud-based service. In addition, the protected configuration data file is made available by obtaining the file from the cloud-based service.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system comprises a first computer located in a first plant, a first memory, and a first object based process management application stored in the first memory. The system further comprises a second computer located in a location separate from the first plant, a second memory, and a second object based process management application stored in the second memory. When executed on the first computer, the first application invokes scripts in response to events and the scripts launch tasks. When executed on the second computer, the second computer invokes scripts in response to events and the scripts launch tasks, one of the events acted on by the second application is a message received from the first application.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter has a transmitter module that generates a drive signal for driving a magnetic field in a flowing fluid. A flowtube module samples a voltage induced in the fluid by the magnetic field and generates a measurement signal. A single communication path carries the drive signal from the transmitter module to the flowtube module and the measurement signal from the flowtube module to the transmitter module. The flowtube module generates a digital measurement signal. The flowtube module can include a processor for bundling the measurement signal with other information such as calibration data for the flowtube. In addition, the processor can control the timing of flowtube module operations so that the flowtube module samples the induced voltage and transmits the measurement signal to the transmitter module at different times.

Abstract: A menu navigation engine that enables user configuration of a vortex flowmeter. The vortex flowmeter includes a memory device and a processor, among other hardware components. Software instructions stored on the memory device and executable by the processor implement the menu navigation engine by displaying use case identifiers on the user interface, receiving selections of use case identifiers via the user interface, generating a formatted hierarchical tree of vortex flowmeter configuration nodes associated with the selected use case, and displaying the generated tree on the user interface.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a flowmeter method and system. In an implementation, a signal is received from a flowmeter and a value is determined based on the signal. The value is compared to a threshold. A heartbeat value is provided when the value is greater than a threshold value. In some implementations, a flow rate of a fluid is based on the heartbeat value. In some implementations, the heartbeat value is monitored and an alarm is selectively generated based on the monitoring.

Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.