Abstract: A pumping energy savings estimator is provided which, based on valve opening data collected for a control valve of a pump-valve system operating in an industrial process, determines an actual maximum (?porg, ˜50% open) of valve operating region of the control valve of the pump-valve system. User can select a new maximum (?pnew, ˜70% open) of valve operating region for the control valve. Then the estimator, based on the determined actual maximum of valve operating region and the selected new maximum of valve operating region, energy saving potential (?psave) in the pump-valve system. The potential energy savings may be put into practice by replacing the original pump with a new smaller pump, or more preferably, replacing or processing the impeller of the original pump, such that the control valve will operate with the selected new optimal maximum opening of valve operating region.

Abstract: A pumping energy savings estimator is provided which, based on valve opening data collected for a control valve of a pump-valve system operating in an industrial process, determines an actual maximum (?porg, ˜50% open) of valve operating region of the control valve of the pump-valve system. User can select a new maximum (?pnew, ˜70% open) of valve operating region for the control valve. Then the estimator, based on the determined actual maximum of valve operating region and the selected new maximum of valve operating region, energy saving potential (?psave) in the pump-valve system. The potential energy savings may be put into practice by replacing the original pump with a new smaller pump, or more preferably, replacing or processing the impeller of the original pump, such that the control valve will operate with the selected new optimal maximum opening of valve operating region.

Abstract: In the method and apparatus of the invention, the process point is taken into account when the condition and performance of a control valve are monitored. In the condition monitoring of the valve, process measurements are used in addition to measurements inside the valve in such a manner that the process measurements identify the operating point at which the valve operates, and the measurements inside the valve are observed at these operating points to detect changes and to determine the condition of the valve. According to an aspect of the invention, the variables representing the operating point of an industrial process are considered when changes in the friction load of the valve and/or the load factor of the actuator are observed.

Abstract: The invention relates to device diagnostics in industrial processes comprising field devices employing a field bus. A remote diagnostics device (1) is placed in connection with a process device (2), separate from the field devices and the field bus. The remote diagnostics device comprises diagnostics electronics which collects diagnostics data relating to the process device, and a transmitter part for wireless (17) transmission of the diagnostics data to a near-by field device. The field device comprises a receiver part (41) for wireless (17) reception of the diagnostics data from said remote diagnostics device (1). A field device control unit (430) analyses the received diagnostics data and transmits a diagnostics report over a field bus interface (44) and the field bus to a diagnostics computer.

Abstract: An industrial process material flow within an industrial process is controlled by a process control loop that includes a process controller, a field device controller and a field device in the process as well as process variable feedback from the process to the process controller. Both the process controller and the field device controller, such as a valve controller, are fine-tuned so that their interaction is taken into account and controller parameters, which provide an optimal control loop performance are found. This results in a significant improvement in the control loop performance, i.e., in a lower process variability, as compared with the traditional tuning method, which does not take into account the interaction between the two controllers.

Abstract: The invention relates to field management in industrial process systems and similar systems. In the invention, maintenance management systems of industrial processes of separate plants located geographically apart from each other are networked in such a way that they may communicate with each other or with a centralized maintenance management server and transmit information on maintenance parameters of field devices of different types. As a result, experience obtained in one industrial process can be transferred to other respective industrial processes and applications. By utilizing this globally collected cumulative information, it is possible to improve and specify the diagnostics of the separate local maintenance systems (6) essentially faster than in case if the local maintenance management system were independent and the diagnostics were changed on the basis of local experience only.