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: Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a body including an inlet and an outlet; a stem to move a plug within the body to control a flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet; a seal to deter fluid from exiting the body along the stem; and a positioner including a processor, the processor to estimate a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on 1) a number of operational cycles that the seal is exposed to; and 2) stresses experienced by the seal during the respective operational cycles.

Abstract: Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An example apparatus includes a cage; a plug including a seal gland; and means for sealingly engaging an inner surface of the cage at least partially positioned in the seal gland and including a first portion and a second portion, in response to a fluid acting on the first portion in a first direction, the first portion to engage, outwardly urge, and splay the second portion to sealingly engage the cage, in response to the fluid acting in a second direction, the second portion to deter the fluid from acting on the first portion, the first direction opposite the second direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to use vibration data to determine a condition of a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vibration monitoring circuit to: collect first vibration data associated with a process control device during calibration of the process control device; calculate an operating threshold of the process control device based on the first vibration data; collect usage information associated with the process control device, the usage information indicative of a remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; adjust the operating threshold based on the usage information, the adjusted operating threshold reflective of the remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; and determine a condition of the process control device if second vibration data associated with the process control device collected after the calibration exceeds the adjusted operating threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to test acoustic emission sensors are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a process control device, an acoustic emission sensor coupled to the process control device, where the acoustic emission sensor detects an operational condition of the process control device, and a piezoelectric tuning fork acoustically coupled to the acoustic emission sensor to test the operational condition of the acoustic emission sensor.

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: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, a first value corresponding to friction associated with at least one of an actuator or a process control device to be operated by the actuator; determining a second value indicative of an effect of the friction on operation of the process control device via the actuator based on the first value corresponding to the friction and a first threshold value; and changing a force input to move a plug of the process control device 1) a distance or 2) a distance within a time period when the second value satisfies a second threshold value.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to monitor health information of a valve are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a parameter calculator to calculate an operational value for a health parameter of a valve, a difference calculator to calculate a difference between the operational value for the health parameter and a baseline value for the health parameter, and an alert generator to generate an alert to identify a condition of the valve based on the difference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing; a processor disposed in the housing, the processor to: determine a first force or torque corresponding to friction of a process control device and an actuator operatively coupled to the process control device via a stem or shaft; in response to the first force or torque, determine a first command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a first response of the actuator; determine a second force or torque corresponding to friction of the process control device and the actuator; and in response to the second force or torque, determine a second command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a second response of the actuator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to test acoustic emission sensors are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a process control device, an acoustic emission sensor coupled to the process control device, where the acoustic emission sensor detects an operational condition of the process control device, and a piezoelectric tuning fork acoustically coupled to the acoustic emission sensor to test the operational condition of the acoustic emission sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, a first value corresponding to friction associated with at least one of an actuator or a process control device to be operated by the actuator; determining a second value indicative of an effect of the friction on operation of the process control device via the actuator based on the first value corresponding to the friction and a first threshold value; and changing a force input to move a plug of the process control device 1) a distance or 2) a distance within a time period when the second value satisfies a second threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a body including an inlet and an outlet; a stem to move a plug within the body to control a flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet; a seal to deter fluid from exiting the body along the stem; and a positioner including a processor, the processor to estimate a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on 1) a number of operational cycles that the seal is exposed to; and 2) stresses experienced by the seal during the respective operational cycles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to use vibration data to determine a condition of a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vibration monitoring circuit to: collect first vibration data associated with a process control device during calibration of the process control device; calculate an operating threshold of the process control device based on the first vibration data; collect usage information associated with the process control device, the usage information indicative of a remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; adjust the operating threshold based on the usage information, the adjusted operating threshold reflective of the remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; and determine a condition of the process control device if second vibration data associated with the process control device collected after the calibration exceeds the adjusted operating threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor to: determine a plurality of operational cycles of a stem or shaft of a process control device; determine a first value corresponding to a stress experienced by the seal for each of the operational cycles; and estimate a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on each of the first values; and a database to store data associated with the total amount of useful life of the seal consumed.

Abstract: Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An example apparatus includes a cage; a plug including a seal gland; and means for sealingly engaging an inner surface of the cage at least partially positioned in the seal gland and including a first portion and a second portion, in response to a fluid acting on the first portion in a first direction, the first portion to engage, outwardly urge, and splay the second portion to sealingly engage the cage, in response to the fluid acting in a second direction, the second portion to deter the fluid from acting on the first portion, the first direction opposite the second direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to use vibration data to determine a condition of a process control device are disclosed. An example method includes collecting first vibration data from a first sensor operatively coupled to a process control device during a calibration. The example method further includes calculating an operating threshold of the process control device based on the first vibration data, and determining a condition of the process control device if second vibration data associated with the process control device collected after the calibration exceeds the operating threshold.

Abstract: Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An apparatus includes a cage, a plug having a seal gland and a seal assembly to be at least partially positioned in the seal gland. The seal assembly includes a back-up ring having a wedge-shaped protrusion and a seal defining a wedge-shaped groove to receive the protrusion. A pressure is to act on the back-up ring to urge the protrusion into the groove. An engagement between the protrusion and the groove is to urge the seal into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the cage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for acoustic fluid valve calibration are disclosed herein. An example method involves rotating a closure member of a valve to a involves rotating a closure member of a valve to a plurality of positions along a valve stroke, obtaining acoustic emission signals generated by a fluid passing through the valve using a sensor when the closure member is in the positions, and identifying, using a processor, a zero position of the closure member based on the acoustic emission signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing effects of friction on process control devices are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing; a processor disposed in the housing, the processor to: determine a first force or torque corresponding to friction of a process control device and an actuator operatively coupled to the process control device via a stem or shaft; in response to the first force or torque, determine a first command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a first response of the actuator; determine a second force or torque corresponding to friction of the process control device and the actuator; and in response to the second force or torque, determine a second command to operate the process control device via the stem or shaft to obtain a second response of the actuator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor to: determine a plurality of operational cycles of a stem or shaft of a process control device; determine a first value corresponding to a stress experienced by the seal for each of the operational cycles; and estimate a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on each of the first values; and a database to store data associated with the total amount of useful life of the seal consumed.