Non-intrusive sensor system

Abstract

A non-intrusive sensor system includes an array of sensors disposed in a process to measure various input process phenomena and a logic unit that analyses the sensor measurements using an empirical model to produce an estimate of a further process phenomenon not measured directly by any of the array of sensors. The sensors within the array of sensors may be non-intrusive sensors that measure input process phenomena in an intrusive or non-intrusive manner but are non-intrusive with respect to the output process phenomenon as none of these sensors comes into direct contact with the process fluid or process element exhibiting the output process phenomenon. The sensors within the array of sensors can be any type of sensors that produce a measurement of a particular process phenomenon at the same or at different locations within a process.

Description

Technical field [0001] This patent as a whole relates to systems and methods for collecting and analyzing process equipment and control system performance data, and specifically relates to systems for implementing enhanced non-invasive sensor systems in the process for monitoring, maintenance and / or control activities And method. Background technique [0002] Process plant monitoring, maintenance and control systems such as those used in chemical, petroleum or other processes generally include one or more process controllers and communicatively coupled to at least one host via an analog, digital, or combined analog / digital bus Or operator workstations, maintenance workstations, and input / output (I / O) devices coupled to one or more field devices. Field devices can be, for example, valves, valve positioners, switches, and transmitters (such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate sensors) that perform process control functions in the process, such as monitoring process variables o...

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Problems solved by technology

[0008] Unfortunately, however, non-intrusive sensors tend not to be as accurate as traditional intrusive sensors for the process variable they measure

Thus, while the use of measurement equipment that does not require intrusion into the process but instead makes measurements from outside the pressure boundary or outside the containment vessel can substantially reduce installation and retrofit costs, measurements made with this non-intrusive sensor will make the measurement less accurate

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