Online device test block integrated into process control safety system

Abstract

A process control or safety system within a process plant using one or more detection blocks to affect the timely and safe operation of on-line detection procedures within field devices such as valves used in the process control or safety system. These detection blocks are easy to implement and easy to place in a process control or safety system. The detection blocks enable periodic or on-demand detection of field devices to be integrated into normal and ongoing operation of the process control or safety system without causing Scheduling or connection issues, and without relying on maintenance staff or other personnel, thereby providing better monitoring of the operational status of field devices used in process control and safety systems. This function is especially important in safety systems where, when an unsafe condition occurs, it may be desirable to monitor or estimate in time the operational status of the devices used to shut down the process in order to ensure the safety of the shutdown operation by the safety system that actually causes the system to shut down. start up.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to process control and safety systems used in process plants, and more particularly to an inspection body for controlling the inspection operations of in-line devices within a process plant. Background technique [0002] Similar to process control systems used in chemical, crude oil, or other processing, process control systems typically include one or more process controllers communicatively connected via an analog, digital, or combined analog / digital bus or wirelessly to at least one The host or operator workstation is connected to one or more field devices. Field devices may be, for example, valves, valve positioners, switches, and transmitters (eg, temperature, pressure, and flow rate sensors) for performing functions such as opening or closing valves and measuring process parameters in a process plant. The process controller receives signals indicative of process measurements made by the field devices and / o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] While these online self-tests can be initiated using maintenance software such as the Asset Management software produced and sold by Rosemount Corporation, the maintainer must connect the units and send a specific request to the unit that needs to initiate the self-test

As a result, when a maintainer establishes a specific and typically temporary connection to that device and requests testing, testing is only performed on field devices that have these on-line testing capabilities, which is neither adequate nor in the presence of the maintainer (for whatever reason) When the appropriate time detection device does not let the control or safety system know when the last test has been performed or the result of the test is known, it will still leave a device failure for the fragile process control system or safety system

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