Service facility for providing remote diagnostic and maintenance services to a process plant

Abstract

A system for providing remote diagnostic and maintenance services to a process plant includes a database and a server, both of which are located remotely from the process plant. The database includes a plurality of applications. The server includes a data collection unit, an analysis unit, and a control unit. The data collection unit collects data associated with the process plant via a communication link, such as the Internet. The analysis unit analyzes the collected data to detect a condition associated with the process plant. In response to the detected condition, the control unit automatically implements one or more of the applications by automatically executing one or more of the applications remotely and determining parameters to be communicated to the process plant, automatically downloading one or more applications to the process plant via the Internet, and / or activating a web page that provides information for guiding an operator located at the plant in correcting the detected condition.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to process plants and, more particularly, to a facility that provides remote diagnostic and maintenance services for process plants. Background technique [0002] Process plants, such as those used in chemical, petroleum, or other processes, typically include one or more centralized or decentralized process controllers that, in addition to being communicatively coupled to at least one host computer or operator workstation, are communicated via An analog, digital, or mixed analog / digital bus is communicatively coupled to one or more process control and instrumentation devices, such as field devices. For example, field devices may be valves, valve positioners, and sensors (such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate sensors) that perform functions in a process such as opening or closing valves and measuring process parameters. The process controller receives signals generated by or related to the field devices re...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As a result, purchasing and maintaining these applications in process plants often results in significant overhead for plant owners

Likewise, as the number and complexity of monitoring, diagnostic and maintenance applications available in the process control industry grows, it is not impossible, if not impossible, for operators to select and use the most appropriate application to correct poor performance. It is often difficult to be familiar with all kinds of different applications

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