System of field devices

Abstract

A system may include a field device and a power limited source operably connected to the field device and configured to provide primary power up to a power limit threshold to the field device. The system may include a bulk energy storage assembly operably connected to the field device. The bulk energy storage component may be configured to provide supplemental power to the field device when the primary power falls below a demanded power from the field device, or when the demanded power from the field device exceeds a power limit threshold.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 414,845, filed on October 10, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to field devices and systems. Background Art

[0004] An industrial operation or plant typically includes multiple industrial devices. Industrial devices can come in many forms and can be associated with various processes, for example, depending on the industrial operation. For example, an industrial operation may include one or more field devices (e.g., RTUs, PLCs, actuators, sensors, HMIs) used to perform, analyze, and / or control process variable measurements. For example, these process variable measurements may include pressure, flow, level, and temperature. In some cases, a distributed control system (DCS) may be used to operate and control an industrial operation or plant and its associated equipment and processes.

[0005] Such conventional methods and systems are generally considered to meet their intended purposes. However, there is still a need for improvement in the art. The present disclosure provides a solution to this need. Summary of the invention

[0006] A system may include a field device and a power limited source operably connected to the field device and configured to provide primary power up to a power limit threshold to the field device. The system may include a bulk energy storage assembly operably connected to the field device. The bulk energy storage assembly may be configured to provide supplemental power to the field device when the primary power drops below a demand power from the field device or when the demand power from the field device exceeds the power limit threshold.

[0007] The power limited source may be intrinsically safe. For example, the power limited source may be an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) system.

[0008] In some embodiments, the system includes galvanic isolation between the power limited source and the field device. In some embodiments, the field device can be a sensor. In some embodiments, a bulk energy storage assembly can be integrated with the field device.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the bulk energy storage assembly may include a circuit having one or more intrinsically safe inputs. The bulk energy storage assembly may include one or more energy storage devices configured to store supplemental power. In certain embodiments, the one or more energy storage devices may be sized to store at least enough energy to provide supplemental power for at least 10 milliseconds at nominal system load or at full power load with or without main power. For example, the one or more energy storage devices may include one or more capacitors.

[0010] In some embodiments, the circuit may include multiple input branches connected in parallel. In some embodiments, the circuit may include multiple energy storage devices. In some embodiments, the one or more energy storage devices may include a first energy storage device on each input branch of the circuit.

[0011] In some embodiments, the one or more energy storage devices may include a second energy storage device downstream of the input branch. In some embodiments, the circuit may include a filter component downstream of multiple branches (e.g., in some embodiments, it may include a second energy storage device or a sole energy storage device).

[0012] According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an intrinsically safe field device can include one or more inputs and a bulk energy storage component, wherein the one or more inputs are configured to connect to a power limited source to operably receive main power up to a power limit threshold, for example, as disclosed herein. The field device can be any suitable type of field device.

[0013] These and other features of the embodiments of the subject disclosure will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to make it easy for those skilled in the art to understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without excessive experiments, embodiments thereof will be described in detail below with reference to certain drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system embodiment according to the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 1A An example industrial operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0017] Figure 2 shows an example implementation of bulk energy storage according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0018] Figure 3 An example implementation of digital input / output according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. Figure 1 99. Other views, embodiments, and / or aspects of the present disclosure are shown in Figure 1A-3 Shown in.

[0020] According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 1 , the system 99 may include a field device 101 (e.g., also referred to as an edge device or edge field device) and a power limited source 103, which is operably connected to the field device 101 and configured to provide main power up to a power limit threshold (e.g., an intrinsic safety threshold for a hazardous environment) to the field device 101. The field device 101 may be a strobe device, a transmission device (e.g., for satellite signals), or any other suitable device.

[0021] The system 99 may include a bulk energy storage assembly 105 operably connected to the field device 101 (e.g., in concert with or separate from the power limited source 103). The bulk energy storage assembly 105 may be configured to provide supplemental power to the field device 101 when the primary power drops below the demanded power from the field device 101 (e.g., due to a power shortage or total power loss), or when the demanded power from the field device 101 exceeds a power limit threshold (e.g., where the field device 101 may be operating in a mode that requires a power boost above a maximum power limit threshold).

[0022] In certain embodiments, the power limited source 103 may be intrinsically safe. For example, the power limited source 103 may be an advanced physical layer (APL) system.

[0023] In some embodiments, the system 99 includes galvanic isolation between the power limited source 103 and the field device 101 (e.g., between the bulk energy storage component 105 and the power limited source 103). In some embodiments, for example, as shown, the bulk energy storage component 105 can be integrated with the field device 101. The bulk energy storage component 105 can be or include a battery or other suitable energy storage medium (e.g., a capacitor) configured to provide supplemental energy for a desired time (e.g., to prevent device shutdown during a brief power loss condition such as a brownout, or to provide excess power during a brief burst of peak demand from the field device 101).

[0024] In some embodiments, field device 101 may be a sensor. Any other suitable type of device is contemplated herein. Field device 101 and / or bulk energy storage assembly 105 may include any suitable hardware and / or software modules configured to determine when to supply supplemental power from bulk energy storage assembly 105. For example, certain circuits (e.g., such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown) to provide bulk energy storage as well as galvanically isolated digital inputs and outputs.

[0025] Embodiments may include field device bulk energy storage and digital input / output systems. Certain embodiments may include field devices and, more particularly, systems and methods related to field device bulk energy storage and digital input / outputs. Certain embodiments may include systems and methods related to field device bulk energy storage and digital input / outputs. Embodiments may include digital input / outputs and provide intrinsically safe, galvanically isolated digital inputs and outputs powered by APL. Embodiments may allow networked IS devices to control digital outputs and read digital inputs in hazardous locations.

[0026] Embodiments may include bulk energy storage local to the field device. For example, embodiments may include bulk energy storage in edge devices outside of the APL, which may allow for continuous and / or sustained operation of edge field devices under limited power or brownout conditions.

[0027] Additional references Figure 1A, an example industrial operation 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190. The industrial devices (or apparatuses) 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may be associated with a particular application (e.g., an industrial application), an application, and / or a process. The industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may include electrical or electronic devices, such as machines associated with the industrial operation 100 (e.g., a manufacturing or natural resource extraction operation). The industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may also include control and / or auxiliary equipment associated with the industrial operation 100, for example, field devices (e.g., RTUs, PLCs, actuators, sensors, HMIs) for performing, analyzing, and / or controlling process variable measurements. In an embodiment, the industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may be installed or located in one or more facilities (i.e., buildings) or other physical locations (i.e., places) associated with the industrial operation 100. These facilities may correspond to, for example, industrial buildings or factories. In addition, the physical location may correspond to, for example, a geographic area or location.

[0028] In some embodiments, the industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may be configured to perform one or more tasks. For example, at least one of the industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may be configured to produce or process one or more products or parts of products associated with the industrial operation 100. In addition, at least one of the industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may be configured to sense or monitor one or more parameters (e.g., industrial parameters) associated with the industrial operation 100. For example, the industrial device 110 may include or be coupled to a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature associated with the industrial device 110, such as an ambient temperature near the industrial device 110, a temperature of a process associated with the industrial device 110, a temperature of a product produced by the industrial device 110, etc. Industrial device 110 may additionally or alternatively include one or more pressure sensors, flow sensors, level sensors, vibration sensors, and / or any number of other sensors, such as sensors associated with an application or process associated with industrial device 110. In an example embodiment, the application or process may involve water, air, gas, electricity, steam, oil, etc.

[0029] Industrial devices 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 may take various forms and may each have an associated complexity (or a set of functional capabilities and / or features). For example, industrial device 110 may correspond to a "basic" industrial device, industrial device 120 may correspond to a "mid-level" industrial device, and industrial device 130 may correspond to an "advanced" industrial device. In such an embodiment, mid-level industrial device 120 may have more functions (e.g., measurement features and / or capabilities) than basic industrial device 110, and advanced industrial device 130 may have more functions and / or features than mid-level industrial device 120. For example, in an embodiment, industrial device 110 (e.g., an industrial device with basic capabilities and / or features) is capable of monitoring one or more first characteristics of an industrial process, and industrial device 130 (e.g., an industrial device with advanced capabilities) is capable of monitoring one or more second characteristics of an industrial process, the second characteristics including the first characteristics and one or more additional parameters. It should be understood that this example is for illustration purposes only, and also in some embodiments, the industrial devices 110 , 120 , 130 , etc. may each have independent functionality.

[0030] In certain embodiments, and in certain situations, industrial operation 100 and its associated equipment and processes may be operated and controlled using a distributed control system (DCS). Figure 2 An example implementation of bulk energy storage in circuit 200 according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] As shown, the circuit 200 can be configured to receive two parallel inputs 201a, 201b (e.g., two intrinsically safe APL connections, each with a positive input and a negative input), but any suitable number of inputs (e.g., one, two, or more) with any suitable number of lines is also contemplated herein. Multiple parallel inputs as shown can provide redundancy and / or provide more power (e.g., twice the amount) while maintaining intrinsic safety. Embodiments with multiple inputs can also direct one type of traffic (e.g., a certain type of data, power, etc.) on one line and another type of traffic on another line.

[0032] The circuit 200 may include a plurality of diodes 203a, 203b (e.g., two per line of each input 201a, 201b, e.g., four) downstream of each input 201a, 201b on each branch thereof, configured to allow reversible connection to account for polarity reversal. The circuit 200 may include unidirectional diodes 235a, 235b downstream of the diodes 203a, 203b, configured to prevent reverse current from entering the input line. The diodes 203a, 203b, 205a, 205b may render the circuit 200 intrinsically safe by preventing feedback from a downstream energy storage device. In the configuration shown in the figure, at most two of the five diodes may fail, but the circuit may still provide intrinsic safety.

[0033] The circuit 200 may include an inductor arrangement 207a, 207b downstream of the diodes 205a, 205a (eg, a differential mode choke providing a data connection). For example, the inductor arrangement 207a, 207b may prevent a downstream energy storage device from absorbing data.

[0034] In certain embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the circuit 200 may include one or more large-capacity energy storage devices 209a, 209b in each branch (e.g., connected between the inductors of the corresponding inductor arrangements 207a, 207b, respectively). One or more large-capacity energy storage devices 209a, 209b may be or include capacitors as shown, or any other suitable storage device (e.g., a battery). In some embodiments, all branches or multiple branches may have a single energy storage device.

[0035] In some embodiments, the circuit 200 may include a filter component 211, for example, downstream of the input branch. The filter component 211 can be configured to smooth the voltage from the branch. The filter component 211 may include an inductor 213, which is configured to provide isolation, for example, to prevent reflected power spikes at startup. As shown, the filter component 211 may include one or more energy storage devices 213, 215 (e.g., capacitors) (e.g., which can help smooth power). The filter component 211 can be connected to the main line 217 for connection to a load (e.g., the field device 101 or its power-consuming portion). For example, the circuit 200 can form a part of the field device 101. In some embodiments, the circuit 200 and / or the energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 can be packaged for intrinsic safety certification.

[0036] Therefore, in accordance with the above disclosure, in some embodiments, the bulk energy storage component 105 can be or include a circuit 200 having one or more intrinsically safe inputs 201a, 201b. The bulk energy storage component 105 can include one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 configured to store supplemental power. In some embodiments, the one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 can be sized to store at least enough energy to provide supplemental power for at least 10 milliseconds at a nominal system load or a full power load (with or without some or all of the main power). The one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 can include one or more capacitors, such as, for example. Figure 2 shown.

[0037] For example, one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 may be configured to provide power for at least 10 milliseconds at a few watts of power, nominal power, or peak power, or any other suitable power level, to maintain operation of field device 101. In this regard, in the case of capacitors, one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 may be more than ten times (e.g., ten times the capacitance) of conventional circuit capacitors used, for example, for filter applications.

[0038] In some embodiments, circuit 200 may include multiple input branches connected in parallel (e.g., Figure 2 200). In some embodiments, the circuit 200 may include multiple energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215, however, a single energy storage device (e.g., only device 213) with suitable energy storage is contemplated herein. In some embodiments, one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 may include a first energy storage device 209a, 209b on each input branch of the circuit 200.

[0039] In some embodiments, one or more energy storage devices 209a, 209b, 213, 215 may include a second energy storage device 213 downstream of the input branch. In some embodiments, the circuit 200 may include a filter component 211 downstream of multiple branches (e.g., which may include a second energy storage device 213, or in some embodiments, the only energy storage device).

[0040] According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the intrinsically safe field device 101 may include one or more inputs (e.g., inputs 201a, 201b) configured to connect to a power limited source (e.g., an APL Ethernet cable) to operably receive main power up to a power limit threshold, and a bulk energy storage component 105, e.g., as disclosed herein (e.g., including circuit 200 as disclosed above). The field device may be any suitable type of field device.

[0041] Figure 3 An example implementation of digital input / output according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown, chip 300 can isolate both sides and provide digital input / output of an APL system with galvanic isolation.

[0042] In certain embodiments, the term "edge" may describe layer 0 of the Purdue network model of industrial control systems. In certain embodiments, field devices may include smart field instruments with embedded control / computing / measurement capabilities implemented on a low-power embedded microcontroller-based platform.

[0043] In some embodiments, the term "machine learning (ML)" may be used to refer to the use and development of software that can learn and adapt without following explicit instructions by using algorithms and statistical models to analyze patterns in data and draw inferences from them. In some embodiments, the term "embedded device" may be used to refer to a combination of a microcontroller, memory, and input / output peripherals that have a dedicated function in a larger system. In some embodiments, the term "networked" may refer to a connection via Ethernet.

[0044] In certain embodiments, the term "high availability" may be used to refer to a device or application that can continue to operate at a high level without intervention for a given period of time. High availability infrastructure can be configured to provide high quality performance and handle different loads and faults with minimal or no downtime. In certain embodiments, the term "intrinsically safe (IS)" may be used to refer to a design approach for equipment entering hazardous areas that reduces available energy to a level that is too low to cause ignition, such as according to IEC TS 60079-39 or ATEX certification.

[0045] Embodiments may be used in a variety of applications. Such application areas may include, for example, oil and gas, energy, food and beverage, water and wastewater, chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, metal, and mining and mineral applications.

[0046] Certain embodiments may include bulk energy storage in edge devices outside of the APL, allowing continuous and / or sustained operation of edge field devices in limited power or brownout conditions. Certain embodiments may include intrinsically safe, galvanically isolated digital inputs and outputs powered by the APL, allowing networked IS devices to control digital outputs and read digital inputs in hazardous locations.

[0047] Certain embodiments may include an advanced physical layer (APL) powered edge field device including at least one bulk energy storage device for storing excess electrical energy generated by at least one intrinsically safe APL port power supply coupled to the edge field device and configured to power the edge field device. The field device may be configured such that, in response to an amount of electrical energy generated by the at least one intrinsically safe APL port power supply dropping below a level sufficient to power one or more components of the edge field device, electrical energy stored by the at least one bulk energy storage device is used to power one or more components of the edge field device. The electrical energy stored by the at least one bulk energy storage device may allow for intermittent energy usage in excess of the allowable electrical energy provided by the at least one intrinsically safe APL port power supply. In certain embodiments, the at least one bulk energy storage device may be or include at least one capacitor. In certain embodiments, the at least one bulk energy storage device may be or include at least one battery.

[0048] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, bulk energy storage in an APL-powered edge field device can allow the device to operate continuously and / or continuously under limited power or power-limiting conditions. In addition, the stored energy can allow intermittent peak energy usage that exceeds the allowed energy provided by the APL port power supply. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the amount of power that an intrinsically safe APL port power supply can provide is strictly limited. For example, if an edge field device intermittently requires greater peak power than the APL port can provide, bulk energy storage can provide it while still keeping the average power drawn from the APL port within its allowed limits.

[0049] Embodiments may provide intrinsically safe, multi-port, APL powered networking devices with bulk energy storage. Embodiments may include dual power supplies on data lines coupled with full wave bridge rectifiers and Pi filters that power bulk capacitors and / or secondary batteries.

[0050] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a system may include one or more endpoint field devices that are APL based, intrinsically safe, and have galvanically isolated digital inputs and outputs. Such a system may provide the ability to monitor and control external digital circuits via its 10BaseT1-L APL interface over IP. Hazardous locations may require stringent protection methods to eliminate any possible electrical ignition sources. Embodiments may provide such protection while also providing an APL interface.

[0051] Embodiments may include any suitable computer hardware and / or software modules to perform any suitable functions (e.g., as disclosed herein). Any suitable method disclosed herein or part thereof may be executed on and / or by any suitable hardware and / or software modules.

[0052] As known to those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as systems, methods, or computer program products. Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all of which possibilities may be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." A "circuit," "module," or "system" may include one or more parts of one or more separate physical hardware and / or software components that may together perform the disclosed functions of a "circuit," "module," or "system," or a "circuit," "module," or "system" may be a single independent unit (e.g., hardware and / or software). In addition, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product implemented in one or more computer-readable media, on which a computer-readable program code is implemented.

[0053] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media can be utilized. Computer-readable media can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. Computer-readable storage media can be, for example, but not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor systems, devices or equipment, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media will include the following: electrical connections with one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memories (RAM), read-only memories (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this article, computer-readable storage media can be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program used by an instruction execution system, device or equipment or used in combination with it.

[0054] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that may convey, propagate, or transmit a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0055] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0056] The computer program code for implementing the various aspects of the present invention can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, etc., and conventional program programming languages, such as "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The program code can be executed completely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as an independent software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or completely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or can be connected to an external computer (e.g., by using the Internet of an Internet service provider).

[0057] The above may refer to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention, to describe various aspects of the present invention. It will be understood that each block of any flowchart and / or block diagram, and the combination of blocks in any flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device create a device for implementing the function / action specified in one or more boxes of any flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0058] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium, which can direct a computer, other programmable data processing device or other device to operate in a specific manner so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture, including instructions for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0059] Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operating steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide a process for implementing the functions / actions described herein.

[0060] It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that any numerical value disclosed herein may be an exact value or a value within a certain range. In addition, any approximate terms (e.g., "approximately," "approximately," "about") used in the present disclosure may represent the value within a range. For example, in some embodiments, the range may be within (plus or minus) 20%, or within 10%, or within 5%, or within 2%, or within any other suitable percentage or number understood by those of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., for a known tolerance or error range).

[0061] As used herein and in the appended claims, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are used herein to refer to one or more than one (ie, at least one) of the grammatical object of the article unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, "an element" means one element or more than one element.

[0062] The phrase "and / or" as used herein in the specification and claims should be understood to mean "one or both" of the elements so connected, i.e., elements that are present connected in some cases and separated in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be interpreted in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" elements are so connected. In addition to the elements specifically designated by the "and / or" clause, other elements may optionally be present, whether or not related to those specifically designated. Thus, as a non-limiting example, in one embodiment, when used in conjunction with open language such as "comprising", a reference to "A and / or B" may refer to only A (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, only B (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); and so on.

[0063] As used in the specification and claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" should be interpreted as inclusive, that is, including at least one, but also including more than one multiple or series of elements, and optionally, additional unlisted items. Only when a term clearly indicates the contrary, such as "only one" or "exactly one", or when used in the claims, "comprising" will mean including exactly one element of a plurality or series of elements. In general, the term "or" as used herein should only be interpreted as indicating an exclusive alternative (i.e., "one or the other, but not both") before an exclusive term such as "either", "one", "only one" or "exactly one".

[0064] In view of this disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable combination of any disclosed embodiments and / or any suitable portions thereof are contemplated herein.

[0065] As described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, the embodiments of the present invention have improved the field to which it belongs. Although the subject disclosure includes references to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and / or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure.

Claims

1. A system comprising: Field installations; a power limited source operably connected to the field device and configured to provide main power up to a power limit threshold to the field device; and A bulk energy storage assembly is operably connected to the field device, wherein the bulk energy storage assembly is configured to provide supplemental power to the field device when the main power drops below the demand power from the field device or when the demand power from the field device exceeds a power limit threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power limited source is intrinsically safe.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power limited source is an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) system. 4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes galvanic isolation between the power limited source and the field device. The system of claim 1 , wherein the field device is a sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the bulk energy storage assembly is integrated with a field device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bulk energy storage assembly comprises a circuit having one or more intrinsically safe inputs.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the bulk energy storage assembly comprises one or more energy storage devices for storing supplemental power.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more energy storage devices are sized to store at least enough energy to provide supplemental power for at least 10 milliseconds at nominal system load or at full power load with or without primary power.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more energy storage devices include one or more capacitors.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of input branches connected in parallel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of energy storage devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more energy storage devices include a first energy storage device located on each input branch of the circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more energy storage devices include a second energy storage device downstream of the input branch.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a filter assembly downstream of the plurality of branches.

16. An intrinsically safe field device comprising: one or more inputs configured to connect to a power limited source to operatively receive main power up to a power limit threshold; and A bulk energy storage assembly, wherein the bulk energy storage assembly is configured to provide supplemental power when the primary power drops below a demand power from the field device or when the demand power from the field device exceeds the power limit threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power limited source is intrinsically safe.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the power limited source is an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) system.

Images