System and method of monitoring a diagnostic system of a process control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10983025-B2
Application number	US-201816027058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2018
Priority date	Jul 3, 2018
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

Monitoring systems and methods for a relief valve system. In one example, a monitoring system for a relief valve includes at least one tilt sensor coupled to one or more of a cover or a latch of the relief valve. The at least one tilt sensor is associated with an interface. Upon detection by the at least one tilt sensor that one of the cover is open or the latch is unlocked, a signal is transmitted by the interface indicating one or more of the cover is open or the latch is unlocked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A monitoring system for a relief valve, the relief valve having a body and a cover that is configured to be fixed in a first position relative to the body by a latch, the monitoring system comprising:
a first tilt sensor adapted to be coupled to the latch and configured to detect an orientation of the latch; and
a second tilt sensor adapted to be coupled to the cover and configured to detect an orientation of the cover;
wherein, upon indication by the first tilt sensor that the orientation of the latch exceeds a first threshold, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the latch is unlocked; and
wherein, upon indication by the second tilt sensor that the orientation of the cover exceeds a second threshold, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the cover is open.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a base station including a base processor and a base memory, the base station communicatively coupled to one or more of the first tilt senor and the second tilt sensor via a wireless network.

3. A monitoring system for a lockdown hatch, the lockdown hatch having a body and a cover that is configured to be fixed in a first position relative to the body by an arm, the monitoring system comprising:
a first tilt sensor adapted to be coupled to the arm;
a second tilt sensor adapted to be coupled to the cover;
wherein, upon an indication by the first tilt sensor that an angle of the arm exceeds a first threshold, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the cover is open, and
wherein, upon an indication by the second tilt sensor that an angle of the cover exceeds a second threshold, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the cover is open.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 , further comprising a base station including a base processor and a base memory, the base station communicatively coupled to one or more of the first tilt sensor or the second tilt sensor via a wireless network and adapted to receive the signal.

5. A monitoring system for a relief valve, the relief valve including a body, a cover coupled to the body, and a control assembly that defines a first relief opening and a second relief opening, the monitoring system comprising:
a first wireless accelerometer adapted to be coupled to a first portion of the control assembly near the first relief opening configured to detect acceleration of the first portion;
a second wireless accelerometer adapted to be coupled to a second portion of the control assembly near the second relief opening and configured to detect acceleration of the second portion; and
wherein, upon detection by the first wireless accelerometer of acceleration of the first portion of the control assembly in a first direction, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the first relief opening is in an open position, and, upon detection by the second wireless accelerometer of acceleration of the second portion of the control assembly in a second direction, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the second relief opening is in an open position.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein each of the first wireless accelerometer and the second wireless accelerometer are communicatively coupled to a base station via a wireless network, the base station comprising a base processor and a base memory and for receiving the signals associated with the monitoring system.

7. The monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second wireless accelerometers detect oscillatory motion of one or both of the first portion and the second portion of the control assembly, the detection of oscillatory motion indicating the first relief opening is in the open position.

8. The monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein one or more of the first wireless accelerometer detects movement in a second direction of the first portion of the control assembly without movement in a first direction opposite the second direction, indicating the first relief opening is in the open position, and the second wireless accelerometer detects movement in the first direction of the second portion of the control assembly without movement in the second direction opposite the first direction, indicating the second relief opening is in the open position.

9. A monitoring system for a relief vent, the relief vent comprising a base adapted to be coupled to a tank and a cover rotatably coupled to the base by a hinge mechanism, the monitoring system comprising:
an orientation sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of the cover relative to an axis;
a pressure sensor that is configured to measure a pressure of a fluid within the tank; and
a temperature sensor that is configured to measure a temperature of a fluid within the tank;
wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine whether the cover is open and estimate a fluid flow out of the relief vent based on signals from the orientation sensor, pressure sensor, and temperature sensor.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9 , where, upon detection by the orientation sensor the orientation of the cover fails to exceed a threshold, the the monitoring system is configured to transmit a signal indicating the cover is closed.

11. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the orientation sensor is communicatively coupled to a base station via a wireless network, the base station including a base processor and a base memory, and adapted to receive the signal.

12. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the orientation sensor is a tilt sensor coupled to the cover, the tilt sensor detecting the angle of the cover is greater than a threshold relative to an axis of the base.

13. The monitoring system of claim 9 , wherein the orientation sensor is a rotary motion sensor, and the rotary motion sensor is coupled to the hinge mechanism, the rotatory motion sensor detecting the angle of the cover is greater than a threshold-relative to an axis of the base.

14. The monitoring system of claim 9 , further comprising one or more of a wireless accelerometer or a gyroscope coupled to a portion of the cover and for sensing one or more of motion and position of the cover.

15. A monitoring system for a pressure vacuum relief valve that is coupled to a tank, the pressure vacuum relief valve including a body defining a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber, the pressure chamber having a pressure valve seat and a pressure pallet adapted to sealingly engage the pressure valve seat, and the vacuum chamber having a vacuum valve seat and a vacuum pallet adapted to sealingly engage the vacuum valve seat of the vacuum chamber, the monitoring system comprising:
a first sensor that is adapted to be coupled to the pressure pallet and configured to measure a movement of the pressure pallet;
a second sensor that is adapted to be coupled to the vacuum pallet and configured to measure a movement of the vacuum pallet;
a pressure sensor that is adapted to be coupled to the pressure vacuum relief valve and configured to measure a pressure of fluid in the tank;
wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure of fluid in the tank is above a vacuum relief set point and the second sensor indicates movement of the vacuum pallet away from the vacuum valve seat, the monitoring system is configured to generate a signal indicating that the vacuum pallet is stuck in an open position;
wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure of fluid in the tank is be

Assignees

• Emerson Process Man Regulator Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Durant Tony A
• Quinn Nathan A
• Cockerham John D

Classifications

• F16K17/12

  weight-loaded · CPC title

• G01D21/02

  Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass · CPC title

• F16K17/194 Primary

  weight-loaded · CPC title

• G01L19/083

  electrical · CPC title

• F16K35/00

  Means to prevent accidental or unauthorised actuation · CPC title