Powering sensors with an exsitign process control loop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024069613-A1
Application number	US-202217899884-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2022
Publication date	Feb 29, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Hardware that is configured to gather data on a process line. These configurations may include devices that can connect to existing process control networks, like 4-20 mA control loops. These devices may include rechargeable power sources, for example, a supercapacitor. This power source can power a sensor or like hardware that resides in proximity to a control valve or other device on the process line. The sensor may require a power level for a short time that significantly exceeds one available from 4-20 mA current loop network. As an added benefit, the circuitry may find use to allow the power source to store power, or re-charge, at periodic intervals to ensure that the sensor can gather data regularly during the lifetime of the control valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor device, comprising:
a sensor; a rechargeable energy source coupled with the sensor and providing a signal to activate the sensor; and circuitry to couple the rechargeable energy source to an industrial control loop.

2 . The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a protective circuit interposed between the sensor and the industrial control loop.

3 . The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry interposed between the sensor and the industrial control loop that prevents over-voltage on the sensor.

4 . The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry interposed between the sensor and the industrial control loop that prevents over-current on the sensor.

5 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to conduct signals from a 4-20 mA control loop to charge the rechargeable energy source.

6 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to conduct signals from a HART control loop to charge the rechargeable energy source.

7 . The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal module coupled with the rechargeable energy source, wherein the signal module is configured to charge the rechargeable energy source from a HART signal.

8 . The sensor device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal module coupled with the rechargeable energy source; a transformer coupled with the signal module and the industrial control loop, wherein the signal module is configured to charge the rechargeable energy source from a HART signal.

9 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry activating the sensor in periodic intervals to draw power from the supercapacitor.

10 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable energy source is a supercapacitor.

11 . A system, comprising:
a valve; an actuator coupled with the valve; and hardware coupled with the actuator, the hardware comprising:
a sensor device having a sensor coupled with a supercapacitor.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
circuitry coupling the supercapacitor to charge using a 4-20 mA signal.

13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
circuitry coupling the supercapacitor to charge using a HART signal.

14 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
circuitry activating the sensor in periodic intervals to draw power from the supercapacitor.

15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
circuitry changes state of the sensor between on and off, wherein the sensor draws power from the supercapacitor in the on state.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a methane sensor.

17 . A method, comprising:
directing a signal from an industrial control loop to a supercapacitor; drawing power from the rechargeable energy source to power a sensor.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
turning the sensor on and off, wherein the signal recharges the supercapacitor when the sensor is off.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the signal is a 4-20 mA signal.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the signal is a HART signal.

Assignees

• Dresser LLC

Inventors

• Tyshko Alexey
• Joshi Mahendra L
• Alkadi Nasr Eldine
• Kabir Taric Mohammed
• Smart Harold Randal
• Zoghbi Bilal

Classifications

• G06F1/26 Primary

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• G06F1/266 Primary

  Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips · CPC title