In a position closed-loop controller (31) for a valve control device (1) of a process engineering plant (100), comprising a first signal input (11) for a pilot signal, such as a process control signal (pg) from a process closed-loop controller (120) of the process engineering plant (100), a second signal input for a position actual signal (i) with regard to a control valve (35), wherein the position control-loop controller (31) is designed to generate a more particularly pneumatic control variable (g) for an actuator (33) to actuate the control valve on the basis of the pilot signal and the position actual signal (i) and comprises a more particularly pneumatic control output for the control variable (g). According to the invention, the position closed-loop controller (31) is configured to calculate an approximation signal (ap), by means of a configurable closed-loop controller model based on a particular closed-loop controller, more particularly the process closed-loop controller (120), proceeding from the pilot signal, wherein the closed-loop controller model is configured such that a signal generated by the particular closed-loop controller proceeding from the approximation signal (ap) corresponds to the pilot signal.

An apparatus for monitoring the usage of at least one maintainable part or component of a transfer valve or coupling comprises: data storage means for storing data representative of at least one attribute of the maintainable part or component of the valve or coupling; monitoring means for monitoring usage of the valve or coupling; and processing means for comparing the monitored usage of the valve or coupling against the at least one attribute of the maintainable part or component of the valve.

A system and method for predicting failure conditions on a valve assembly. The method can include stages for comparing a maintenance variable to a threshold criteria, each related to an operating feature that uses operating data to quantify operation of a valve assembly, the threshold criteria associating an operating pattern found in the operating data with a failure mode on the valve assembly. The method can also include stages for selecting a maintenance task according to a relationship between the maintenance variable and the threshold criteria, the maintenance task related to the failure mode. The method can further include stages for generating an output conveying the maintenance task.

A system receives a plurality of data samples associated with a control valve with each of the plurality of data samples associated with a setpoint and a position. A first subset of the data samples that are in a control zone associated with normal operation of the control valve is determined. In a case that a second subset of the data samples are determined to be (i) not in the first subset and (ii) close to a minimum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoints less than their associated positions, an alert associated with a low obstruction is indicated. In a case that a second subset of the data samples are determined to be (i) not in the first subset and (ii) close to the maximum position of the plurality of data samples and (iii) have setpoint greater than their associated position, an alert is indicated.

Method for diagnosing a pneumatic control valve by using a positioner model includes: establishing relational expression for outputting valve stem displacement according to control pressure, the relational expression including parameters for the characteristics of a positioner, an actuator, and a valve, determining initial parameter value by adjusting the values of the parameters until the difference between a measured value for a normal operation of the pneumatic control valve and output value obtained by the relational expression is smaller than predetermined error limit, determining diagnostic parameter value by adjusting the values of the parameters until the difference between a measured value for a diagnostic operation of the pneumatic control valve and an output value obtained by the relational expression is smaller than a predetermined error limit, and comparing the initial parameter value and the diagnostic parameter value so as to determine whether the pneumatic control valve has abnormality.

Methods and apparatus to use vibration data to determine a condition of a process control device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vibration monitoring circuit to: collect first vibration data associated with a process control device during calibration of the process control device; calculate an operating threshold of the process control device based on the first vibration data; collect usage information associated with the process control device, the usage information indicative of a remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; adjust the operating threshold based on the usage information, the adjusted operating threshold reflective of the remaining portion of useful life associated with the process control device; and determine a condition of the process control device if second vibration data associated with the process control device collected after the calibration exceeds the adjusted operating threshold.

Various embodiments may include an actuating mechanism of a control valve of a valve control system with a control center sending a control signal, receiving a diagnostic signal, and subjecting the diagnostic signal to analytical diagnosis, and a valve with a valve rod. The actuating mechanism may include: a drive unit receiving the control signal and driving the valve rod; a sensor unit detecting a driving force applied to the valve rod and generating a driving force signal containing driving force data; a data processing unit receiving the driving force signal and conditioning the driving force signal, and then generating the diagnostic signal; and a communication control unit receiving the control signal sent by the control center, sending the control signal to the drive unit, receiving the diagnostic signal, and sending the diagnostic signal to the control center.

A method for performing quality control on a diagnostic analyzer includes receiving control measurement values from each of a plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A quality control measurement value is received from a target diagnostic analyzer. The quality control measurement value is compared with statistical criteria associated with the plurality of quality control measurement values received from the plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A comparison result is communicated to a user interface associated with the target diagnostic analyzer.

A method for performing quality control on a diagnostic analyzer includes receiving control measurement values from each of a plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A quality control measurement value is received from a target diagnostic analyzer. The quality control measurement value is compared with statistical criteria associated with the plurality of quality control measurement values received from the plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A comparison result is communicated to a user interface associated with the target diagnostic analyzer.

A method for performing quality control on a diagnostic analyzer includes receiving control measurement values from each of a plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A quality control measurement value is received from a target diagnostic analyzer. The quality control measurement value is compared with statistical criteria associated with the plurality of quality control measurement values received from the plurality of diagnostic analyzers. A comparison result is communicated to a user interface associated with the target diagnostic analyzer.