Patent ID: 7894473
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: at least one wireless valve element; a first transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one wireless valve element and receive data from the at least one wireless valve element; and a second transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the first transceiver, the second transceiver further configured to communicate with a process control system and send data received from the first transceiver to the process control system; wherein the process control system is configured to monitor a plurality of characteristics of the at least one wireless valve element, the characteristics including a total accumulated travel of each wireless valve element over a plurality of actuations of that wireless valve element and an amount of stiction in each wireless valve element; and wherein the process control system is also configured to aggregate data associated with the at least one wireless valve element, to identify a performance deterioration of the at least one wireless valve element, and to adjust control of a process based on the identified performance deterioration, wherein each wireless valve element is a process element of the process.