Patent ID: 6925338
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: G05B,G06Q,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of using a degradation level of a process entity within a process plant, comprising: estimating a level of degradation of the process entity at a first time based on one or more process parameters associated with the process entity; comparing the estimated level of degradation of the process entity at the first time to a predetermined desired level of degradation of the process entity at the first time; and altering the operation of the process entity based on the comparison to drive an estimated level of degradation of the process entity at a second time after the first time to be approximately equal to a predetermined desired level of degradation of the process entity at the second time, wherein the predetermined desired level of degradation of the process entity at the second time is greater than the predetermined desired level of degradation of the process entity at the first time.