A pipeline system of a process facility has a plurality of equipments, the equipments including at least one pipeline for providing a channel for a fluid of a process to flow. The process of the process facility is controlled by a process control system. The equipments also include at least one device for measuring a process variable of the fluid. The device comprises a sensor element for sensing a predetermined process variable of the fluid flowing in the pipeline to output a signal containing information about the process variable being measured and containing information about the fluid flowing in the pipeline. The device further includes a first filter to pass a first component of the signal containing the information of the process variable and a second filter to pass a second component of the signal containing the information about the fluid flowing in the pipeline. A first processor processes the first component of the signal to output the process variable to the process control system to control the process. A second processor processes the second component of the signal in a flow model of the pipeline system to output advisory information indicating imminent failure of the equipment when detected by said processing by the second processor.

Patent Information

Number	US  5940290
Country	US
Status	Issued
Date	08/17/1999