US 12,085,436 B2
Field device with process-specific condition monitoring capability
Thomas Jögel, Immenstadt (DE); Michael Schnalke, Nesselwang (DE); Björn Walser, Oberstaufen (DE); Kajetan Schneider, Immenstadt (DE); and Fabian Schmölz, Rieden am Forggensee (DE)
Assigned to Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG, Nesselwang (DE)
Appl. No. 17/296,386
Filed by Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG, Nesselwang (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/079882
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 24, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/104169, PCT Pub. Date May 28, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 129 590 (DE), filed on Nov. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0018699 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. G01F 15/06 (2022.01); G01D 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01F 15/068 (2013.01) [G01D 21/02 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, comprising:
a sensor unit for registering a value for the at least one process variable, wherein the sensor unit is embodied as a first module of the apparatus and is further embodied to come at least partially and at least at times in contact with the medium during the determining and/or monitoring of the at least one process variable;
an electronics unit serving for signal registration, evaluation, and/or feeding, wherein the electronics unit is embodied as a second module of the apparatus;
an operating hours counter for registering a duration of operation of the apparatus, wherein the operation hours counter is embodied to accumulate a total duration of operation;
a measuring unit for registering a value of an influencing variable, wherein the measuring unit is one of the following:
an apparatus for determining a temperature,
an apparatus for determining a pressure,
an apparatus for determining moisture content,
an apparatus for detecting vibrations,
an apparatus for determining a flow,
an apparatus for determining a pH value, and
an apparatus for determining a conductivity,
wherein the measuring unit is either a unit separate from the sensor unit or part of the sensor unit, and wherein the influencing variable is a process parameter of the medium, the at least one process variable of the medium, or an environmental parameter; and
a calculating unit embodied to make at least one statement with reference to a condition of at least one component of the apparatus, wherein the at least one statement is based on the duration of operation registered by the operating hours counter and on the influencing variable, wherein the influencing variable is influencing a condition of the apparatus, including an achievable lifetime of the apparatus,
wherein the process parameter, the at least one process variable, and the environmental parameter is one of the following:
a temperature of the process or of a component of the apparatus,
a pressure, including a pressure in a container in which the medium is located,
a moisture content, including a humidity of a surrounding of the apparatus,
vibrations which occur in a region of the apparatus,
a flow of the medium,
a pH value of the medium; and
a conductivity of the medium,
wherein:
the calculating unit is embodied to make a first statement with reference to a condition of the sensor unit of the apparatus and a second statement with reference to a condition of the electronics unit of the apparatus based on the duration of operation registered by the operating hours counter and on the influencing variable, or
two calculating units are present, wherein a first calculating unit is embodied to make the first statement with reference to a condition of the sensor unit of the apparatus, and wherein a second calculating unit is embodied to make the second statement with reference to a condition of the electronics unit of the apparatus.