EP4153893A1

EP4153893A1 - Method for sensing vibrations and/or impacts to which a control valve can be exposed

Info

Publication number: EP4153893A1
Application number: EP21728184.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Wagner-Stürz
Original assignee: Samson AG
Current assignee: Samson AG
Priority date: 2020-05-18
Filing date: 2021-05-18
Publication date: 2023-03-29
Also published as: DE102020113437B3; CN115667775A; WO2021233941A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sensing vibrations and/or impacts to which a control valve (100) can be exposed, for example in a processing system. To this end, position sensors are used, which are used to monitor the position of the valve member. The positions of the valve member (125) measured during monitoring are recorded and analysed in the method. Vibrations and/or impacts which are transferred to the valve member (125) and/or the sensor unit are identified from, for example, deviations from target positions or position changes. In this manner, vibrations and/or impacts owing to, for example, flow fluctuations, wear of components of the control valve (100) or system or environmental influences can be sensed. The use of additional sensors is not necessary or can at least be reduced. Furthermore, the provided position sensors are already designed for use in a control valve (100). The method can therefore be implemented in a cost-effective yet reliable manner.

Description

Method for detecting vibrations and / or impacts that a control valve can be exposed to

description

Field of invention

The invention relates to a method for detecting vibrations and / or impacts to which a control valve can be exposed. Control valves are used in process engineering systems to control or regulate a process or process medium. Other application examples include solar thermal systems or local and district heating systems. In addition to control and regulation applications, control valves are also used as safety valves to protect systems and processes.

Control valves experience both internal and external mechanical loads that can be caused by the entire system in which they are used, the control valve itself and the environment around the system or the control valve. Mechanical loads can be traced back to wear and malfunction of the valve or the system or a system component or lead to wear or even malfunction of the control valve, the system or a system component. In many cases, they allow statements to be made about the condition and functionality of a control valve or a system.

Mechanical loads on a control valve are usually caused by the operation of the valve or the system. They can also be caused and / or intensified by wear and tear, malfunctions and incorrect operation of the control valve, the system and / or one of the system components as well as accidents, weather and environmental influences.

The mechanical loads include vibrations, which includes both periodic vibrations or shocks and non-periodic vibrations that z. B. can be attributed to a superposition of incommensurable harmonic oscillations or the presence of non-linear oscillation systems in a valve or system component. In many cases, vibrations are caused by the use of actuators in a process system, such as B. control valves or pumps. You can also display natural vibrations of other system components, such as B. of engines or turbines that with the control valve z. B. are connected directly or indirectly via pipes or other system components. Process fluid pressure and flow fluctuations also lead to movement or vibration excitation of a process system or a control valve. Vibrations can also indicate turbulence in the process medium caused by wear, loose parts of the system or foreign bodies in the process medium.

Vibrations therefore have very different causes and accordingly have a wide range of time scales or period durations. The scales or periods can lie in a wide range from a few milliseconds to days or months. B. to assign vibrations that arise due to environmental temperature fluctuations caused by day-night cycles or the change of seasons.

Another type of mechanical stress is impacts, which differ from vibrations mainly in terms of their duration and the way they occur. While vibrations represent recurring loads, impacts are to be understood as isolated events. Blows occur z. B. when starting up or shutting down a system, when starting or stopping a process or when opening or closing pressurized fittings or valves. However, they can also be caused by weather influences such as gusts of wind or roof avalanches, indicate that parts of the system that are connected to the control valve or the control valve are colliding, or they can be traced back to malfunctions that lead to sudden changes in the process conditions.

State of the art

In many cases, vibrations and / or impacts are closely linked to the condition and functionality of a control valve or a system. Accordingly, various approaches are described in the prior art in order to use vibrations and / or impacts to which a control valve can be exposed to monitor a control valve or a system.

Acceleration sensors are often used for structure-borne sound recording / measurement. For example, patent specification DE 102016216 923 B4 proposes the use of piezoelectric sound transducers which detect and provide the mechanical vibrations of the valve in a fixed, preferably as large as possible frequency spectrum as a sensor signal. Alternatively, DE 10 2016 216 923 B4 provides for the use of microphones. In the patent US 9,423,050 B2 the use of vibration or acoustic sensors for detecting vibrations and / or impacts that can act on a control valve, described.

The sensors can be placed at different points on a control valve, where they can pick up different types of vibrations and / or impacts according to their placement. Structure-borne noise sensors are used in the area of the valve cone or the valve actuating rod of a control valve in order to detect vibrations resulting from fluid pressure and / or flow fluctuations. Airborne sound or structure-borne sound sensors that detect vibrations and / or shocks on the outside of the control valve are suitable for detecting external vibrations and / or impacts, such as excitations transmitted through pipelines or wind influences. Accordingly, at least one vibration sensor is required to detect vibrations and / or impacts. As a rule, several sensors must be used in order to detect the different types or sources of vibrations and / or impacts that can act on a control valve and thus to be able to assess the various vibration states of a control valve.

The installation and operation of sensors are usually complex and expensive. The reliability and informative value of the monitoring is also restricted by the type of sensors available, the associated measuring range and the associated measuring accuracy, as well as wear and tear and failure of the sensors. This can be countered by adapting the sensors to the intended locations in or on a control valve or a system. However, this usually requires additional effort in the design, selection, manufacture, installation and / or operation of the sensors and thus causes additional costs.

task

The object of the invention is to provide a method for monitoring or monitoring a control valve or a system with which vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve may be exposed can be recorded simply, inexpensively, reliably and meaningfully.

solution

This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous developments of the subject matter of the independent claim are identified in the subordinate claims. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated by reference made part of this description.

The use of the singular is not intended to exclude the plural, which also applies in the reverse sense, unless otherwise stated.

Individual process steps are described in more detail below. The steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order given, and the method to be described can also have further steps that are not mentioned.

To achieve the object, a method is proposed to detect vibrations and / or impacts to which a control valve can be exposed. The control valve is part of a system on which a process with a process medium runs or can run. It has a valve member for influencing the process medium and / or the process that runs or can run on the system, a position controller for regulating the position of the valve member and a position sensor that can measure the actual position of the valve member.

The process consists of the following steps:

First of all, the positioner holds the valve member in a desired position for a first period of time or moves it into a desired position. Then follow the steps:

1. Measuring at least one position of the valve member with the aid of the position sensor in a second time period which lies within the first time period or is equal to the first time period; typically the at least one measured position is the actual position of the valve member;

2. Recording the at least one position of the valve member measured by the position sensor over the second period of time;

3. Determination of vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve may have been exposed by analyzing the at least one position of the valve member recorded in the second time period; and

4. Outputting a message if at least one oscillation and / or at least one beat is determined and / or the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one beat exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The aim of the method is to use the position sensor already in the positioner as a vibration sensor, i.e. as a sensor for detecting vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve can be exposed. The use of additional sensors can therefore be dispensed with or at least reduced. In addition, the position sensor of the positioner is already adapted for use in or on the control valve or the system. A conception, adaptation, selection, manufacture, installation and operation of additional or adapted sensors can therefore be dispensed with.

If vibrations and / or impacts occur in the system or the control valve, e.g. during operation due to the use of pumps or turbulence in the process medium, these can change due to elasticities and / or mechanical degrees of freedom of the system or the control valve and its components transferred to the valve member and / or the position sensor. If the vibrations and / or impacts transmitted to the valve member and / or the position sensor exceed a certain intensity or amplitude (e.g. 0.01%, 0.1% or 0.3% of a full stroke), they can be changed in the form of position changes using the position sensor of the valve member are measured or recorded. The measurable intensity or amplitude of the vibrations and / or impacts is given, among other things, by the resolving power of the position sensor.

The frequency of the recorded vibrations can also be analyzed and evaluated. In this way, with the aid of the method, recorded vibrations can be compared with vibrations that have already been recorded, are known or come from known sources. High-frequency vibrations, the frequency of which exceeds the scanning rate of the sensor, cannot be resolved and recorded in detail. However, they express themselves through a broad distribution of the measured values or increased measurement errors, which at least suggests their existence. In many cases this is already sufficient to be able to determine the occurrence of unusual mechanical loads or malfunctions. The sampling rate of the position sensor is typically around 100 ms or in a range from 1 ms to 1 s, 5 ms to 200 ms or 10 ms to 150 ms. It can also be in a range of approx. 2 to 4 ms.

The changes in position indicate a relative movement between the sensor and the valve member. You do not have to correspond to an actual movement of the valve member in the valve housing. You can also represent a movement of the position sensor relative to the valve member or valve housing Ven. They can also indicate a movement of the sensor components, which can occur independently of a movement of the valve member or the position sensor, e.g. if a mechanical component of the position sensor is shaken or moved by vibrations and / or impacts acting on the control valve.

The control valve can be designed differently. It can be a rotary valve (e.g. a ball valve or flap valve) or a lift valve in which a valve cone or (gate valve is moved to open or close the valve. The valve member can therefore be rotatably mounted, in a horizontal or vertical direction or - depending on the application - also be movable in other directions. Depending on the design of the control valve, the valve member can therefore absorb certain vibrations and / or impacts better than others. For example, horizontally moving valve members of a gate valve usually absorb horizontal vibrations and / or impacts valve members can move better than vertically movable valve members. Vertically movable valve members, on the other hand, are better able to absorb vertical lifting and lowering movements Rotary valves can in many cases better absorb vibrations and / or impacts that are transmitted by the process medium, since the valve member is in the center of the process medium flow in every valve member position. In addition to the actually recorded movement of the valve member, the movement detected by the position sensor also plays a decisive role. In many cases, gate valves have only one sensor system for detecting horizontal movements of the valve member. Position sensors in rotary valves usually only record a change in the angular position of the valve member.

The position controller of the control valve comprises an actuator or drive for moving the valve member. The drive can be an electric or fluidic drive (e.g. pneumatic or hydraulic). It can also be preloaded so that the valve member automatically moves into a safety position in the event of a fault (e.g. a power failure or a drop in compressed air). Pre-tensioned actuators are mainly used in control valves that are used as safety valves. They differ from non-preloaded drives, among other things. by the vibration properties of the valve member in the valve housing or the resonance property (s) / frequency (s) of the valve member or of the control valve. Valve members can therefore, depending on the type and extent of the bias, absorb vibrations and / or blows differently well and convert them into their own movements. This can be done in the context of the proposed method in the detection of vibrations and / or shocks that occur, for. B. differ in their frequency, shape or duration, taken into account or exploited.

The position sensor can be used to determine and monitor the position or position in which the positioner is holding the valve member or in which position or position the positioner moves the valve member. It can be an integral part of the positioner or be attached to another location in or on the housing of the control valve. The position sensor can be linked to the positioner directly or indirectly via evaluation or control units of the control valve or the system.

The measurement of the at least one position of the valve member with the aid of the position sensor in the second period can take place within the framework of the routines that are already available or used for monitoring the valve member position. In the context of the proposed method, however, other or additional measurements or measuring intervals can also be provided that can be adapted to the vibrations and / or impacts to be measured or expected. In order to detect high-frequency vibrations, the sampling rate of the position sensor can be increased, for example. The measurements can also take place at irregular intervals and, for example, be selected randomly or quasi-randomly. In this way - at least over a sufficient period of time - vibrations and / or impacts can also be recorded which would not be recorded due to the ratio of their frequency to the sampling rate of the sensor or due to their occurrence for too short a time. The procedure can be carried out at different times. This includes situations in which the valve member is in a position or is held by the positioner in a position which does not change mechanically in the first and / or second time period, e.g. B. in a tightly closed position or closed position. The process can also be interrupted in the meantime and continued at a later point in time, e.g. B. in the case of a batch change as part of a batch process or as long as the operating state of the control valve and / or the system is changed. Accordingly, the first and the second period are in many cases caused by the operation of the system or the control valve. For example, they can be 0.25 to 24 hours, 0.5 to 10 hours, 1 to 5 hours, or 2 to 3 hours.

The position of the valve member can be any position of the valve member between the closed position and the position of the valve which corresponds to a fully open valve. This can be a relative position of the valve member to a reference point, such as. B. the positioner or the drive of the positioner, as well as the (angular) position of the valve member with respect to. A reference axis or plane or several reference axes or planes. This also applies to the actual or target position of the valve member.

The message can be a warning message or a command to carry out a maintenance step and / or move the valve member into a safety position. The output of the message can also be limited to a recording of the recorded vibrations and / or beats. The recorded vibrations and / or beats can be stored in the positioner or a control unit of the control valve or the system or a cloud and, if necessary, further analyzed. The occurrence of vibrations and / or blows and / or changes in the frequency of occurrence, the amplitude, intensity and / or frequency of the recorded vibrations and / or blows can - at least in a first approximation - be indications of changes or the state and provide the functionality of the control valve or the system.

The amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one beat can represent the amplitude of a single oscillation, a single beat or a sum of such amplitudes. The amplitude can be formed from the currently recorded vibrations and / or impacts. It can also contain amplitudes already recorded vibrations and / or beats. In this way, a message can also be output if the amplitude of a single oscillation and / or a single beat would not exceed the specified threshold. This is e.g. B. the case when vibrations and / or blows accumulate or occur several times in a row and the sum of the amplitudes of these vibrations and / or blows exceeds the predetermined threshold.

To determine vibrations and / or impacts with the aid of the at least one position of the valve member recorded in the second time period or to analyze the position in the At least one position of the valve member recorded in the second period of time, a large number of methods are available. Many of these methods are based on at least one difference between the recorded at least one position of the valve member and the target position and / or for determining the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one beat at least one difference between the recorded at least one position of the Valve member and the target position to use or to consider. The at least one difference can, for. B. be calculated by subtracting the desired position of the valve member from the recorded at least one position of the valve member. The difference can also be formed by a direct comparison of the measured values with the target values, ie without explicit subtraction.

The target position of the valve member can accordingly be used as a reference for determining vibrations and / or impacts. The target position is a known value that can not only be specified, but in many cases is held by the positioner. In many cases it represents a stable reference that does not have to be determined by additional steps and therefore does not have any uncertainties or measurement errors. Vibrations and / or beats or the associated amplitudes can therefore be determined more easily and in many cases more reliably.

The target position of the valve member can be subtracted from each of the recorded at least one position of the valve member. The recorded at least one position of the valve member can, however, also initially be summarized in histograms before the at least one position of the valve member is subtracted. The at least one difference can also be organized in histograms. Vibrations and / or blows are expressed in the formation of several bars or the occupation of classes that correspond to differently pronounced deviations from the target position and can include correspondences with the target position. Positions that deviate from the target position by less than or equal to 0.01%, 0.1% or 0.3% of a full stroke can be combined in one class. The next class can contain all positions detected by the position sensor that deviate from the target position by more than 0.01%, 0.1% or 0.3% of a full stroke and less than or equal to 1%, 2% or 5% of a full stroke. If the number of recorded positions in this class or a class in which positions with even greater deviations from the target position are summarized, exceeds a certain value or a specified threshold, this is an indication of at least one oscillation and / or one beat, which and / or which acts on the control valve. In this case, the number of events or the specific value represents the amplitude or the specified threshold which leads to the output of a message. The occupation of the classes can be reset points at a given time, z. B. after a day or after two, three or four hours, so that past events are no longer taken into account. In addition to considering the individual differences, the sum and / or the integral of the at least one amount of the at least one difference and / or a power with the at least one difference as the base and an even-numbered positive exponent over the second period and / or the sum and / or the integral of the at least one difference and / or a power with the at least one difference as the base and an odd-numbered positive exponent can be used or considered over the second period.

The positioner holds or moves the valve member in the set position under normal operating conditions. If there are deviations from the target position or position of the valve member due to vibrations and / or shocks, the sum of the amount of the at least one difference represents a measure of the distance or stroke that the valve member on the basis of covers the vibrations and / or shocks at least from the perspective of the position sensor or the positioner. In this way, vibrations and / or impacts which move the valve member only slightly out of the target position or position can add up to a distance or stroke distance which corresponds to a full stroke. This path or stroke not only represents an indication that can be used to determine vibrations and / or impacts, but also an amplitude in the sense of the proposed method. If it exceeds a specified threshold, e.g. a distance that corresponds to a full stroke, a message is output according to the method.

The situation is similar with the sum or the integral over the at least one difference. In this case, harmonic oscillations around a target position result in a rather small value for the sum or the integral or even cancel each other out completely. However, if this information is considered together with the sum or the integral over the amount of the at least one difference, it is possible to differentiate between blows and vibrations, for example. Finally, impacts tend to lead to one-sided deflections of the valve member, so that the deviations from a target position due to an impact do not completely cancel each other out.

The sum or the integral can also be formed using functions other than the identity of the difference or the amount. For example, the square of the differences or the third power or a sum of powers can be considered. In this way, certain contributions can be weakened or strengthened in order to make the analysis more reliable or more meaningful.

The sums or integrals described make it possible to obtain a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of vibrations and / or shocks using a single value. They also make it possible to hide uncritical disruptive factors or to highlight critical factors. This can be used to make the detection of vibrations and / or impacts or the analysis of the recorded positions more targeted. The methods described so far for detecting vibrations and / or impacts do not require any sorting of the measured positions of the valve member or the measurement data of the position sensor. However, a more detailed evaluation can be achieved if the data is sorted chronologically. If, for example, at least two positions of the valve member are recorded, the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one impact can be determined using at least one change in position and / or the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one impact can be determined using at least one change in position , wherein the at least one change in position is calculated by subtracting the recorded positions from one another. A change in position represents the change in position from a specific point in time to a later point in time.

The position changes determined in this way can - as already described in connection with the deviations of the recorded at least one position from the target position - also be displayed and evaluated in histograms. The position changes can be determined without taking reference values into account.

In a variant of the method, reversals of direction of the movement of the valve member detected by the position sensor can be determined to determine vibrations and / or impacts and / or to determine the amplitude of the at least one vibration and / or the at least one impact from the at least one change in position and / or, if at least two reversals of direction have been detected, the changes in position of the valve member detected by the position sensor are determined between the at least two reversals of direction.

With the help of changes of direction or reversals, vibrations and impacts can be distinguished from one another. In addition, the frequency of vibrations can be determined or at least estimated. The changes in position between two reversals of direction also represent a measure of the amplitude or the intensity of the detected vibration and / or the detected impact.

The number of specific direction reversals in the second period can also be used to detect vibrations and / or impacts. This number can e.g. be considered together with the sums or integrals described above. A travel or stroke distance of the valve member recorded by the position sensor, which corresponds to a full stroke, but at the same time is accompanied by e.g. 100 reversals of direction, strongly indicates a movement of the valve member and / or the position sensor due to an oscillation or a series of blows.

The reversals of direction can also include the position detected by the position sensor. Changes in the position of the valve member between the reversals of direction and the previous reversal of direction are assigned (the first reversal of direction detected is usually not included in this consideration). In this way, the reversals of direction can also be summarized in histograms and evaluated. These histograms include z. B. a class in which reversals of direction are included, which was preceded by a position change of the valve member detected by the position sensor that does not exceed a certain threshold. An occupation of this class indicates vibrations of the control valve. The next class would contain reversals of direction with changes in position that lie between a first and a second threshold, etc. An occupation of these classes suggests stronger vibrations and / or beats.

Another possibility of evaluating the at least one position of the valve member recorded in the second period of time arises if the recording of the at least one position of the valve member measured by the position sensor over the second period of time is an analysis of the time course of the at least one position measured by the position sensor of the valve member over the second period of time. In this case, to determine vibrations and / or impacts and / or to determine the amplitude of the at least one vibration and / or the at least one impact, e.g. the correspondence of the positions recorded by the position sensor with the target position can be determined (zero crossings), a derivation of the time profile can be calculated and / or a Fourier analysis of the time profile can be carried out.

Time stamps or the sampling rate of the position sensor can be used to organize the recorded positions over time. The items can also simply be arranged in a row, which is in chronological order but not provided with time stamps.

The chronological order of the recorded positions allows more detailed analyzes in many cases. In this way, a more differentiated picture of the situation can be obtained and, for example, false alarms can be avoided.

To determine vibrations and / or impacts, different methods are combined with one another in many cases in order to increase the reliability and informative value of the analysis. For this purpose, for example, the amplitudes formed with the various methods, such as the stroke or distance, the number of direction reversals with position changes in a certain area, etc., but also the recorded positions of the valve member can be summarized in one amplitude. For example, the amounts of the individual amplitudes can be added up, and they can be weighted differently, among other things. The predefined threshold can represent an amplitude that was determined in a third time period before the first and / or second time period and / or adapted to the current operating conditions of the control valve. The operating conditions include command variables such as the target position of the valve element or process parameters such as the flow rate or the pressure or the viscosity of the process medium. In this way, the sensitivity with which messages are output can be adapted to the operating conditions of a control valve or a system. In particular, the output of incorrect messages can be avoided, which are caused, for example, by operational vibrations and / or impacts.

In many cases, the specified threshold is determined during the installation or commissioning of the control valve. It can also be re-determined or readjusted at a later point in time, e.g. when the system has started normal operation or new system components have been installed. The third period accordingly comprises part of the installation or commissioning process or a later period in which the system is operated under conditions which can be viewed as "normal".

The same applies to the detection of vibrations and / or impacts. Thus, in the analysis of the at least one position of the valve member recorded in the second period, influences of the process medium and / or the process and / or the environment of the control valve and / or the system on the control valve can be taken into account. In this way, for example, vibrations and / or shocks caused by normal operation or certain reference variables, such as B. flow-related and / or temperature-related disturbances or fluctuations, identified and differentiated from other interfering influences that act on the control valve in the form of vibrations and / or shocks. In the case of a district heating system, for example, operating conditions with high loads are more likely in winter than in summer. In a solar thermal system, day-night cycles and cloud cover have an influence that cannot be neglected. In many cases, high pressure and high flow rates of the process medium lead to turbulence and an increased occurrence of vibrations and / or shocks.

Conversely, with the help of the recorded vibrations and / or impacts and an examination of the influences of the process medium and / or the process and / or the environment of the control valve and / or the system on the control valve, process conditions with high loads can be recognized and determined that are less obvious are as z. B. the influence of cloud cover on a solar thermal system. For example, mechanical stresses or loads caused by changes in temperature can be detected, for example caused by the operation of a system with hot media or caused by the ambient temperature. The position sensor can be designed as a contactless sensor which comprises a magnetic arrangement. These include sensors that have, for example, multi-pole magnetic arrangements, such as magnetic coding strips, which consist of a serial arrangement of magnets, or diametrically magnetized pole rings with 2, 4 or more poles, the alignment of which is detected using magnetoresistive sensors. Contactless sensors reduce the mechanical coupling that exists between the valve member and the position sensor and the associated damping effects. The determination of the position of the valve member is therefore in many cases more sensitive and more precise, ie vibrations and / or blows with small amplitudes can be better detected.

The position sensor can, however, also have a mechanical coupling to the valve member for determining the valve member position, which coupling can move both with and independently of the valve member. The position sensor thus has at least one further mechanical degree of freedom that can be used to detect vibrations and / or impacts. This degree of freedom usually has oscillation properties that enable the position sensor to absorb and record a broader spectrum of oscillations and / or impacts than a comparable sensor with a rigid coupling. The coupling is e.g. in many cases suitable for better absorbing higher frequency vibrations introduced from outside, e.g. B. Pipeline vibrations, which can be caused by pumps in the system. In addition, the coupling can be used to detect vibrations and / or impacts in which the relative position between the position sensor and the valve member does not change or only changes to an extent that cannot be resolved. These vibrations and / or bumps can include, for example, pipe vibrations that move the control valve more or less as a whole up and down so that the relative position between the valve member and position sensor hardly changes. Since the coupling can move independently of the valve member (and necessarily also of the position sensor), inertia can cause a relative movement that can be detected by the position sensor despite the slight change in the relative position between the sensor and the valve member.

A combination with non-contact measuring methods is also conceivable. In this way, vibrations and / or impacts, which lead to a relative movement between the valve member and position sensor, and vibrations and / or impacts, which do not significantly influence the relative position, can be distinguished from one another. With the help of different position sensors, changes in position or displacement curves can be recorded, which differ according to the order or number of degrees of freedom of vibration of the sensors. Thus, by means of a first-order total displacement curve, which one Second order oscillation curve is superimposed, for example flow-related and temperature-related disturbances are determined and a distinction is made between, for example, pipe vibrations that arise due to actuators.

The coupling can, for example, be carried out using joints, springs, levers or gears. In preferred embodiments, the coupling is designed as a rotary lever. The rotary lever can, for example, rest against a stop of the valve member, a spring pressing the lever against the stop. The movement of the valve member is converted into a rotary movement or deflection of the lever, which can be detected by the position sensor, e.g. using a rotary potentiometer or a pole ring. The rotary movement of the rotary lever typically covers a range of 30 °, 35 °, 45 °, 60 ° or 84 °. The scope of the angle of rotation range can, however, assume any value between 5 ° and 180 °.

The movement of the rotary lever is restricted by the stop and the spring, but the rotary lever can nevertheless move away from the stop independently of the valve member against the spring force. In this way, the rotary lever can, for example, pick up pipe vibrations or be excited by them to vibrate, which in turn can be recorded by the position sensor.

The rotary lever can not only absorb vertical lifting and lowering movements, but also, for example, horizontally directed vibrations and / or impacts. This particularly applies to situations in which the rotary lever is not aligned horizontally. A coupling such as a rotary lever can therefore increase the bandwidth of the vibrations and / or impacts that can be detected using the proposed method.

The rotary lever can also be guided in a link that is firmly connected to the valve member. In contrast to a stop, the setting restricts the movement of the rotary lever not only in one direction, but in two directions. If vibrations and / or impacts are detected in the course of the process, the amplitude of which exceeds a known maximum value, this indicates wear or damage to the link or the lever. The method therefore enables a measurement or at least an estimation of the game that the rotary lever has in the backdrop.

In many systems a sensor is available to determine vibrations and / or impacts. The proposed method can be implemented in such a way that, to determine vibrations and / or impacts, the measurement data recorded by the sensor is analyzed and the results of the analysis of the measurement data recorded by the sensor are analyzed with the results of the analysis of the at least one position recorded in the second period of the valve member are compared. Data from several sensors in the system can also be taken into account. In particular, sensor data from position sensors of other control valves can be included in the analysis.

By comparing the data, it can be determined in which area of the system vibrations and / or impacts, which are detected with the aid of the position sensor of the control valve, occur, i. H. z. B. whether they encompass the entire plant or are limited to a part of the plant. The recorded vibrations and / or impacts and the associated malfunctions or disturbances can thus be better localized and limited. Changes to the individual control valves within the process plant can be correlated with one another, e.g. to determine whether the problem occurs within a control valve (e.g. due to problems with the control valve itself) or whether there are natural vibrations in the entire plant or in part of a plant have changed, which indicates a cause outside the control valve. If one considers the measured values for a plurality of valves and the associated changes in the recorded vibrations and / or impacts and their amplitudes, malfunctions of a control valve can be detected early if comparable valves do not have comparable changes or changes that are outside certain tolerances, exhibit. If, on the other hand, all control valves show comparable changes, in many cases this indicates external causes for the vibrations and / or shocks detected. In doing so, technical knowledge of the system or the system structure can also be taken into account, in particular the spatial arrangement of the sensors and control valves or their role in the ongoing process.

The object is also achieved by a control valve with a valve member for influencing a process medium and / or a process on a system and a position controller for regulating the position of the valve member, the position controller having a position sensor for measuring the actual position of the valve member , and means which are suitable for carrying out the steps of a method according to the invention.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a computer program comprising commands which cause the control valve just described to carry out the method steps of a method according to the invention.

A computer-readable medium on which the computer program just described is stored also accomplishes the task.

The object is also achieved by a computer-implemented method for detecting vibrations and / or impacts to which a control valve can be exposed. The control valve is part of a system on which a process with a process medium runs or can expire. It has a valve member for influencing the process medium and / or the process that runs or can run on the system, a position controller for regulating the position of the valve member and a position sensor that can measure the actual position of the valve member. The process consists of the following steps:

1. Receiving data about a target position in which the positioner holds the valve member in a first period of time or in which the positioner moves the valve member in a first period of time;

2. Receiving data that represent at least one position of the valve member that was measured and recorded with the aid of the position sensor in a second time period that lies within the first time period or is equal to the first time period; typically the at least one position is the actual position of the valve member;

3. Determination of vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve may have been exposed in the second period by analyzing the at least one position of the valve member recorded in the second period; and

4. Outputting a message if at least one oscillation and / or at least one impact has been determined and / or the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one impact exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In this way, vibrations and / or impacts can be recognized not only during the operation of a control valve, but also, for example, retrospectively by evaluating data that has already been recorded. In addition, the recorded data about the position of the valve member can be analyzed again if, for example, better algorithms are available for recognizing vibrations and / or shocks.

In addition, the object is achieved by a device for data processing, comprising means for carrying out the computer-implemented method.

A stand-alone computer or microcontroller, DSPs or FPGAs as well as a network of microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs or computers, for example an in-house, closed one, come into consideration as a device for data processing or system for data processing or computer system for carrying out the method Network, or computers that are connected to one another via the Internet. Furthermore, the computer system can be implemented by a client-server constellation, with parts of the invention running on the server and others on a client.

The object is also achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the computer-implemented method.

One solution to the problem is also a computer-readable medium on which the computer program just described is stored.

Further details and features emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures. The respective features can be implemented individually or in combination with one another. The possibilities of solving the problem are not limited to the exemplary embodiments. For example, range information always includes all - not mentioned - intermediate values and all conceivable sub-intervals.

The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. The same reference numbers in the individual figures designate elements that are the same or functionally the same or elements that correspond to one another with regard to their functions. In detail shows:

1 shows a fully open control valve with a position controller;

FIG. 2 shows the control valve shown in FIG. 1, the valve being in a position in which the valve is completely closed; FIG.

3 shows a position sensor with a rotary lever;

4 shows a position controller with a contactless position sensor;

5 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention;

Fig. 6 travel or lifting distances that WUR recorded on two different days;

7 shows the number of reversals of direction recorded on two different days;

8 shows a histogram of valve member positions on a day; and

9 shows a histogram of valve member positions on another day;

10 shows a histogram of the reversals of direction on a day; and

11 is a histogram of the reversals of direction on another day.

1 shows a control valve 100 with a valve housing 105. The valve housing 105 comprises an inlet 110, an outlet 115, a valve seat 120 and a valve member 125 with a valve cone 130 of a process medium can be monitored or controlled by the control valve 100. The process medium flows into the control valve 100 via the inlet 110 and leaves the valve 100 via the passage opening formed by the valve seat 120 and the valve cone 130 and the outlet 115. The process medium can also flow through the control valve 100 in the opposite direction. The valve member 125 consists of the valve cone 130 and a valve rod 135, the valve cone 130 being fastened to the lower end of the valve rod 135. To close of the valve 100, the valve cone 130 is moved in the direction of the valve seat 120 with the aid of the valve rod 135. To open the valve cone 130 or the valve member is moved in the opposite direction. In this way, the size of the passage opening of the control valve 100 formed by the valve seat 120 and the valve cone 130 can be enlarged or reduced, and thus the flow rate of a fluid medium or process medium through the control valve 100 can be controlled.

To move the valve member 125 or the valve cone 130, the control valve 100 has a drive 140. The drive 140 is controlled by a position controller 145.

The position controller 145 has a position sensor for controlling the movement of the valve member 125 by the drive 140. The position sensor is made up of a rotation angle sensor 150 with a sliding potentiometer, a rotary lever 155 which is rotatably mounted on the rotation angle sensor, and a torsion spring 160. The rotary lever 155 is guided over a roller 165 in a setting 170. The link 170 is firmly connected to the valve rod 135 or the valve member 125. The rolling roller 165 also has some play in the backdrop 170. The torsion spring 160 pretensions the rotary lever 155 so that the rolling roller 165 of the rotary lever 155 is pressed against the upper flank of the backdrop 170.

The mechanical coupling of the rotary lever 155 with the valve rod 135, which is conveyed via the link 170 and the roller 165, linear movements of the Ven tilstange 135 and the valve member 125 are transmitted to the lever 155. Lifting or lowering movements of the valve member 125 thus change the angular position of the lever 155, at least when the play of the rolling roller 165 in the link 170 is overcome. The change in the angular position of the rotary lever 155 is converted by the sliding potentiometer of the rotary angle sensor 150 into a resistance value, which in turn is detected by the position controller 145 and converted into a position of the valve member 125. In this way, the position sensor or angle of rotation sensor 150 can be used to determine the actual position in which the valve member 125 or the valve cone 130 is currently located. In addition, it can be monitored whether the valve member 125 has reached a predetermined target position or remains therein. In addition, the position of the valve member 125 can be tracked when it is being moved.

If vibrations and impacts now act on the control valve 100, both the valve member 125 and the rotation angle sensor 150 can move in the valve housing 105 due to the vibrational forces that occur. Since the rolling roller 165 has some play in the backdrop 170, the lever 155 can also be grasped and deflected by the vibration forces. It can briefly detach itself from the flank of the link 170 against which the lever 155 is pressed by the torsion spring 160, and in this way move independently of the valve member 125 and / or the rotation angle sensor 155.

The mechanics of the position sensor attached to the positioner 145 can accordingly be divided into two oscillation systems. The first system consists of the rotary lever 155, whose angular position is detected by means of the sensor system 150, and the torsion spring 160, which biases the lever 155 in an angular direction. The second oscillation system is formed from the valve member 125 and the rotation angle sensor 150. Due to the direct coupling of the valve cone 130 to the process medium, the second oscillating movement system is more suitable for detecting process pressure and / or flow fluctuations as well as temperature-related shifts or hard knocks on the control valve system. The second vibration system picks up pipe vibrations introduced from the outside, which can be caused, for example, by pumps in the system.

The two oscillating systems are mechanically coupled to one another via the backdrop 170. The coupling is non-linear due to the bias of the rotary lever 155, the play of the rolling roller 165 in the link 170 or the limitation of the movement of the rotary lever 155 by the flanks of the link 170.

FIG. 2 shows a control valve 200 which is structurally identical to the control valve 100 shown in FIG. 1. The valve 200 is shown in a closed position in FIG. 2, i.e. the valve cone 230 of the control valve 200 is pressed into the valve seat 220 by the positioner 245 with the aid of the drive 240 and the valve rod 235. In contrast, the control valve 100 is shown in Fig. 1 in a Stel ment in which the valve 100 is fully open.

Before valve 200 was closed, it was also fully open. To close the fully opened valve 200, the valve rod 235, together with the valve cone 230 and the link 270, was moved downward in the direction of the valve seat 220. The rotary lever 255 performed a rotary movement by 35 °, which was tracked or controlled by the position controller 245 with the aid of the position sensor formed by the rotary angle sensor 250, the rotary lever 155 and the torsion spring 160.

With the help of the position sensor, the positioner 245 now continues to monitor the position of the valve cone. For this purpose, the resistance of the grinding potentiometer is measured with the aid of the rotation angle sensor 250 at a rate of approx. 10 Hz. The corresponding measured values are transmitted to the positioner 245. The position controller 245 records these measured values together with the positions of the valve cone 230 or valve member 225 and corresponding time stamps calculated from the measured values. The recorded values are available, among other things, to prove the functionality of the positioner 245 or the control valve 200 and to diagnose any faults. The geometric structure of the control valve 100 or 200 allows the movement of the valve member 225 to be tracked or monitored with an accuracy or resolution of 0.01% of a full stroke.

3 shows a section 300 of a control valve with valve housing 305 and valve rod 335 (such as a control valve 100 or 200), with section 300 of the position sensor of the control valve, part of the valve housing 305 and part of the valve rod 335. The position sensor has a rotation angle sensor 350, which is designed as a sliding potentiometer and is connected to the valve housing 305. The sensor system is also formed by a rotary lever 355, which is rotatably mounted on the rotary angle sensor, and a torsion spring 360, which biases the rotary lever 355 in an angular direction. The rotary lever 355 has a rolling roller 365 at one of its ends, with which the rotary lever is guided in a link 370. The link 370 is in turn connected to the valve rod 335. The rotary lever 355 is thus also mechanically connected to the valve rod 335 via the rolling roller 365 guided in the link 370. The torsion spring 360 biases the rotary lever 355 so that the roller 365 of the rotary lever 355 acts pressed against the upper flank of the link 370. The roller 365 has a little play in the backdrop 370.

With the aid of the position sensor, linear movements, lifting and lowering movements and (elastic) deformations of the valve rod 335 are converted into rotary movements of the rotary lever 355. These rotary movements of the rotary lever 355 are detected by the rotary angle sensor 350. Due to the play of the rolling roller 365 in the backdrop 370, not only linear movements of the valve rod 335 can be transferred to the rotary lever 355, but also movements of the rolling roller 365 within the backdrop 170 or the rotary lever 355 that are not accompanied by a linear movement of the valve member . In this way, different vibrations and / or impacts that act on the position sensor or the control valve and lead to rotary movements of the rotary lever 355 can be detected by the rotary angle sensor 350.

4 shows a section 400 of a control valve, the section including both a position controller 445 and part of the valve housing 405 and the valve rod 435 of the control valve. The positioner 445 is connected to the valve housing 405. Has an alternative position sensor that is based on a non-contact measuring method in which a number of magnetically sensitive sensors or magnetic sensors 480 and a magnet 490 are used. The series of magnetic sensors 480 is integrated in the positioner 445. The magnet 490 is connected to the valve rod 435. The magnet 490 can thus move along with the valve rod and, in the process, performs a movement relative to the magnetic sensors in the row of magnetic sensors 480. If the valve rod is moved, the magnetic field that is detected or measured by the magnetic sensors in the row of magnetic sensors 480 changes. The magnetic fields detected by the magnetic sensors are converted by the position controller 445 into a position or position of the valve rod and the valve cone or valve member connected to it.

The use of the magnet 490 or the series of magnetic sensors 480 enables a contactless measuring method that has no further mechanical degrees of freedom. The vibrations and / or impacts detected with the aid of the proposed method are accordingly due to movements of the valve member relative to the position sensor. In addition, these relative movements are not dampened by additional elasticities or mechanical degrees of freedom of the sensors. In this way, vibrations and / or beats with a lower amplitude or intensity can be detected in many cases.

5 shows a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a method 500 according to the invention. The method begins with step 510, in which, among other things, the method parameters such as the threshold for outputting a message and the second period are specified. In step 520, the method parameters are determined with which it can be checked whether the conditions for the start of the second period are met. In step 530 it is decided on the basis of the results of the test in step 520 how the method is to be continued. If the conditions for the start of the second period are not met, the method continues with step 520. If the start conditions are met, the position of the valve member is measured in step 540 with the aid of the position sensor of the control valve at a sampling rate of approx. 50 ms.

The measured positions are recorded in step 550 and analyzed in step 560. It is determined whether the control valve was exposed to vibrations and / or impacts in the second period and, if vibrations and / or impacts were determined, the corresponding amplitudes are calculated. In step 570 it is decided on the basis of the determined vibrations and / or beats or the calculated amplitudes how the method is to be continued. If at least one of the calculated amplitudes is above the threshold specified in step 510, the method is continued with step 580, otherwise with step 520. In step 580 a warning or error message is output and the method is ended.

The second period of time is set in step 510 such that it begins one minute after the valve member has moved into a target position by the positioner and either one minute before the valve member is moved into a new target position or, if the valve member does not procedure, ends automatically after two hours. Due to this specification, vibrations and / or impacts that arise as a result of the movement of the valve member are not recorded and any associated error messages are avoided. In addition, the amplitudes that may be determined are reset to zero, which also reduces the number of false reports.

Various methods are used and combined to determine vibrations and / or impacts in step 560. These are detailed below.

Fig. 6 shows a bar diagram 600 of the travel or stroke lengths, which the valve member of the Control valve on December 10, 2018 and November 4, 2019 in the second period. The distances or stroke distances are given in units of a full stroke. Every distance or stroke is counted positively. According to diagram 600, the valve element covered a distance of approx. 20% of a full stroke on December 10, 2018. On November 4, 2019, it covered a distance that more or less corresponds to a full stroke.

7 shows a bar diagram 700 in which the number of reversals of direction is plotted which the valve member of the control valve has completed on December 10, 2018 and on November 4, 2019 in the second period. A comparison of diagrams 600 and 700 shows that the mechanical loads on the control valve on November 4, 2019 were greater than on December 10, 2018. After all, the valve element not only reversed around four times more direction than on December 10 in the same period 2018, but with each of these reversals of direction - at least on average - also covered the same distance or stroke distance, which can be seen from a synopsis of FIGS. 6 and 7.

8 shows a histogram 800 in which all valve member positions are recorded which the valve member has assumed since the control valve was started up. The histogram 800 comprises 10 classes. The first class 810 contains all positions recorded in the second period that deviate from the closed position of the valve by at most 5% of a full stroke, whereas the last class 820 includes all positions recorded in the second period from a fully open position Valve deviate by a maximum of 5% of a full stroke. The height of the bar corresponds to the percentage of the positions in a class in relation to the total of all recorded positions. The histogram shows that the control valve usually moves back and forth between the closed position and the position in which the valve is fully open. It assumes the closed position somewhat more frequently than the position in which the valve is fully open.

9 shows a histogram 900 in which the valve member positions are recorded which the valve member assumed on November 4, 2019 in the second period. It is structured in the same way as the histogram 800. The histogram 900 shows that the control valve was almost always fully open on November 4, 2019, but must have been in a closed position for a short time. It also shows that the deviations of the actual positions of the valve member from the respective target positions must have been less than 5% of a full stroke, since only the first class 910 and the last class 920 are occupied. The same applies to the histogram 800.

If you compare the histograms 800 and 900, there are no concrete signs for vibrations and / or shocks that would justify the output of a warning message. However, the analysis is not yet complete at this point.

10 shows a histogram 1000 which summarizes the number of reversals of direction that the valve member has made since the control valve was started up. The histogram 1000 comprises 10 classes. The first class 1010 contains all reversals of direction recorded in the second period with changes in position that are less than 2% of a full stroke, whereas the last class 1020 includes all reversals of direction recorded in the second period with changes in position that go beyond a full stroke. In the second class 1030, all reversals of direction are combined with changes in position that are more than or equal to 2% and less than 5% of a full stroke. Reversals of direction with changes in position between 95% and 100% of a full stroke are in the penultimate class 1040. The height of the bars corresponds to the percentage of reversals in a class in relation to the total of all reversals recorded.

11 shows a histogram 1100 which summarizes the number of reversals of direction that the valve member performed on November 4, 2019 in the second period. It is constructed in the same way as the histogram 1000. The comparison of the histograms 1000 and 1100 shows that the reversals of direction in the second period on November 4, 2019 were more frequently associated with position changes in a range between 2 and 5% of a full stroke than in the past.

In a synopsis of the results, in particular the facts that the number of reversals of direction on November 4, 2019 was higher than on December 10, 2018, the associated changes in position were on average the same or at least comparable, and yet more reversals of direction were related to a larger one Changes in position were detected, suggests the possibility that on November 4, 2019 an oscillation that has not yet appeared occurred, which was constructive as well as with at least one oscillation that occurred both on December 10, 2018 and on November 4, 2019 destructively superimposed, which led to a beat.

Such beats can be recognized, for example, with the help of a sum, in which the number of reversals of direction, the amount of the mean value of the associated changes in position and the occupation of classes 1030 and 1130 with corresponding weights. received. If the value of this sum exceeds a specified threshold, a message is issued.

glossary

system

A system represents a systematic compilation of technical components. The components can include machines, devices, apparatus, storage facilities, lines or transport and / or control or regulating elements. They can be connected, interconnected or linked to one another in terms of function, control technology and / or safety technology.

Systems are operated in many different areas for a variety of purposes. This includes, for example, procedural or process engineering systems, which in many cases are part of the chemical industry. The term “systems” also includes refineries, district heating systems, geothermal or solar thermal systems, systems for food production, fresh water supply or wastewater disposal, biogas systems, etc.

Flow rate

The flow rate is the amount of a fluid medium that moves through a certain cross-section in a certain time unit. The amount of the medium can be given as the amount of substance. For metrological reasons, however, it is often given in a unit of volume or mass.

Hub

A stroke of a valve member denotes the distance that the valve member covers when it is moved from a first position to a second position.

Actual position

An actual position represents the position and / or location of a body in space at a specific point in time. In many cases, the actual position of a body is equated with its current position or location, ie with the position or location that the body occupies at the present time. The specific point in time can also refer to a point in time in the past or in the future. An actual position is often the starting point for a targeted movement of a body towards a target position. process

A (technical) process is the entirety of the processes in a (technical) system. A running process is a process that is currently being run on a system or during normal operation of a system. A process can be continuous or continuous (oil refining, district heating or electricity generation) or discontinuous or a batch or batch process (dough production for the production of baked goods, drug production, roasting of coffee).

Process medium

A process medium is a fluid medium that is circulated or transported within a system as part of a process and, if necessary, changed in the process. Process media can be oils, salts, liquids or gases.

Blow

A shock or impact is a rather short-term mechanical load on a body compared to the duration of an oscillation, during which kinetic energy or an impulse is transferred to the body. A body or system can be plastically and / or elastically deformed and / or made to vibrate by a blow (cf. e.g. striking a tuning fork with a hard object).

vibration

An oscillation represents a time-recurring elastic deformation or a repetitive deflection of at least one part of a body around a position of equilibrium. In many cases, vibrations are triggered by mechanical loads on a body or a part of a body. They can be periodic but also non-periodic, where the latter includes quasi-periodic oscillations (e.g. superposition of two harmonic oscillations at right angles to one another with incommensurable frequencies) or even chaotic oscillations (e.g. a Pohl's wheel). You can be sinusför mig, but also have other shapes, such. B. a triangular, rectangular or saw tooth shape. The periods of time within which the deformation or deflection takes place and the deflection distance or amplitude can be constant (e.g. in the case of an undamped oscillation) or variable over time (e.g. in the case of a damped oscillation).

Target position A target position represents a predetermined or desired position or location of a body in space, from which the actual position of the body should deviate as little as possible. A target position or target position is in many cases the goal of a directed movement of a body or the end result aimed for by the directed movement of the body. In the ideal case, at least as a result of the targeted movement of a body, the actual position of the body agrees with the desired target position or deviates therefrom only within the scope of the positioning uncertainty achievable with the targeted movement or a predetermined position tolerance.

Positioner

A positioner is that element of a valve that actuates the valve member of the valve to open or close the valve. In many cases, positioners comprise an electric or a fluidic drive, the latter being operated either hydraulically or with compressed air.

Control valve

Control valves, also called process or control valves, are used to throttle or regulate fluidic flows. For this purpose, a closure part, e.g. a perforated or valve cone, is moved relative to a valve seat by means of a drive. A flow opening is opened or closed, whereby the flow rate can be influenced, up to and including the complete closure of the flow opening. A pneumatic or electric drive is typically used for this.

Valve member

A valve member is that element of a valve that can release the valve seat or close ver and z. B. is operated by a positioner to close or open the valve.

period

A period is a time interval or a period of time. A period of time has both a beginning and an end, each of which can be determined by a point in time. A time period can be composed of several time periods that can overlap and / or are disjoint from one another. A period of time has a duration that can include, for example, an hour or a day. Reference number control valve valve housing inlet outlet valve seat valve member valve cone valve rod drive positioner rotary angle sensor rotary lever torsion spring roll-off roller link control valve valve housing inlet outlet valve seat valve member valve cone valve rod drive position controller rotary angle sensor rotary lever torsion spring roll-off roller link section of a control valve Valve housing Valve rod Angle of rotation sensor Rotary lever Torsion spring Rolling roller Link Section of a control valve Valve housing Valve rod Positioner Series of magnetic sensors Magnet Method for determining vibrations and / or impacts Requirements Checking the start conditions Start conditions fulfilled? Measure Record Determine vibrations and / or impacts Were significant vibrations and / or impacts recorded? Output of an error message Bar chart Bar chart Histogram first class last class Histogram first class last class - SUN -

1000 histogram 1010 first class

1020 last class

1030 second class 1040 penultimate class

1100 histogram 1110 first class

1120 last class

1130 second class 1140 penultimate class

cited literature cited patent literature

DE 102016216923 B4 US 9,423,050 B2

Claims

1. Method (500) for detecting vibrations and / or impacts caused by a control valve

(100; 200) can be exposed;

1.1 wherein the control valve (100; 200) is part of a system on which a process with a process medium runs and / or can run;

1.2 wherein the control valve (100; 200) has the following:

1.2.1 a valve member (125; 225) for influencing the process medium and / or the process that runs and / or can run on the system, and

1.2.2 a position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) for regulating the position of the valve member (125; 225);

1.2.2.1 wherein the position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) has a position sensor for measuring the actual position of the valve member (125; 225); wherein the method (500) comprises the following steps:

1.3 in a first period of time the position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) holds the valve member (125;

225) in a target position and / or the positioner moves the valve member into a target position in a first period of time;

1.4 measuring at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) with the aid of the position sensor in a second time period which lies within the first time period or is equal to the first time period;

1.5 recording of the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) measured by the position sensor over the second period of time;

1.6 determining vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve (100; 200) was possibly exposed in the second period by analyzing the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) recorded in the second period;

1.7 Output of a message if at least one oscillation and / or at least one

Impact is determined and / or the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or of the at least one impact exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The method (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that

2.1 that to determine vibrations and / or impacts and / or to determine the

Amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or of the at least one impact from the at least one change in position

2.1.1 Reversal of direction of the movement of the valve member detected by the position sensor (125; 225) are determined; and or

2.1.2 if at least two reversals of direction have been detected, the changes in position of the valve member (125; 225) detected by the position sensor are determined between the at least two reversals of direction.

3. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

3.1 that the recording of the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) measured by the position sensor over the second period enables an analysis of the course over time of the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) measured by the position sensor over the second period; and

3.2 that for determining vibrations and / or impacts and / or determining the

Amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or of the at least one beat

3.2.1 the correspondence of the positions recorded by the position sensor with the target position is determined; and or

3.2.2 a derivation of the course over time is calculated; and or

3.2.3 a Fourier analysis of the time course is carried out.

4. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

4.1 that the predetermined threshold represents an amplitude which was determined in a third period before the first and / or second period; and or

4.2 that the specified threshold is adapted to the current operating conditions of the control valve (100;

200) is adjusted.

5. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the analysis of the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) recorded in the second time period, influences of the process medium and / or the process and / or the environment of the control valve (100; 200) and / or the system on the control valve (100; 200) must be taken into account.

6. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

6.1 that the position sensor is designed as a contactless sensor, and / or

6.2 that the position sensor comprises a magnetic arrangement. 7. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

7.1 that the position sensor has a coupling with the valve member (125; 225);

7.2 whereby the coupling can move both with and independently of the valve member (125; 225).

8. The method (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the coupling comprises a rotary lever (155; 255; 355).

9. The method (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that

9.1 that the rotary lever (155; 255; 355) is guided in a link (170; 270; 370);

9.2 where the link (170; 270; 370) is firmly connected to the valve member (125; 225).

10. The method (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

10.1 that the system has a sensor for determining vibrations and / or impacts;

10.2 that in order to determine vibrations and / or impacts, the measurement data recorded by the sensor are analyzed;

10.3 that the results of the analysis of the measurement data recorded by the sensor are compared with the results of the analysis of the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) recorded in the second time period.

11. Control valve (100; 200) with

11.1 a valve member (125; 225) for influencing a process medium and / or a process on a system;

11.2 a position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) for regulating the position of the valve member (125; 225);

11.2.1 wherein the position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) has a position sensor for measuring the actual position of the valve member (125; 225); and

11.3 Means which are suitable for carrying out the steps of a method according to one of Claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer program comprising instructions that cause the apparatus of claim

11 carries out the method steps according to one of claims 1 to 10.

13. Computer-readable medium on which the computer program according to claim 12 is stored.

14. Computer-implemented method (500) for detecting vibrations and / or

Impacts to which a control valve (100; 200) can be exposed;

14.1 wherein the control valve (100; 200) is part of a system on which a process with a process medium runs and / or can run;

14.2 wherein the control valve (100; 200) has the following:

14.2.1 a valve member (125; 225) for influencing the process medium and / or the process that runs and / or can run on the system, and

14.2.2 a position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) for regulating the position of the valve member (125; 225);

14.2.2.1 wherein the position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) has a position sensor for measuring the actual position of the valve member (125; 225); wherein the method (500) comprises the following steps:

14.3 Receiving data on a target position in which the position controller (145; 245; 345; 445) holds the valve member (125; 225) for a first period and / or in which the position controller moves the valve member in a first period ;

14.4 receiving data representing at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) which was measured and recorded with the aid of the position sensor in a second time period which lies within the first time period or is equal to the first time period;

14.5 Determination of vibrations and / or impacts to which the control valve (100; 200) may have been exposed in the second time period by analyzing the at least one position of the valve member (125; 225) recorded in the second time period;

14.6 Outputting a message if at least one oscillation and / or at least one impact was determined and / or the amplitude of the at least one oscillation and / or the at least one impact exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. An apparatus for data processing, comprising means for carrying out the method (500) according to claim 14.

16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to claim 14.

17. Computer-readable medium on which the computer program according to claim 16 is stored.