TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates in general to monitoring devices of industrial plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to monitoring rotating equipment in an industrial plant. BACKGROUND

[002] Rotating equipment such as, motors, generators, pumps and the like are extremely important for continuously running various industrial applications of an industrial plant. Condition of the rotating equipment in industrial plants is monitored using condition monitoring devices. Typically, a condition monitoring device includes one or more sensors for measuring parameters (such as, vibration, speed, etc.) related to functioning of the rotating equipment. These parameters may be shared with portable devices or with gateway devices for further processing using a Bluetooth interface. In order to operate the one or more sensors, processors, and other electronic components, the condition monitoring device includes a battery as a power source .

[003] Generally, a significant amount of battery life reduces while broadcasting the Bluetooth packets, so that the portable devices can be connected to the one or more sensors. For most of the requirement, the parameters are transferred at a predefined time for a certain duration. Thus, enabling the Bluetooth interface at other times of the predefined time leads to unnecessary utilization of the battery life.

[004] Currently, in order to conserve the battery life during the condition monitoring, existing condition monitoring devices usually keep the Bluetooth interface in deep sleep mode. For any transmission, these condition monitoring device may include a predetermined schedule. Accordingly, at predetermined interval in accordance with the schedule, the existing condition monitoring device switches the Bluetooth interface to active mode and transmits data to the portable devices. Though such an approach is useful in preserving battery life, however, it is not convenient for transmitting ad-hoc reading of parameters of the rotating equipment. [005] Further, to switch the Bluetooth interface between sleep mode and active mode, the existing condition monitoring devices include a physical switch/push button. By toggling this switch/push button, the Bluetooth interface is switched from the sleep mode to the active mode. However, such switch and push button are often subject to wear and tear and may malfunction at times. Moreover, such switch and push button may get accidentally pushed during operation of the rotating equipment and can cause disruption in the condition monitoring devices. In addition, such switch and push buttons may lower ingress protection of the condition monitoring device, if not designed and assembled properly.

SUMMARY

[006] The present invention relates to a condition monitoring device monitoring a rotating equipment in an industrial plant. The rotating equipment can be one of, but not limited to, motors, generators, pumps and the like. In an embodiment, the condition monitoring device may be affixed to the rotating equipment. For instance, the condition monitoring device may be mounted on a motor.

[007] The condition monitoring device comprises one or more sensors for measuring parameters associated with functioning of the rotating equipment. The parameters may include for example, vibration, speed and the like of the rotating equipment. Accordingly, the one or more sensors may include for example, magnetometer, accelerometer and the like. The one or more sensors measure the parameters at any instant.

[008] The condition monitoring device includes a Bluetooth interface for transmitting the parameters measured by the one or more sensors to a portable device at predetermined time intervals. The portable device may be associated with an operator of the rotating equipment. The portable device may include a user device for example, a smartphone etc. The Bluetooth interface remains in an inactive state unless explicitly instructed.

[009] The condition monitoring device includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface for receiving a signal at an instant from an NFC interface associated with the portable device. The signal is received when the portable device is placed in proximity to the condition monitoring device. The portable device is placed in proximity whenever the parameters associated with rotating equipment are required by the operator. The NFC interface of the condition monitoring device may receive the signal to configure the Bluetooth interface to an active state.

[010] Further, the condition monitoring device includes a processor which is connected with the NFC interface for receiving the signal from the NFC interface. Upon receiving the signal, the processor sends an instruction to configure the Bluetooth interface from inactive state to the active state. Thus, the Bluetooth interface is configured by switching the Bluetooth interface from an inactive state to the active state. Once the Bluetooth interface is configured to the active state, the parameters measured at the instant are transmitted to the portable device. Thus, the Bluetooth interface transmits the measured parameters in the active state.

[Oi l] Further, the condition monitoring device includes a power source and a memory. The memory stores values of parameter obtained at each instant and the power source provides battery for operating components such as the one or more sensors, the Bluetooth interface and the like of the rotating equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[012] Figures 1A and IB illustrate monitoring a rotating equipment (a motor) with a condition monitoring device for communicating parameters with a portable device, in accordance with different embodiments of the invention;

[013] Figure 2 shows a simplified representation of the condition monitoring device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

[014] Figures 3 is a flowchart for communicating parameters from condition monitoring device to a portable device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[015] The invention provides a condition monitoring device for monitoring a rotating equipment in an industrial plant. The rotating equipment may be one of several rotating equipment’s in an industrial environment such as a power plant, an oil and gas plant, a paper manufacturing unit etc. The rotating equipment may be one of, but not limited to, generators, motors, pumps and the like, used in an industrial environment. The condition monitoring device may be affixed on the rotating equipment (e.g. a motor). [016] The condition monitoring device may be a non-invasive condition monitoring device. The condition monitoring device monitors condition of the rotating equipment and communicates parameters associated with functioning of the rotating equipment with a portable device of an operator in the industrial environment. The parameters received by the portable device may be utilized for processing and determining operating condition of the rotating equipment.

[017] Reference is now made to Figure 1A showing a schematic diagram of a rotating equipment, such as a motor 100. As shown in Figure 1A, the motor 100 is affixed with a condition monitoring device 101. The condition monitoring device 101 is configured to monitor parameters of the motor 100. The condition monitoring device 101 comprises one or more sensors (not shown in Figure 1A explicitly) for monitoring the parameters of the motor 100

[018] The one or more sensors may include a magnetometer, an accelerometer, acoustic sensors, temperature sensors and so forth. Accordingly, the one or more sensors measure the parameters of the motor 100 such as, vibration, speed, temperature and the like of the motor 100. The condition monitoring device 101 may communicate and transmit the parameters measured by the one or more sensors to a portable device 105 as shown in Figure IB. The portable device 105 may be any user device having an active NFC reader. For example, the portable device 105 may include a smart phone and the like associated with an operator of the motor 100.

[019] The portable device 105 is placed in proximity to the condition monitoring device 101 in order to transmit a signal for transmission of the parameters. The portable device 105 may transmit the signal to a Near field Communication (NFC) interface (not shown explicitly in Figure IB) of the condition monitoring device 101 using its NFC interface 107. An NFC interface includes a set of communication protocols for enabling the condition monitoring device 101 and the portable device 105 to establish a communication by bringing them in proximity (for example, within 4 cm ( 1 1/2 inch)) to each other. Thus, in such a scenario, whenever the portable device 105 is placed in proximity to the condition monitoring device 101 of the rotating equipment and the signal is received at an instant, the one or more sensors may measure the parameters at the instant and transmit to the portable device 105 using a Bluetooth interface (not shown in Figure IB, covered in Figure 2).

[020] A simplified representation of the condition monitoring device 101 is shown in Figure 2. The condition monitoring device 101 comprises a housing body 200 capable of being affixed to a body, or shell, or frame of the rotating equipment such as, a motor 100 (as shown in Figure 1A and IB). The housing body 200 houses sensors 204 (also referred as one or more sensors), such as, the magnetometer, the accelerometer, the temperature sensor, acoustic sensors etc. The sensors 204 may record and transmit measurements associated with the parameters of the rotating equipment (such as motor 100). The measurements of the parameters can be transmitted to a local storage on the condition monitoring device 101 , or to the portable device 105 (e.g. a smartphone of the operator). In an embodiment, according to the positioning of the condition monitoring device 101 relative to the rotating equipment, the sensors 204 of the condition monitoring device 101 take measurements.

[021] The condition monitoring device 101 also includes a memory 201, a processor 202, a Bluetooth interface 203, a NFC interface 205 and an energy source 206. The memory 201 (local storage) is used for storing data. The data may include measurements of the parameters taken by the sensors 204 while monitoring the rotating equipment. The data may include the measurements from the sensors 204 which is used for determining a value of parameters associated with the rotating equipment. For instance, the data measured by the magnetometer is used for determining supply frequency. Similarly, the data measured by the sensor such as, accelerometer may be used for determining acceleration, vibration and velocity of the rotating equipment (such as motor 100). It is to be noted that any other data related to the functioning of the rotating equipment, measured by other sensors such as, temperature sensors etc., is also applicable in the invention.

[022] The Bluetooth interface 203 is a communication interface for transmitting the parameters measured by the sensors 204 with the portable device 105 at predetermined time intervals, based on request from the portable device 105. The parameters are transmitted by any known techniques. For example, the parameters are transmitted over a Bluetooth interface of the portable device 105. In such case, once the Bluetooth interface 203 of the condition monitoring device 101 and of the portable device 105 are connected on establishing a handshake signal, the parameters are transmitted to the Bluetooth interface of the portable device 105. In an embodiment, the Bluetooth interface 203 of the condition monitoring device 101 and of the portable device 105 may be auto paired. Alternatively, the Bluetooth interfaces may be paired by the operator of the portable device 105, each time the portable device 105 is placed in proximity to the condition monitoring device 101.

[023] Typically, the Bluetooth interface 203 remains in an inactive state and is activated based on an instruction received from the processor 202. This helps in preserving battery power in the condition monitoring device 101. Thus, once the Bluetooth interface 203 is switched from the inactive state to the active state, the parameters measured by the sensors 204 are transmitted to the portable device 105. The inactive state of the Bluetooth interface 203 refers to a state when the Bluetooth interface 203 is in sleep mode. The active state refers to a state when the Bluetooth interface 203 is in connected mode and is actively transmitting or receiving data.

[024] The NFC interface 205 is a communication interface for establishing a communication between the condition monitoring device 101 and the portable device 105, whenever the portable device 105 is placed in proximity to the condition monitoring device 101. Thus, when the portable device 105 is placed in proximity, the NFC interface 205 receives a signal at an instant from the NFC interface 107 associated with the portable device 105. The NFC interface 205 transmits the signal to the processor 202 to configure the Bluetooth interface 203 from the inactive state to the active state.

[025] The processor 202 is connected with the NFC interface 205. In an embodiment, the processor 202 is configured to execute various steps involved in the monitoring, and such steps may be stored in the memory 201 as executable steps (or instructions) and utilized during run time along with other information in the memory 201. The signal from the NFC interface 205 is received by the processor 202. Upon receiving the signal, the processor 202 may instruct the sensors 204 for measuring the parameters at the instant. In addition, the processor 202 may transmit an instruction to the Bluetooth interface 203 to switch from inactive state to the active state.

[026] The energy source 206 may include one or more batteries for powering and operating the components, such as, the sensors 204, the Bluetooth interface 203 etc., of the condition monitoring device 101. [027] The condition monitoring device 101 may be mounted on a frame of the rotating equipment for receiving measurements through the one or more sensors of the condition monitoring device 101.

[028] The measurement of parameters of the rotating equipment (such as motor 100), such as, vibration in the motor 100, speed of the motor 100 etc., can be utilised and processed by the portable device 105 for determining and assessing the condition of the rotating equipment. For instance, the parameters may be utilised for determining performance indicators such as, analysis for power estimation, current estimation, condition monitoring, etc.

[029] The above Figures 1 - 2 are explained considering the rotating equipment as the motor 100. The present invention is not restricted to motor 100. The present invention can also be implemented in other rotating equipment such as, generators, pumps and the like.

[030] Referring now to Figure 3, which is a flowchart Figures 3 is a flowchart for communicating parameters from condition monitoring device 101 to a portable device 105, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Various steps may be performed by the condition monitoring device 101, or at least in part by condition monitoring device 101.

[031] At 301, signal requesting measurement of parameters is received by the NFC interface 205 from the portable device 105. For instance, the request may be associated with vibration measurements in the motor 100 for an instant.

[032] At 302, the measurements of the parameters from the one or more sensors 204 is obtained. The measurements are obtained for the instant. The measurements are obtained based on an instruction from the processor 202. For instance, based on the request, number of vibration in the motor 100 is obtained.

[033] At 303, the instruction to configure the Bluetooth interface 203 from inactive state to the active state is transmitted (e.g. by the processor 202) upon receiving the signal.

[034] At 304, transmitting the parameter measured by the sensors 204 to the portable device 105 (e.g., by the Bluetooth interface 203), once the Bluetooth interface 203 is in active state. [035] The present invention offers improved power saving in the condition monitoring device by enabling the Bluetooth interface to be in active state, only when a request for data transmission is received. [036] The present invention makes use of NFC interface for communication. Accordingly, the present invention helps in providing ad hoc reading of the parameters. Thus, an operator can take measurements from the condition monitoring device at any unscheduled time instance.

[037] The present invention reduces wear and tear and malfunction in the condition monitoring device by eliminating physical switches and push buttons for configuring Bluetooth interface.

REFERRAL NUMERALS