Users of Fisher FIELDVUE® instruments receive on-line valve performance indicators plus services to support predictive maintenance

Marshalltown, Iowa, January 25, 2002 (revised January 26, 2004) - Fisher Controls International Inc., a division of Emerson Process Management, has added Performance Diagnostics (PD) and diagnostic interpretation services to its FIELDVUEÒ DVC5000 and DVC6000 series instruments. The on-line valve diagnostics further expand the ability of Fisher valves and the PlantWeb® digital plant architecture to deliver information on valve performance to people who run the business. The services help users apply the information to increase plant availability and reduce cost of ownership.

When used in combination with AMS ValveLinkÒ software, PD capabilities allow users to determine key valve-performance indicators -such as dead band and friction (sliding stem) or torque (rotary) -while the control valve is on-line and in service. Traditional approaches to gathering these performance indicators required taking the valve out of service, or connecting portable testers at the valve. The in-service, on-line monitoring provides a true indication of control valve performance in a predictive manner. If required, more extensive off-line diagnostics may be conducted to completely access and outline required maintenance.

Using the instrument and software products in combination, users may also trend valve-performance information over time. Trend data helps valve users become more proficient in scheduling maintenance and better able to maintain their control valves’ overall reliability.

Performance Diagnostics provide tools to meet specific needs including:

• A Time Series Graph of PD test results ¾ Users may compare actual valve variables such as friction, travel / travel set point, actuator pressure, and dead band.

• A Best Fit Curve (a PD-trend graph) helps users estimate when equipment performance may fall outside of allowable, pre-defined boundaries. With this feature, PD takes another step toward predictive diagnostics technology.

• Multi-Dataset Analysis ¾ If a user runs a test and the valve didn’t move enough to determine the friction in the assembly, ValveLink labels this an "orphaned" dataset. When several "orphaned" datasets have been acquired, the software adds or merges them, often creating enough data for an analysis. If so, ValveLink graphs the results.

• Batch Setup - If users have multiple FIELDVUE instruments on a multiplexed network, they may have AMS ValveLink VL2000 Series software (release 4.3) automatically start PD tests on specified valves.

In addition to these new features, Fisher offers its PD customers diagnostic services, tailored to their specific operation or work process. As part of the PD upgrade, current FIELDVUE users may send the data (collected using the combination of DVC5000-PD or DVC6000-PD and AMS ValveLink software) to personnel within Fisher’s global diagnostic center, who will apply their extensive valve-assembly knowledge and data-interpretation experience. Fisher diagnostic engineers review the data, provide a report summarizing the valve’s condition, and make recommendations on what action should be taken.

Performance Diagnostics capabilities are currently available only with the Type VL2000 Series ValveLink software (version 4.3 and later releases) using a FIELDVUE digital valve controller with the PD instrument level. The Performance Diagnostics valve system capabilities are key elements of the PlantWeb^® digital plant architecture and Asset Optimization offering of Emerson.

Emerson Process Management www.emersonprocess.com, an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution components in the chemical, oil and gas, pulp and paper, power, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. A division of Emerson, Fisher Controls International LLC www.fisher.com is a global leader in the design, manufacture and application of final control systems. Fisher’s technology and innovation in process control plays a key role in Emerson’s combining of superior products and technologies with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Emerson brands include: PlantWeb®; Fisher®; Rosemount®; Intellution®; Micro Motion®; Westinghouse Process Control; DeltaV™; and AMS.

St. Louis-based Emerson www.gotoemerson.com is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers in process control; electronics and telecommunications; industrial automation; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; and appliance and tools. Sales in fiscal 2001 were $15.5 billion.

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Fisher, eplug, FIELDVUE, PlantWeb, Rosemount, Intellution, Micro Motion and DeltaV are marks of one of the Emerson Process Management family of companies. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.