Method for pressure monitoring a pressure-dependent process and pressure sensor

Abstract

Method for pressure monitoring a pressure-dependent process comprising the following steps: Measuring over time a pressure of the pressure-dependent process. Processing the measured pressure by determining if the measured pressure (10, 20) or a filtered pressure obtained from the measured pressure is inside or outside defined pressure ranges (11, 12, 13, 14), each pressure range being defined by a respective lower limit (A, C, E, G) and by a respective upper limit (B, D, F, H). Generating a pressure monitoring signal in such a way that the pressure monitoring signal has a first value or first status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is inside a respective pressure range (11, 12, 13, 14), that the pressure monitoring signal has a second value or second status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range (11, 12, 13, 14) violating a safety relevant limit (A), and that the pressure monitoring signal has a third value or third status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range violating a nonsafety relevant limit (B, C, D, E, F, G, H).

1 . A method for pressure monitoring a pressure-dependent process comprising:
 measuring over time a pressure of the pressure-dependent process;   processing the measured pressure by determining if the measured pressure or a filtered pressure obtained from the measured pressure is inside or outside defined pressure ranges, each pressure range being defined by a respective lower limit and by a respective upper limit;   generating a pressure monitoring signal such that:
 the pressure monitoring signal has a first value or first status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is inside a respective pressure range; 
 the pressure monitoring signal has a second value or second status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range violating a safety relevant limit; 
 the pressure monitoring signal has a third value or third status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range violating a non-safety relevant limit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 during the processing it is determined if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is within defined time intervals inside or outside respective pressure ranges associated with the respective time intervals;   the pressure monitoring signal is generated such that:
 the pressure monitoring signal has the first value or first status if the measured or filtered pressure is within a respective time interval inside the respective pressure range; 
 the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status if the measured or the filtered pressure is within a respective time interval outside the respective pressure range violating a safety relevant limit; 
 the pressure monitoring signal has the third value or third status if the measured or filtered pressure is within a respective time interval outside the respective pressure range violating a non-safety relevant limit. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the measuring is executed by a measuring unit of an electrical or electronic pressure sensor;   the processing and generating are executed by a processing unit of the electrical or electronic pressure sensor on basis of the measured pressure provided by the measuring unit and on basis of the defined pressure ranges stored in a memory unit of the electrical or electronic pressure sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the processing and generating are executed also on basis of the defined time intervals stored in the memory unit of the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an absolute pressure is measured as pressure of the pressure-dependent process. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the first value or first status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if pressure monitoring signal has the third value or third status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged or the pressure-dependent process is continued by adapting at least one process parameter of the pressure-dependent process or the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a combustion process of a gas burner appliance is controlled as pressure-dependent process. 
     
     
         10 . A pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure-dependent process comprising:
 a measuring unit being configured to measure over time a pressure of the pressure-dependent process;   a memory unit for storing defined pressure ranges, each pressure range being defined by a respective lower limit and by a respective upper limit;   a processing unit being configured to process the measured pressure by determining if the measured pressure or a filtered pressure obtained from the measured pressure is inside or outside the defined pressure ranges and to generate a pressure monitoring signal in such a way that the pressure monitoring signal
 has a first value or first status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is inside a respective pressure range; 
 has a second value or second status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range violating a safety relevant limit; 
 has a third value or third status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is outside a respective pressure range violating a non-safety relevant limit. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pressure sensor of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the processing unit is configured to determine if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is within defined time intervals inside or outside respective pressure ranges associated with the respective time intervals and to generate a pressure monitoring signal in such a way that:   the pressure monitoring signal has the first value or first status if the measured or filtered pressure is within a respective time interval inside the respective pressure range;   the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is within a respective time interval outside the respective pressure range violating a safety relevant limit;   the pressure monitoring signal has the third value or third status if the measured pressure or the filtered pressure is within a respective time interval outside the respective pressure range violating a non-safety relevant limit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the measuring is executed by a measuring unit of an electrical or electronic pressure sensor;   the processing and generating are executed by a processing unit of the electrical or electronic pressure sensor on basis of the measured pressure provided by the measuring unit and on basis of the defined pressure ranges stored in a memory unit of the electrical or electronic pressure sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an absolute pressure is measured as pressure of the pressure-dependent process. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the first value or first status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the first value or first status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein if the pressure monitoring signal has the second value or second status the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein if pressure monitoring signal has the third value or third status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged or the pressure-dependent process is continued by adapting at least one process parameter of the pressure-dependent process or the pressure-dependent process is stopped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein if pressure monitoring signal has the third value or third status, the pressure-dependent process is continued unchanged or the pressure-dependent process is continued by adapting at least one process parameter of the pressure-dependent process or the pressure-dependent process is stopped.