Distributed computing with cloud computed feedback to process sensors

Abstract

A process control system for controlling an industrial process includes a cloud-computing dependent (CD) radar level gauge or ultrasonic flow meter (CD sensor device) including a sensor, transducer, communications unit, with limited hardware/software incapable of calculating an accurate level calculation or high accuracy gas flow rate. A bus couples the sensed data from the CD sensor device to an IP communications unit that outputs IP protocol data. The cloud computing system is coupled by an IP network to receive the IP protocol data and includes a processor executing advanced data processing algorithms which provides a second part of the CD sensor device including processing the IP data to generate a remote computational result including the accurate level calculation/high accuracy gas flow rate. The cloud computing system feeds back the remote computational result to a process controller coupled to an actuator that controls processing equipment for automatically tuning the industrial process.