More intelligence in the plant: This is what the manufacturer-independent communication standard IO-Link stands for. From machine and plant engineering to material handling, IO-Link is widely used in modern factory automation. In addition to IO-Link masters, Pepperl+Fuchs offers a wide range of IO-Link-capable sensors. However, the standard is also suitable for monitoring and controlling actuators such as valves. As the latest addition to its connectivity portfolio, Pepperl+Fuchs now offers a valve connector with an IO-Link interface. This device allows plant operators to keep an eye on the status of their solenoid valves at all times.
The valve connector of design A is suitable for connecting pneumatically or hydraulically actuated solenoid valves—for example, individual, critical valves in IO-Link environments with high monitoring requirements. To monitor the status of these actuators, the connector records extensive diagnostic data: Supply voltage, output current, valve movement, temperature, and power consumption of the solenoid coil. Individual limits can be set for each parameter via a configurable alarm function. Lead breakages and short circuits are also reliably detected. Furthermore, a resettable switching cycle counter can be used to monitor specific intervals in the product life cycle. A second, non-resettable counter makes it possible to keep track of the entire service life of the valve.
All process data is passed on to the controller or a cloud-based system via an IO-Link master—for example, via a device from the ICE series. In this way, the valve connector provides all the data needed for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. This solution, which is also ideal for retrofitting existing plants, turns any standard valve into a smart device that can be fully integrated into Industry 4.0 environments.
