Abstract: A field device for a process plant, may include a power distributing data switch having an electrical primary connection to consume power at a first power level higher than 10W, and at least two electrical secondary connections for combined data communication and power transfer at a second power level of lower than 10W per secondary connection. The field device may also include a housing to accommodate electrical components safe from dust and/or water, which forms a first housing compartment fitted for pressure proof enclosure of electrical components in an environment with explosive or flammable atmosphere and which accommodates the primary connection. The secondary connections may be arranged outside a pressure proof enclosure and outside the first housing compartment. The device may include a protective bridge to isolate leads out of the first housing compartment to connect the primary connection to the secondary connections.

Abstract: In a position closed-loop controller (31) for a valve control device (1) of a process engineering plant (100), comprising a first signal input (11) for a pilot signal, such as a process control signal (pg) from a process closed-loop controller (120) of the process engineering plant (100), a second signal input for a position actual signal (i) with regard to a control valve (35), wherein the position control-loop controller (31) is designed to generate a more particularly pneumatic control variable (g) for an actuator (33) to actuate the control valve on the basis of the pilot signal and the position actual signal (i) and comprises a more particularly pneumatic control output for the control variable (g).

Abstract: In a method for diagnosing control system of a process engineering plant having a plurality of actuating units for setting a process fluid and a central unit, at least one actuating-unit-specific control raw datum, such as a setpoint value, an actual value, a setpoint-actual difference value, or a control value, is detected; a particularly local diagnosis code is generated by one of the plurality of actuating units based on the at least one detected control raw datum; the diagnosis code is transmitted from the actuating unit to a central unit; a local diagnosis code, is transformed into a global diagnosis codes; a logical condition for a diagnosis deduction logic is defined such that when the logical condition is applied to at least one diagnosis code, the diagnosis deduction logic determines a predetermined deduction result; and a deduction result is determined based on the at least one diagnosis code.

Abstract: A method for verifying the operation of a safety valve having a valve member and a positioner for controlling the position of the valve member is proposed. The safety valve is part of a plant on which a process with a process medium runs. The plant has a sensor for monitoring the state of the plant, the process and the process medium. A sensor's measured value is used to determine a point in time during ongoing plant operation at which the operability of the valve can be verified in the context of a partial stroke test. The test can also be monitored with the sensor and the stroke range traversed therein can be dynamically adapted to the state. The test can thus be performed safely during operation and with an optimized stroke range. The method enables more frequent testing of and more reliable statements about the operability of the safety valve.

Abstract: A method for preventing control-induced oscillations in a valve with a pneumatic actuator and position control with an integrating component, including the following steps: Checking whether oscillations of the valve member occur by counting the zero crossings or extreme values of the control difference. If oscillations were detected, it is checked whether they result from oscillations of the set point. If not, the dead zone is increased and/or the gain parameter is decreased. If no oscillations were detected, it is checked whether wear in the drive has exceeded a predetermined measure. If so, the dead zone is decreased and/or the gain parameter is increased. In this way, oscillations caused by the I-component of the control can be detected and stopped. Further changes to the parameters are only made when friction is expected to have decreased due to wear.

Abstract: In a method for the encryption communication in a process plant, one or more keys for coding of electronic signals regarding the process plant, such as actuation signals, measurement signals, state signals, warning signals or such, are provided. The one or more keys are transmitted as acoustic signal via a ductwork guiding plant fluid, particularly a process fluid or an auxiliary fluid, from the first communication partner to the second communication partner. The process plant can be a chemical plant, a power plant, or a food-processing plant. The communication can be between a first and a second communication partner, which can include at least one field device, such as an actuator for adjusting a process fluid and/or a control electronics for supervising, controlling and/or regulating processes of the process plant.

Abstract: Methods for testing the operability of a safety valve, as well as a solenoid valve for triggering a safety valve, and corresponding devices are proposed. The safety valve has a solenoid valve which is used to vent the pneumatic actuator in a safety case. Initially, a safety case is triggered. The position course of the valve member is recorded, and the time required until the safety position is reached is compared with a reference value. From this, it can be reliably concluded whether the assumption of the fail-safe position was caused by the solenoid valve or by the positioner. The measured values of pressure sensors can also be taken into account and allow further diagnostics to be carried out if operability is not assured. If the result of the test is positive, maintenance intervals can be optimized.

Abstract: A positioner for a process plant, such as a chemical plant, a power plant, or a food processing plant, may include a control valve for controlling a process fluid flow of the process plant, a pneumatic actuator for actuating the control valve, and positioner electronics for determining and providing a pneumatic control signal for the actuator based on a control variable. The positioner electronics may include a signal receiving interface for receiving the control variable. The positioner electronics may include a computing device configured to determine at least one simulation parameter that characterizes a signal response of the positioner to a received control variable. The positioner electronics may include a signal output interface for outputting the at least one simulation parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a spring breakage in a preloaded drive of a control valve. The method is based on the fact that the pressure which must be applied to achieve a certain valve member position falls significantly after the breakage or failure of the spring. The breakage of a spring in a preloaded drive can thus be detected reliably using the sensor system already present in the control valve, moreover without having to disrupt or interrupt operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (10) for a process plant, comprising an actuating valve (14) and an actuating drive (12) which has an actuating drive housing (20) and a drive rod (18) mounted in the actuating drive housing (20), wherein the actuating drive housing (20) is connected to a valve housing (22) of the actuating valve (14) via a connecting housing. The invention is characterized in that a second rod coupling (46) and an adjusting rod (42) are provided, the adjusting rod (42) being provided in the region between the drive rod (18) and the valve rod (38), one rod coupling (44, 46) coupling the adjusting rod (42) to the drive rod (18), and one rod coupling (44, 46) coupling the adjusting rod (42) to the valve rod (18).

Abstract: A holder for a magnet of a magnet sensitive regulating valve position detector of a regulating valve of a process plant. The detector can include a shaft turnably movable supported in a housing of the detector, the shaft defining a turning axis oriented parallel to a turning spring supporting itself at the housing, and having a lever arm being turnably fixed with the shaft, the lever arm being coupled to the regulating valve such that a regulating valve stroke movement by the lever arm is transferable into a shaft rotation movement. The holder includes a holding fixture to interlockingly hold the magnet, a fixing section connected to the holding fixture to fix the holder at the shaft turnably fixedly, and a support connected to the holding fixture and the fixing section to latchingly support the rotational spring to generate a rotational spring force on shaft rotation movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric field device (10) with an ignition protection-type pressure-tight encapsulation for use in explosion-prone regions for controlling and/or regulating a valve unit of a process system, comprising a housing (12), in which a control unit (48) that comprises electronic components and is used as a monitoring, control, and/or regulating unit is arranged, said control unit (48) having a releasable communication connection to an operating unit (62). The housing (12) can be connected to a drive housing of the valve unit via a mechanical interface (42), and the housing has at least one connection feedthrough (44), via which at least one line can be connected that is connected to the control unit (48) via a connection interface (46).

Abstract: For determining the operability of a fluid driven safety valve, a method comprising the following steps is described: A partial stroke test is performed on the safety valve, resulting in a stroke-pressure curve. The stroke pressure curve is extrapolated (330, 340) beyond the measured range (360) up to the safety closing position (350). From the extrapolated stroke-pressure curve, the closing pressure reserve (320) can be determined. In this way, the functionality of the safety valve can be checked during operation.

Abstract: In a method for optimizing a modular system for technical functional units of a process engineering plant, a modular system is provided having components for configuring technical functional units. The modular system can be projected in a simulation environment such that each component can be represented based on its physical properties as a virtual component with corresponding parameters in the simulation environment. Parameters of the virtual components are varied in the simulation environment to determine a modified configuration of at least one technical functional unit using at least one of the virtual components with at least one varied parameter. The operation of the technical functional unit(s) is simulated with the modified configuration. A set of virtual components is determined from the virtual components with varied parameters based on results of the simulation. One or more components of the modular system are adapted based on the determined set of virtual components.

Abstract: In a valve housing for a globe valve for controlling a process fluid flow of a process plant (e.g. a chemical plant, petrochemical plant, a power plant, or a food processing plant), a passage opening is provided that can be closed by a valve member movable translationally in a vertical direction. The valve housing may define, in the vertical direction above the passage opening, a working space for accommodating the valve member. The valve housing may define a kettle space in the vertical direction below the passage opening. The valve housing may include at least one guide blade projecting radially into the kettle space for disturbing a process fluid vortex with vertical vortex axis of rotation filling the kettle space.

Abstract: Control valve assembly for controlling a process fluid flow in a process engineering plant such as a power plant, a chemical plant, a food processing plant or the like, wherein at least one fine-adjustment poppet valve with a fine-adjustment drive for the fine adjustment of a fine-adjustment poppet valve flow area; and at least one open/close poppet valve having a discrete adjustment actuator for placing the open/close poppet valve either into an open position, in which a poppet valve flow area is completely open, or into a closed position, in which the poppet valve flow area is closed off, wherein a cumulative total flow area of the adjustment valve assembly is defined by the fine-adjustment poppet valve flow area of the at least one fine-adjustment poppet valve and by the poppet valve flow area of the at least one open/close poppet valve.

Abstract: An electric actuator for a final controlling device having a safety actuator function for positioning an actuating element, (e.g. a valve element of, for example, a process-technical plant). The electric actuator can include an electric motor configured to provide a torque for actuating the actuating element. The electric motor can include a motor shaft configured to deliver the torque, an output shaft configured to transmit the torque from the electric motor to the actuating element, and an electromagnetic and/or currentlessly uncoupling coupling (e.g. electromagnetic and/or currentlessly uncoupling clutch) configured to provide and/or interrupt a torque-transmitting connection between the motor shaft and the output shaft. The output shaft, the motor shaft and the coupling can be arranged coaxially to one another.

Abstract: Electropneumatic solenoid valve includes an electromagnetic actuator with an energizable coil and a solenoid armature movable relative to the coil, an air chamber with three air channels, and a valve member. The three air channels include first and second air channels and a control air channel. The valve member, in a first closed position, closes the first air channel and releases the second air channel and which, in a second closed position, closes the second air channel and releases the first air channel. The valve further includes a driver movable in a first and second actuating directions and that connects the valve member to the solenoid armature, a driver-pretensioning spring arranged between the driver and the solenoid armature, to provide a pretensioning force to the driver, and a restoring spring between the driver and the electromagnetic actuator to provide a restoring force to the driver against the driving direction.

Abstract: In a valve housing modular system, different configurations for a globe valve arranged to adjust a process fluid flow are provided. The globe valve can have a globe valve member movable in translation along a stroke axis. The system can include a housing corpus with a process fluid inlet and outlet, a process fluid passage arranged therebetween, and an actuating opening to introduce the rod for actuating the globe valve member along the stroke axis; and a housing cover for covering the actuating opening. The system can include different adapters for the different functional/structural configurations.

Abstract: Control valves find one of their most important applications in control loops of process plants for controlling the flow rate of a gaseous or liquid medium. To this end, it is crucial that the flow rate can be reliably adjusted and that safe operation, especially with hazardous substances, can be guaranteed. To solve this problem, a hole pattern for perforated plugs (300) of control valves is proposed, which allows the densest possible arrangement of openings (220) on helical lines where the height of the helical lines is minimal and, at the same time, advantageous technical specifications and safety regulations can be taken into account. The pattern allows to generate a very smooth flow characteristic, which facilitates a reliable control of the flow rate. Moreover, the flow rate can be optimized such that the size of the moving parts of the control valve can be reduced to a minimum.