Electric Actuators valves that are used at critical points in the process or exposed to particularly high loads . Evaluating the diagnostic data allows precise analysis of the loads to which actuator and valve have already been exposed . This can help users detect problems at an early stage and take appropriate countermeasures before unplanned failures occur . Many AUMA customers are already doing this in practice . Case study : Forestalling problems In a biogas plant in Spain , regular maintenance is carried out on the actuators . The analysis and action plan function in the AUMA -cloud was used for the first time during the last maintenance cycle . In addition to this automated analysis , experts put further data , such as vibration , temperature and motor statistics , into the context of the associated process . This allows maintenance measures to be specifically tailored to the condition of each actuator . Case study : Heavy vibration The analysis and action plan function in the AUMA Cloud can help to uncover a wide variety of error sources . At one German customer , for example , the diagnostic data indicated heavy vibration . The cause turned out to be a pump installed nearby . As excessive vibration can cause electronics to fail in the long term , the actuator controls were separated from the actuator and mounted separately on a wall bracket . Case study : Wrong control settings In a sewage treatment plant in France , an actuator was experiencing an accumulation of thermal faults when the motor would overheat and switch off . The AUMA Cloud determined that the average operating mode was “ intermittent operation S4 – 50 %”, but the actuator was only designed for
Figure 4 : The right spares can be ordered quickly and conveniently via the AUMA Cloud .
mode S4 – 25 % ( Figure 5 ). The problem was solved by adjusting the control parameters to reduce the frequency of position changes without negatively affecting the process . Case study : Incorrect valve end position and an ageing valve Frequent torque errors can be caused by mistakes during commissioning . In a sewage treatment plant in Sweden , for example , it was found that on one valve the end position was incorrectly set . In another case , however , it turned out that the many torque errors were signs that the valve was ageing ( Figure 6 ). In this case , the valve underwent preventive maintenance .
Conclusion and outlook
In view of the increasing challenges in plant operation , due to factors including decreasing numbers of personnel , growing use of intelligent field devices and ever more stringent requirements in process sequences , efficient asset management is becoming increasingly important to ensure plant availability . Networking of traditional services with digitally accessible expert knowledge and seamlessly interlinked processes plays a key role here . With its CORALINK digital ecosystem for electric actuators , AUMA offers a solution that is already taking the strain off plant personnel , helping to minimise premature wear and tear and preventing breakdowns . The system ’ s ability to automate diagnostic processes and recommend preventative actions helps to keep costs low . In future , the seamless integration of individual digital tools will continue to expand – always with the aim of further streamlining processes and making life as easy as possible for everyone involved with actuators . CORALINK is available free of charge in a very comprehensive basic version . More information is available at coralink . auma . com .
Figure 5 : Frequent thermal errors in an actuator could be traced back to the fact that the control behaviour had not been set optimally .
Figure 6 : Frequent torque errors showed that this valve needed maintenance .
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