Cover Story
damaged , comprising proper sealing and closing . Valve failures result in downtime for disassembly and replacement , which is costly . An important global trend is the reduction of production line shutdowns due to hardware component failure . Putting a predictive maintenance system in place is far more efficient than waiting for a valve to fail . Accurately knowing the number of cycles your actuator and valve have completed is essential to predicting when the valve is approaching the end of its lifespan , enabling the user to schedule a convenient moment for replacement or repair .” Temperature - “ Unusual fluctuations in the operating temperature are important because sealing compounds are effective within a specific temperature range . The seal may fail or degrade if the temperature exceeds the normal operating limits , reducing the lifespan by preventing it from achieving its maximum achievable number of cycles . The electronic device inside the Rackon-X identifies any deviation in temperature outside normal operating range ”. Rotation angle - “ Pneumatic actuators are usually installed on valves which have an open / close rotation of 90 degrees , such as ball and butterfly valves . The Rackon-X identifies if the valve has fully rotated . Any recorded deviation means there is a problem in the actuator or the valve , and a warning is transmitted to the user that the system is operating outside the set parameters . This alerts the maintenance manager to make a more detailed investigation .” Time for opening / closing - “ Air pressure enables pneumatic actuators to operate valves within a set time frame , and any deviation indicates a problem . For example , a longer opening / closing time may indicate an increase in torque , leading to increased friction and wear or even a blockage in the valve . This information is vital for an effective and efficient predictive maintenance programme .”
Long-lasting battery
A unique long-life battery is at the heart of the Rackon-X wireless system . “ OMAL utilises a high-durability battery capable of sustaining the power requirements for recording up to two million events over five years of operation ,” explains Mr Coombs . “ The patent-pending system allows the Rackon-X to be fully wireless , transmitting and recording information without any external power source . It is ideally suited for remote locations without the need to install extra infrastructure , power supply etc .” “ The user can always see the level of battery charge , and even if the battery were to run out completely , all information is stored in the internal memory and the cloud . To extend the long battery life even further , users should set a correct transmitting time interval for sending information to the cloud .”
The fully wireless Rackon-X pneumatic actuator is equipped with a data tracking unit for monitoring and storing key operating data . π www . valve-world . net Valve World February 2023
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