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Pneumatic valve system is the first to support wireless
Published:  17 September, 2020

Emerson claims to be offering the first pneumatic valve system that supports wireless commissioning and configuration. A new wireless module for its Aventics G3 electronic fieldbus platform allows users to perform commissioning and diagnostics from a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer.

The system is based on a wireless automatic recovery module (ARM) that provides access to the platform via an internal Wi-Fi access point and a built-in Web server – even if the valve system is inside a machine or on a ceiling. It offers the visual benefits of a hard-wired HMI at a lower cost and with more flexibility.

The wireless module can help to cut downtime by notifying users of alarms, voltage levels, short circuits, module errors, open-load errors and distribution errors.

The compact device connects easily to the Aventics G3 platform in the space of a jumper clip, without having to change the mounting. It has power settings for short-, medium-, or long-distance signals, ensuring safe, secure access to data regardless of where the valve system is located. Additional security benefits include the ability to turn off the wireless signals during configuration, multiple password options, and the ability to provide diagnostic and commissioning information without any control capability.

The wireless module also protects the fieldbus platform’s configuration information – including all settable node and attached I/O module parameters – from critical failures.

The wireless module is currently compatible with the Ethernet/IP DLR and Profinet protocols. Emerson plans to support other protocols later.

“The Aventics G3 fieldbus platform is the first in the industry to offer wireless technology that puts valve system configuration and diagnostics at the control engineer’s fingertips,” says Enrico De Carolis, Emerson’s vice-president of global technology, fluid control and pneumatics. “This offering furthers our quest to help manufacturers reduce production downtime and simplify valve system commissioning, while creating a path for using diagnostics/prognostics for analytics and advancing our offering of intelligent devices with IIoT capability.”

Emerson’s wireless module simplifies valve system commissioning and configuration

Emerson also has introduced an upgraded ARM clip for the Aventics G3 platform that is backwards-compatible with existing ARMs and G3 fieldbus platforms. The clip improves reliability by protecting configuration information from critical valve system failures.

The G3 platform’s electronic parameters and settings are stored automatically in the ARM’s module’s non-volatile memory. The module is then disconnected from the power supply automatically, to ensure that the stored information is not erased by power spikes or critical failures.

“A replacement G3 fieldbus communication node can automatically download the required parameters from the ARM module,” De Carolis explains. “This enables the valve system and production line to resume operation quickly without the need for re-commissioning by a controls engineer, offering true plug-and-play capability.”

Emerson acquired Aventics – formerly Bosch Rexroth’s pneumatics business – for €527m in 2018.