In industrial systems, the monitoring, control, and maintenance of valves is a daunting task because the operational data of actuators or valves is not directly available and often difficult to obtain. With the newly developed valve “Smart Actuator”, the GF Piping System allows the valve to “network” and continuously apply the possibilities offered by digitization, allowing customers to easily identify valve position, control maintenance status, and find operational instructions online.

In large systems, it is difficult to find operating instructions for system components such as valves. At the same time, identifying existing equipment or installing newly delivered products in the right place is time consuming, laborious and error prone. It is often difficult for users to accurately understand the current operational status of the equipment and to perform maintenance operations while the system is running. The useful information is small and difficult to obtain, which makes system maintenance work very difficult, especially in the case of technicians flowing.

“The new valve of the GF Piping System, the 'Smart Actuator', enables full monitoring and control when needed via an app on a smartphone or tablet,” said Sandra Schiller, Product Manager, GF Piping Systems. The advantages of the new intelligent actuators are obvious: even in the power-off state, the actuator can transfer information through the NFC and the mobile app; after the initial startup, the App will display the existing valve and its previously assigned name; provide an intuitive user guide and no operation instructions are required; the wireless connection can realize data reading, such as work cycle and current configuration file; the app can also directly display the view fault; in the case of not directly interfering with the process control system (PCS), it can be conveniently controlled. The signal is post-set or short-term covered; during the installation process, the App helps the system to be commissioned and integrated into the planned piping and instrument flow diagram (P& ID) in time, thanks to the standardized mechanical interface, which can be mounted on any standard valve on.