Valve positioner comes under fieldbus control

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 21, 2006

The Flowserve Logix 3400IQ Foundation Fieldbus digital valve positioner provides operating versatility and fast, easy and accurate calibration.

Flowserve Corp announces the launch of the Flowserve Logix 3400IQ Foundation Fieldbus digital valve positioner.

The 3400IQ features a new FISCO-compliant user interface board, improved potentiometer, piezoelectric technology, and host interoperability to provide operating versatility and fast, easy and accurate calibration.

Compatible with any Hart or Foundation Fieldbus distributed control system (DCS), the Logix 3400IQ controls the position of both single- and double-acting valve actuators with linear or rotary mountings.

The Logix 3400IQ is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including oil and gas and chemical processing.

The Logix 3400IQ offers fast commissioning, calibration, tuning, and setup in about two minutes from the local user interface.

All parameters from the user interface are automatically updated in the transducer block, eliminating the need to enter function blocks to perform a simple stroke calibration.

Local setup and calibration of the 3400IQ does not require a link to a host controller, PC, or handheld device.

With a low 9V DC supply current and 3bar (minimum) air supply for any valve/actuator platform, the 3400IQ makes Foundation Fieldbus installation easy and straightforward.

An onboard Quick-Cal button, DIP switches, jog buttons, and a variable gain selector easily configure the valve and positioner.

A blink code list displays valve status updates and confirms calibration at a glance using highly visible LEDs, enabling users to easily determine a valve or actuator is functioning properly so they can quickly diagnose any problems.

Tuning can be changed on the 3400IQ without recalibrating the positioner, which saves time and increases ease-of-use.

An improved potentiometer allows for wider control of valve position by adding 30 degrees of rotation and code.

Self-adjustment from 30 to 130 degrees of rotation and automatic scaling provide accurate, automated positioning with optimal resolution.

The 3400IQ's new driver module takes advantage of piezoelectric technology for low power and air consumption.

With only one moving part and proportional valve action - not just on and off - piezoelectric technology gives the 3400IQ excellent reliability, easy assembly, faster response, and a compliance voltage below 10V.

The Flowserve Logix 3400IQ is certified to meet many current operating standards, including FM, CSA, ATEX, FISCO, and the latest Foundation Fieldbus interoperability testing, ITK4.6.

The positioner is compatible with most DCSs, including those from Honeywell, Emerson, Invensys, Yokogawa and Rockwell.

Others, such as ABB, are also currently being tested.

An integral PID block that uses Honeywell control algorithms makes the 3400IQ one of the fastest positioners in the industry.

Its fieldbus protocols allow for more intelligence compared with positioners that rely solely on the DCS for PID.

FISCO compliance - a fieldbus intrinsically safe concept - allows more devices per IS segment, and as a result, lowers total installed cost.

The standard model of the Logix 3400IQ features instant messaging, as well as hysteresis, dead band, linearity, and repeatability diagnostics.

Advanced models are available with actuator pressure sensors that add friction, diagnostic signatures, restriction in air supply, balance pressure, and fitting leakage diagnostics.

"With the 3400IQ, all calibration and setup of the positioner can be done quickly and easily through the local user interface", said Kyle Ahlfinger, Vice President, Marketing, Flowserve Flow Control.

"Hart and Foundation Fieldbus compatibility and its enhanced features make the 3400IQ the premier choice for accurate valve control for a wide range of applications".