Smart positioning cylinders simplify maintenance in the process industry

Description

In the processing industry, Festo
has been a partner in providing solutions to increase efficiency and simplify

maintenance. This has been achieved
by using our reliable and clean design positioning cylinders. Positioning
drives with external feedback linkages are still being used in the process
industry, however the feedback linkages are extremely susceptible to damage and
malfunctions due to the harsh conditions they are subjected to. This leads to
increased costs in maintenance and lost production time.

The advantages of the Festo solution
is that it combines the function of a linear actuator, position controller and
displacement encoder all securely enclosed within the cylinder barrel.This
solution protects the critical system components from humidity, moisture, dust
and aggressive atmospheres. The actuator only requires a self-teach
initialisation sequence during commissioning, after that it virtually maintenance free.

DFPI highlights

• Everything
  in one housing – robust, compact design
• High IP
  rating
• High level
  of corrosion resistance for use in aggressive environments
• Self-initialisation
  – easy commissioning
• Fail safe
  position selection
• Festo proximity sensors can be used
  with additional sensing of intermediate positions

DFPI
options with no external linkages:

Internal feedback and positioner (ISO
15552 with compatible accessories) suitable for:

• Damper
  control
• Louver
  control
• Clam shell
  doors
• Burner
  control
• TLO
  ploughs
• Knifegate
  valves

Internal feedback with external positioner (external positioner can be mounted directly to a cylinder
or remotely if required) suitable for the same applications above.

Internal feedback and positioner (ISO
mounting pattern on face to suit process valves) suitable for:

• DART
  valves
• Hopper
  slide gate control
• Knife gate
  valves

Festo also provides system solutions
to enhance the benefits of using the DFPI positioning cylinders, these include:

• Control
  panel building for local auto or manual control
• Valve
  terminals with input and output modules to suit many network protocols
• Process
  valve control

Most
of the applications for smart positioning cylinders can be found in the
processing industry such as mining, water/wastewater, mineral processing and in
the food sector.