Bürkert Launches New Range of Intelligent Valve Control Heads

The latest smart valve control heads from Bürkert are the ideal component for a decentralised automation application in a hygienic process environment. The ability to control pneumatic actuation, feedback and diagnostic functions with the additional benefit of fieldbus communication, makes this valve extremely useful in either a new or retrofit scenario.

Larger sized valves can now be controlled using the 8691 control head, extending the scope of the original 8681 while still retaining the high intensity LEDs, AS-i and DeviceNet comms capability. The new 8695 is specifically designed for applications in hygienic process environments with a compact design; it is optimised for integrated mounting on Bürkert’s own 21XX process valve series and with smaller actuator sizes.

The control head 8685 is also available with an AS-interface as well as with DeviceNet communication. It can be combined with actuator sizes ELEMENT 50, CLASSIC 40/50/63 or with compact 3rd party process valves. When used in conjunction with the ELEMENT actuators, the unique pilot valve system also enables a compressed air recycling that avoids contamination of the actuator chamber from the local environment.

A stainless steel housing features on the entire range, as does IP ratings up to IP67 and chemically resistant materials for use in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The indexing of the valve position is performed by a contact-free analogue position sensor, which recognises and saves the valve end position through the Teach function when starting up. Combined with an integrated restriction function, check valves and manual actuation, as well as high powered coloured status LEDs, the new control head provides all the key features required in a modern process control system.

This new control head enables complete, uniform control solutions to be implemented, regardless of whether they are hygienic single seat, double seat or butterfly valves or even fittings for auxiliary mediums such as steam, water or cleaning chemicals. This standardisation helps to reduce support and training requirements and simplifies the plant operation by reducing the diversity of devices in use.