A control valve at a remote site starts acting up. Is it the actuator? The valve? Does the symptom even indicate the problem? Too often there is only one way to find out: send someone. We think the equipment should tell you first.
Every KVA38 valve actuator includes a serial communications port. Connect it to the network and the actuator reports on its own condition, and on the valve it drives. Operations and maintenance teams can be alerted and take action before critical faults occur, instead of finding out when a facility goes down.
More Than a Position Signal
The KVA38’s serial port gives access to operating data, diagnostics, configuration and control through one communications interface, and multiple KVA38s can share one network port.
A Warning, Not a Surprise
The health status of the KVA38 can be monitored remotely over a Modbus network. A non-zero value in any of the fault flags indicates a fault condition. Here’s the part we like best: several faults are non-critical and let the control valve keep working in a degraded state. Flag those faults to the relevant operations or maintenance team and they can set up a service event that avoids, or at least minimizes, expensive downtime.
It Watches the Valve, Not Just the Actuator
The KVA38 continuously monitors the attached valve. It detects conditions such as blockages and seized valves that prevent proper movement or closure, and reports them through specific fault flags. For the people who maintain the site, that means:
- Faster troubleshooting: technicians know what they’re dealing with before they arrive at the valve.
- Less unnecessary field work: better fault information helps show whether an issue is actuator-related, valve-related or infrastructure-related.
Configure It Remotely
The same connection handles configuration. Span calibration, function checks and maximum lift height are all available over Modbus RTU. That reduces the need for physical access during commissioning, adjustment and service, particularly where actuators are spread across a facility or installed in hard-to-reach locations.
Learn More
The KVA38 Health Monitoring page goes deeper on actuator health, valve health and connecting to a Modbus network. Got valves a long drive from anywhere? Talk to an engineer.
The application note covers the details: Download the application note, Leveraging Data from the KVA38 (PDF)