Sensors & Transducers


Handheld control valve tester

June 2019 Sensors & Transducers

In the past, control valve testing meant using complicated testers that required extensive training, the removal of the valve, and often one-to-two hours of test time on the bench. Comtest is therefore pleased to announce the arrival of Fluke’s new 710 mA Loop Valve Tester. The device allows technicians to source the 4-20 mA signal while it interrogates HART data to collect critical information about the valve’s position and status, providing quick checks of control valves while they are in place. With built-in test procedures and an intuitive interface, the Fluke 710 allows technicians to perform valve tests, while the quick-check results provide at-a-glance diagnostics to make faster maintenance decisions.

The 710 features pre-configured valve tests for reliable and repeatable testing. The built-in routines include:

• Manually changing the mA signal and viewing the HART position and pressure variable information.

• Full range ramping of the mA signal from 4 to 20 to 4 mA while recording the 0-100-0 percent position, or the pressures applied that move the valve from 0-100-0 percent.

• Stepping the mA signal on the input to the valve in steps and evaluating the valve’s response to the mA input changes.

• Speed tests to determine how fast the valve can open or close.

• Bump and partial stroke tests that help test valves over a portion of their range so they can be tested in a live process.

Test results are stored in the memory of the tester from where they can be uploaded to the included ValveTrack analysis software. ValveTrack allows users to:

• Upload and plot logged valve tests taken in the field.

• Compare previously uploaded to recent tests.

• View valve test history by HART Tag ID.

• Export valve test data for additional analysis.

For more information contact Comtest, +27 10 595 1821, [email protected], www.comtest.co.za



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