Coperion offers Version 5.0 of its RotorCheck contact monitoring system for rotary valves. In production and processing operations, this system registers, evaluates, and reports unwanted contact between the rotor and housing in order to be able to prevent metallic abrasion, and thus potential contamination of the product being conveyed.

Industrial sectors with high-quality requirements, frequently changing products and recipes, or a high number of cleaning cycles can benefit from this in particular. The newly introduced physical separation of measured value logging and evaluation electronics has advantages in terms of operation and maintenance, while the redeveloped control system provides advanced options for event diagnosis and connection to host systems. Furthermore, the use of high-quality components contributes to longer uninterrupted running times.

Low Space Requirement, High Ease of Maintenance
The monitoring principle of the RotorCheck remains unchanged: An electrically conductive connection is created as soon as the housing and rotor come into contact. This is then registered by the control system. In the process, the software filters out coincidental measurement signal fluctuations – such as those caused by the product – and reports potentially dangerous faults to the customer’s control center.

While the signal detection itself takes place in the valve, for the first time Version 5.0 allows for the snap-in installation of the control system housing in the control cabinet. The physical separation reduces the amount of space required on the valve, while simultaneously simplifying the operation and maintenance of valves with an extraction device. This is particularly advantageous in production environments where dirt, dust, heat, vibrations, moisture, or electromagnetic waves may occur. The control system is now also accessible even when it is impossible to enter the production area itself for safety reasons, e.g. while CIP cleaning is underway. RotorCheck 5.0 is suitable for deployment in Ex zones in combination with optional Zener barriers.

Longer Uninterrupted Operation, Increased Functionality
High-quality components are used in the latest generation of RotorCheck products for maximum reliability and ease of maintenance. Hybrid bearings with ceramic roller elements optimize electrical insulation between the rotor and the housing, to name one example. At the same time, these are more robust than conventional solutions with regard to installation and maintenance. The slip-ring rotor is designed for a service life of around five years and thus only requires around one tenth of the maintenance effort of comparable conventional products with a biannual replacement interval. Thanks to the new lower number of individual parts, Version 5.0 is easier to install and calibrate, which reduces the effort required for quick cleaning in particular.

The electronic functions of the RotorCheck 5.0 are also more comprehensive than in the previous version. Consequently, an optional fieldbus interface that reduces installation effort is now available to the user alongside analog and digital inputs/outputs. Moreover, the new control system facilitates flexible adaptation of the device’s parameters to changing production conditions and cleaning cycles. The measurement signal is now available in graphic format via web interface, which makes diagnosis more convenient. And due to the fact that the operating data is cached in the control system, faults can be reproduced and analyzed at a later time. In addition, LEDs on the RotorCheck housing now visually indicate the presence of anomalies with improved clarity.

New and existing rotary valves can be equipped with the extended features of the optimized RotorCheck 5.0, making them ideally prepared for the increasing complexity and degree of automation in modern industrial plants.

Coperion GmbH, Weingarten, Germany +49 (0)751 408 578 www.coperion.com

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