Water industry benefits from Festo's innovations

Festo's CPX series multifunctional electrical terminals provide system designers with a versatile, modular approach to process control, monitoring and diagnostics. The terminals can form part of centralised, decentralised and hybrid control schemes, and their module content can be freely changed at will, enabling systems to be reconfigured or expanded without altering the wiring. A wide range of compatible modules includes integrated PLCs for distributed control, intelligent analogue I/O units for temperature sensing and signal detection, PNP and NPN digital input units, M12 and M8 connection blocks, and connectivity to virtually all leading bus systems. Festo has expanded its CPX system versatility by providing DTM files for PACTware connectivity; this open system enables common access and operation of remote, field-based instruments.

A new CPX-FB38 module (pictured above) further extends the fieldbus connectivity of CPX series electrical terminals by adding EtherCAT real-time Ethernet communications. EtherCAT technology overcomes many of the system limitations of other Ethernet products; by enabling each signal package to be interpreted 'on the fly' instead of demanding post-processing, it speeds data transmission and minimises the need for controller intervention during network processes. Although the technology has obvious speed benefits, it also has the advantages of supporting ring, star and line topologies for increased network flexibility, provides a higher level of fault tolerance, and offers higher-resolution diagnostics data for remote monitoring and fault-finding purposes.

Festo's CPX-FB38 communications module features two EtherCAT ports and an integrated Ethernet switch for installation flexibility. The flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the CPX Integrated terminal and valve manifold control system makes it a popular choice for controls and systems engineers.

At the working end, Festo is also launching a powerful new DFPB quarter-turn pneumatic actuator, developed at the specific request of customers in the water industry. The new DFPB actuator features a rack-and-pinion drive that ensures a constant-torque characteristic across its entire 90-degree rotation angle. Available in single-acting and double-acting versions, DFPB series actuators offer a high level of versatility; the same units can be used for clockwise or anti-clockwise operation, simply by inverting the drive. Pressure-relief slots on both faces enable the actuators to be universally fitted to a wide range of valves and feature adjustable end positions - which makes them suitable for use with butterfly valves. There is a choice of seven sizes of single-acting and 10 sizes of double-acting actuators; the largest model can generate up to 270Nm of torque.