You’re facing a problem where some actuator valves are located at a remote site, far away and unattended, lacking IoT capability. The AIoT Edge Connect (AEC300 or AEC310 or AEC100) combined with the AEC cloud offers a solution.
Firstly, assess if the actuator valve supports the Standard Modbus RTU/TCP interface. For Modbus RTU, it typically uses an RS485 2-wire bus, while Modbus TCP utilizes a TCP port with an Ethernet interface, as shown in Situation A on the diagram.
However, in Situation B, if there’s no high-level interface like Modbus, you may have analog input and output from the actuator valve. This includes a 4-20mA output indicating valve position/displacement and an input allowing a 4-20mA signal to control valve position. Alternatively, you might only have digital inputs to trigger valve opening or closing, with digital output indicating the valve status (open/closed).
Wiring diagram of Actuator valve
Making of Remote IO modules that support modbus to make up the connection on the Analogue input 4-20mA by referring to the analogue control wiring Diagram with the Remote IO modules.
After settling down with the connection. feed the RS485 signal to the AEC310.
There is some setting and configuration that you need to setup in the AEC310 IIOT Gateway router. After the configuration is done and Sim card is inserted, you are ready to publish all the data to the cloud.
Above is the sample cloud dashboard. it allows reading of the Valve positioning by a pie chart or Bar Graph or direct value. The same can be done with the data entry or slider to control the valve to the position or the percentage of closure that you require. This will make up an online monitoring and control from the remote site. The monitoring station can be of the following: –
1. Mobile phone
2. PC / Desktop PC / laptop
With AEC cloud platform, provides the following features in managing your remote device:-
1. Tracking and identifying your remote location by ID or by preset location
2. Data logging of all conditions and closure of the valve
3. Digital input at the remote IO module can be connected to indicate the status of the Valve
4. Alert or messaging provided in WhatsApp / Telegram / Email / Optional SMS when the valve is trip or the positioning is out.
5. Remote control is allowed from the Dashboard and feedback can be tapped back from the 4-20mA input.
If you are in Situation A where Modbus is available then it will be easier as the indicator in digital is automatically obtained for input and output with the condition of the Actuator valve.
In conclusion, your actuator can be made Smarter by using the AIoT edge Connect solutions on Cloud and gateways and IOT Sensors.
AIoT Edge Connect is hosted by AIoTmission Sdn Bhd.
