Industry Article

Prevent Valve Failures with Built-In Diagnostic Testing 

CCC’s Valve Exerciser function helps confirm valve health during routine operations, preventing failure from disrupting the process

Valves are critical to process control, but many operate infrequently, making them susceptible to sticking or failure when finally called into action. CCC’s Valve Exerciser function, available in its Prodigy and Vanguard S5P controllers, provides a preventive maintenance tool to verify valve responsiveness under live process conditions, without relying solely on position feedback.

This article explains how the Valve Exerciser logic sends controlled movements to a valve and monitors real-time process signals, like flow, proximity to surge, or turbine speed, to confirm that the valve has physically moved. If no change is detected during the test window, an alarm is triggered, allowing the issue to be addressed before it affects operations.

Through real-world configuration examples and a simulated case study using CCC’s Antisurge control system, you will get insights into how this feature works and how it helps ensure your final control elements are ready when it matters most.