Valve arrangement and method

A method of operating a valve arrangement for industrial automation, the valve arrangement comprising at least one pneumatic valve module with a module housing, the at least one pneumatic valve module having a working port, an electric drive device, and at least one actuator element for setting a valve module output pressure at the working port and/or a flow rate through the working port, wherein the at least one actuator element is arranged in the module housing and is positionable by means of the electric drive device, wherein the valve module further has a valve module pressure sensor for detecting the valve module output pressure, the valve arrangement further comprising a diagnostic device which is configured to provide a diagnostic function on the basis of the detected valve module output pressure, the diagnostic function comprising a failure prognosis of the valve module, a compressed air leakage detection, a compressed air consumption detection and/or a compressed air consumer localization, wherein the valve arrangement further comprises a supply unit for supplying compressed air to the valve module, the supply unit comprising a supply unit pressure sensor for detecting a supply unit output pressure, wherein the diagnostic device is configured to calculate a valve module flow rate based on the supply unit output pressure and the valve module output pressure and to perform the compressed air consumption detection and/or the compressed air consumer localization based on the calculated valve module flow rate, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the valve module output pressure;
• and
• providing the diagnostic function based on the detected valve module output pressure.

A valve arrangement for industrial automation, comprising at least one pneumatic valve module with a module housing, the at least one pneumatic valve module having a working port, an electric drive device, and at least one actuator element for setting a valve module output pressure at the working port and/or a flow rate through the working port, wherein the at least one actuator element is arranged in the module housing and is positionable by means of the electric drive device, wherein the valve module further has a valve module pressure sensor for detecting the valve module output pressure, the valve arrangement further comprising a diagnostic device which is configured to provide a diagnostic function on the basis of the detected valve module output pressure, the diagnostic function comprising a failure prognosis of the valve module, a compressed air leakage detection, a compressed air consumption detection and/or a compressed air consumer localization, and

• wherein the valve arrangement further comprises a supply unit for supplying compressed air to the valve module, the supply unit comprising a supply unit pressure sensor for detecting a supply unit output pressure, wherein the diagnostic device is configured to calculate a valve module flow rate based on the supply unit output pressure and the valve module output pressure and to perform the compressed air consumption detection and/or the compressed air consumer localization based on the calculated valve module flow rate.