Determining And Accounting For Wear On A Valve

A control unit for a valve arrangement, the control unit comprising:

• a processor;
• an output device;
• a valve element with an open position and a closed position;
• an actuator;
• and
• a sensor generating a signal corresponding to a current position of the valve element;
• wherein the actuator and the sensor are communicatively connected to processor;
• the processor controls the actuator to perform a first number of valve cycles, wherein a valve cycle includes both actuating the valve element into the open position and actuating the valve element into the closed position;
• the processor records a first signal from the sensor following performance of the first number of valve cycles and forms a first measured value of a position of the valve element;
• the processor controls the actuator to perform a second number of valve cycles;
• the processor records a second signal from the sensor following performance of the second number of valve cycles and forms a second measured value of a position of the valve element;
• and
• the processor calculates a degree of wear based at least in part on the first measured value and the second measured value and the second number of valve cycles;
• the processor compares the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value;
• and
• the processor generates a predefined output signal using the output device if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value.