Method for position-dependent electronic wear state determination of a valve mechanism, and a pneumatic valve

A valve arrangement comprising:

• a valve housing;
• a valve element configured to move axially within the valve housing to control an amount of a process medium passing through the valve housing;
• position regulating means for determining a position speed profile over a switching travel of the valve element;
• electrically drivable linear drive means for moving the valve element within the valve housing on the basis of positioning regulation;
• and
• electronic means for wear state determination of a valve mechanism of the valve arrangement, wherein:
• the linear drive means apply a constant drive force to the valve element;
• the position regulating means determines a position speed profile over the switching travel via a position sensor based on the constant force applied to the valve element, to detect the speed of the valve element as a function of a current position of the valve element;
• and
• the electronic means for wear state determination comprise an evaluation unit configured to create a change profile by comparing the determined position speed profile with previous position speed profiles, as a measure of a position-dependent wear state of the valve mechanism.