RFID Control Valve Leading to Digitalization of Plant

Abstract A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can be used to identify and track objects wirelessly through electromagnetic fields. Application in today's markets include logistics and goods tracking. An innovative way to use RFID could be integration with control valves at plants, leading toward digitalization of the plant and IR4.0. RFID enabled control valves, integrated with IR4.0, can give a holistic view of control valves across the plant. In this case, an RFID tag could be attached to a Smart Control Valve Head, acting as a controller and actuator. Any alarm or malfunction could be reported through the Smart Control Valve Head to a central control system. A web-based solution could be added in layers, which enables the notification to of appropriate workgroups. It can also enable improved preventive maintenance. The solution will be based on a wireless identification and sensing platform (WISP), which will use the concept of RF Energy Harvesting using RFID with a rectenna — a combination of antenna and rectifier. An antenna is used to collect ambient RF energy, which is available around us in the form of electromagnetic waves from mobile phones and wireless networks. A rectifier converts the RF energy into electricity for powering up RFID, thereby offering a wireless and battery-less RFID solution. A RFID tag connected to the Smart Control Valve Head will form a localized control loop with wireless communication to the central control system for data sharing and smart analytics. The proposed concept of RF energy harvesting using a rectenna with an RFID-enabled control valve can lead toward the possibility of a decentralized wirelessly controlled valve, digitalization of plants with superior maintenance, and a new paradigm of IR4.0.